Easy Classic Pickled Eggs Recipe | Homemade & Yummy (2024)

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Easy Classic Pickled Eggs Recipe is a true pub favourite.

Popular bar styled food made at home with this easy no canning method. All you need is a nice big jar, hard-boiled eggs, and a brine to make the best-pickled eggs ever.

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Who would have thought a hard-boiled egg cured in vinegar or pickling brine would create such a great snack and appetizer?Egg pickles!

Since I was a kid, my mom made these all the time. In fact, she was a true “canner”. All kinds of pickles, fruits, jams, canned tomatoes, sauces and of course sauerkraut, lined the walls of the cold cellar.

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RECIPE and INSTRUCTIONS for this old fashioned pickled egg recipe is at the bottom of this post.

I am more of a quick pickle person. This recipe is a no canning method, just like my zucchini pickles andpickled onions recipe! According to my husband, she made the best pickled eggs, until he tried them done my way.

If you love pickles without all the work, check out this roundup 30 Easy Refrigerator Pickles.

I still remember that room in the basem*nt of my parent’s house. It was dark and only had a small light bulb that did not provide much light at all. The door was hard to open, and the cement floor was uneven. Inside the wooden shelves were lined with various sizes of glass jars.

She also made homemade sauerkraut, which we called kapusta. It is so delicious in the traditional Ukrainian Kobasa Kapusta recipe. Often seen on the holiday dinner tables.

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Those days of traditional canning does not happen in my house.

Simple Pickling Ingredients

Like with ALL quick pickles, ingredients are easy to find.

Mom would make these for every stag or bachelor party that was hosted by the family. Seems the guys loved eating these, especially when they drank beer.

I guess that is why they are a pub favourite, especially in the UK. They are found in fish and chip shops too.

I thought they were Ukrainian pickled eggs. Who knew they would be SO DELICIOUS!

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Of course, my husband happens to be one of those people who loved my mom’s recipe. He would always be so happy when mom made them. In fact, she would make a jar just for him.

Now my grandkids can say grandma’s pickled eggs are the BEST! Just like the kind you can find in the bar.

How To Make Easy Pickled Eggs

This is a super easy no canning method.

  1. Sterilize a clean large glass jar. I add boiling water to it and let it sit for 5 minutes. Pour the water out and you are good to go.
  2. Have your hard-boiled eggs cooked and peeled (the hardest part is peeling those eggs).
  3. Place them in the jar.
  4. Boil the brine ingredients in a small pot.
  5. Pour over the eggs.
  6. Put on the lid.
  7. Let cool slightly, then place in the fridge.
  8. Let sit until seasoned (at least 3 days). Ok…this is the second hardest part.
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After looking at my mom’s recipe, I just could not see how this would be tasty. Vinegar, salt, and mustard powder? Really? What happened to balance? Isn’t there supposed to be water, sugar, and seasoning?

The typical British recipe uses vinegar, salt and sugar. Mine is a no sugar recipe.

I knew I needed something different. I wanted my recipe to be infused with more flavour.

Egg Pickle Variations

  • Brines can be all vinegar (usually white vinegar or malt vinegar)
  • You can use beet juice or pickle juice in the brine
  • Some recipes include salt and vinegar
  • Some use only one or the other
  • Additional seasonings such as dill, onion, jalapeno (for a kick of heat) can be added
  • You can also use a pickling spice blend
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Ok now for the test. I let hubby do the honours. Well to my surprise, he LOVED them. In fact even better than moms!!

This DIY easy pickling recipe is a must-try. You can make them YOUR way. Spicy, flavoured, coloured. Skip the eggs in a jar from Costco. These are better than store-bought hands down.

