Grandma's secret to perfect pickles: a 3x3 pickle power guide

Pickled cucumbers are an essential element of our cuisine, appreciated for their unique taste and health benefits. Ideal pickled cucumbers should be firm, crispy, and full of flavor. This is exactly how our grandmothers made them.

Pickled cucumbers are indispensable for salads, as a sandwich addition, or for soup. They have numerous applications in the kitchen, and it's a good thing because it's worth eating them as often as possible. They are genuinely a vitamin bomb and a natural probiotic. They contain large amounts of vitamins C, K, and A, which highly benefit our bodies. Vitamin C, which is twice as abundant in pickled cucumbers as in fresh ones, strengthens immunity, fights infections, and synthesizes many important compounds in our bodies. Vitamin K is necessary for proper blood coagulation and calcium management, which is particularly important in our daily diet.

Pickled cucumbers are also rich in vitamin A, which supports eye health, improves skin, hair, and nails, and regulates thyroid function. In addition to vitamins, pickles also provide many valuable minerals and probiotics, such as lactic acid, which aids digestion and maintains the proper bacterial flora in the intestines. Regularly consuming pickled cucumbers strengthens the immune system, protecting us from various infections and viruses.

Additionally, pickled cucumbers have anticancer properties. The compounds inside help prevent cancer, reduce cholesterol levels, and support the cardiovascular system. They are low in calories, and the fiber present ensures a long-lasting feeling of fullness.

Pickled cucumbers are healthy, but how can you make them taste the best? According to an old rule used by our grandmothers, the 3x3 method is essential. What is it about? To ensure pickled cucumbers are perfectly crispy and aromatic, you cannot omit three basic spices: garlic, horseradish, and dill. But that's not all; each should be added in three different places in the jar with cucumbers - at the bottom, middle, and top. This way, the spices evenly penetrate the cucumbers, giving them unique flavor and aroma.

This isn't the only tried-and-true method related to the number 3. Another one involves proportions. Simply soak 7 pounds of cucumbers with 3 quarts of water and 3 tablespoons of salt. It's easy to remember and the best way for delicious, firm, and crispy cucumbers.

• Pickling cucumbers should be fresh, healthy, and firm, without discolorations or dents on the skin. The best are small to medium-sized ones. Overgrown ones with yellowish skin are not only harder to fit in the jar but also less flavorful.
• Soak cucumbers in cold water for a few hours. This will help them retain their crunchiness after pickling.