Recipe Tips

  • If you want the pickling brine to be clear (like the ones you see in the store) do not use the pickling spice (cloves turn the brine brown).
  • Be sure to let the eggs sit for AT LEAST 3 days in the fridge before eating.
  • You can experiment with the brine ingredients, creating the brine you prefer.
  • Be sure to serve at room temperature.
  • Ways to serve pickled eggs include: snacks, party appetizers (especially game night) and sandwich fillings.
  • The longer the eggs stay in the brine, the stronger the taste.
  • Prolonged time in the brine tends to create a rubbery texture.

How Long Do Pickled Eggs Last?

I would say safely 3-4 months. Since this is a quick pickle method, the shelf life is not as long as the traditional canned method, or the ones purchased in the grocery stores.

Do You Need To Keep Them Refrigerated?

Yes for food safety you will want to keep them in the fridge.

Do You Have To Peel The Eggs?

The hard-boiled eggs are peeled before they are put into the pickling brine. Unpeeled eggs will not work in this recipe.

Can You Use Pickle Juice?

People have used pickle juice to make pickled eggs. This recipe uses a seasoned brine. If you use dill pickle juice, the eggs will have a dill pickle taste.Pickled eggs with beet juice will make them pink.

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Easy Old Fashioned Pickled Eggs

Eggs pickled in a brine, no sugar and no canning. Just like in thehe pub.

4.93 from 179 votes

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Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: British

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Resting Time: 3 days days

Total Time: 3 days days 35 minutes minutes

Servings: 12 servings

Calories: 64kcal

Author:

Ingredients

  • 12 large eggs (hard boiled & peeled)
  • 4 cups white vinegar
  • 1 ½ cups water
  • 1 ½ teaspoons course sea salt
  • 1 tablespoon pickling spice

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

  • Sterilize a large mouth jar.

  • Hard boil and peel the eggs.

To make the Brine:

  • In a pot combine the vinegar, water, salt and pickling spice.

  • Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.

To Pickle:

  • Place peeled eggs into the clean jar.

  • Pour brine over eggs.

  • Seal jar. Leave on kitchen counter for about 1 hour, then place in fridge.

  • Let eggs sit in brine for at least 3 days before eating.

  • ENJOY!!

Nutrition Information

Calories: 64kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 164mg | Sodium: 354mg | Potassium: 66mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 238IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 1mg

Notes

***Always keep the pickled eggs refrigerated until ready to eat*** These will keep for several months.

You can take them out of the brine and bring them to room temperature before eating if you wish.

You can make less brine if you wish. I wanted to make sure I had the eggs completely submerged in the liquid.

Tried this recipe?Take a picture and tag @homemadeandyummy

Nutritional information on this site is generated via a plugin. I am not responsible for the accuracy of the plugin information.
Easy Classic Pickled Eggs Recipe | Homemade & Yummy (2024)

FAQs

How long before you can eat homemade pickled eggs? ›

If small eggs are used, 1 to 2 weeks are usually allowed for seasoning to occur. Medium or large eggs may require 2 to 4 weeks to become well seasoned. Use the eggs within 3 to 4 months for best quality. Each of these recipes uses 12 peeled, hard-cooked eggs.

Do you have to use sugar when pickling eggs? ›

Sugar in pickling is used to balance the tartness of the vinegar. Although the sugar can be eliminated from pickle recipes, the pickles are likely to be too sour. Note: Under no circ*mstances should the amount of vinegar be decreased or diluted to compensate for less sugar.

How do you make pickled eggs not rubbery? ›

And If the eggs sit in that liquid too long, you get rubbery eggs. There's a simple enough way to avoid this problem. You want the pickling liquid to do its job in the beginning, and then after the eggs have reached the proper degree of pickling, you can dilute the solution with some water.

Do you pickle eggs with the shell on or off? ›

Gently tap the eggs on the work surface and peel off the shells. Put the boiled eggs in a sterilised jar where they all fit, about 1 litre, and pour over the cooled pickling liquid to cover. Seal and leave in a cool, dark place for at least two weeks, or up to three months.

Do you refrigerate eggs while pickling? ›

Pickled eggs need to be hard-boiled and peeled prior to making the brine solution of vinegar, salt, spices, and other seasonings. Pickled eggs MUST be always stored in the refrigerator. The pickling solution must completely cover all hard-boiled eggs.

Can you pickle eggs by just putting them in pickle juice? ›

Add the boiled eggs directly to the jar of pickle juice or put eggs and juice in a clean mason jar. Refrigerate for at least 3 days before eating. The longer the eggs are in the juice, the more pickled and flavorful they'll become. Eggs will last 3 months in the fridge.

What not to do when pickling? ›

General Information on Pickling
  1. Do not alter vinegar, food, or water proportions in a recipe or use a vinegar with unknown acidity.
  2. Use only recipes with tested proportions of ingredients.
  3. There must be a minimum, uniform level of acid throughout the mixed product to prevent the growth of botulinum bacteria.

How do you prevent botulism in pickled eggs? ›

The CDC further cautions that to reduce the risk for botulism when pickling, food items should be washed and cooked adequately, and utensils, containers, and other surfaces in contact with food, including cutting boards and hands, should be cleaned thoroughly with soap and warm water.

What kind of vinegar is best for pickles? ›

Most pickle recipes call for distilled white vinegar. This is the clear, colorless vinegar made by fermenting grains. It has a mellow aroma, tart acid flavor and does not affect the color of light-colored vegetables or fruits.

Is it okay to make pickled eggs in a plastic jar? ›

If you choose to use plastic containers, make sure that the containers are food grade and have not been used for non-food items. The safest option for pickles is glass jars. At Container & Packaging Supply, we have many glass jars that will work perfectly for all of your pickling endeavors.

How to tell if pickled eggs are bad? ›

Spoilage can be determined by several clear indicators. If pickled eggs develop a slimy texture, present an off odor or foul smell, or show any signs of discoloration such as unusual color, they should not be consumed. The presence of mold or bubbles can also indicate that the eggs have gone bad.

Are pickled eggs good for you? ›

Pickled Eggs are Good for Your Gut Health. First off, did you know that pickled eggs are good for your digestive health? A serving of fermented pickled eggs will usually contain various types of gut flora that can aid in digestion. These microbes are known as probiotics!

How long does it take for pickled eggs to be ready to eat? ›

Add the eggs, make sure they are submerged (you can top them off with an additional 1-2 tablespoons water if you need to). Cover and chill overnight. The eggs will intensify in flavor and color the longer they are pickled. We suggest waiting at least 2-3 days before eating them.

Can I use the same brine for pickled eggs? ›

Reusing Brine. Some of the fun of pickled eggs is that they can adopt all sorts of brine—even leftovers from other pickles.

How many pickled eggs can you eat a day? ›

How many pickled eggs should (can) I eat a day? So, we did some more digging, and found that eating one egg a day wasn't going to kill you; in fact, it may actually REDUCE heart disease. Other studies have shown no ill effects on people who have consumed up to 12 eggs a week!

How do you know when pickled eggs are ready to eat? ›

Give the eggs at least 24 hours in the pickling brine before you eat one. That way, the flavors have time to penetrate the egg. A few days is even better.

Can homemade pickled eggs go bad? ›

The shelf life of pickled eggs can vary depending on factors such as the method of preparation, the ingredients used, and the storage conditions. Typically, when stored properly in a refrigerator at or below 40°F (4°C) in a clean, airtight glass container, pickled eggs can last from several weeks to up to 4 months.

How long do hard-boiled eggs last? ›

Hard cooked eggs can be stored in the refrigerator up to seven days, either left in their shells or peeled. Make sure eggs are refrigerated within two hours after cooking, and don't leave refrigerated cooked eggs out at room temperature for more than two hours.

How long can you ferment pickled eggs? ›

Place the jar in a cool, dark location. A closet or kitchen cupboard is fine. Leave the eggs to ferment for 1 to 3 days. Store the pickled eggs in the fridge, and enjoy within 2 weeks.

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