Last Updated on 26th July 2022 by
Oh, I love pickles. Not only do I love having them on my table, but I also love making them. It’s an easy-to-make, flexible, sour, and savory side dish that I love serving as a snack, pizza topping, or burger stuffing. I’ve been adding pickles to my burgers and pizzas if I want that extra sour kick, and they just tickle my palate every time.
But aside from having pickles simply as raw pickles, did you know that you can still elevate these pickles into a more sumptuous, crispy snack? How? Simply fry your dried pickles!
Fried pickles are an excellent snack or appetizer and will give you that flavorful and crunchy twist from your usual dried pickles.
You’ve come to the right place if you’d like to know how to make deep-fried pickles. And are pickles good for you? Well not if they are deep fried but standard pickles can be god for you in moderation.
How to Make Fried Pickles
Making fried pickles is very easy, but first, let’s figure out the origin of pickles and how they are made so we can make the perfect fried pickles.
I prefer using cucumbers and slicing them horizontally into round-shaped sizes for my pickles. I make a brine composed of water, vinegar, and seasonings in a separate bowl. I prefer using apple cider vinegar or rice vinegar. I then grab a glass jar that can be tightly sealed.
Place the sliced cucumbers into the jar, pour in the brine, and add dill (we cover in this post about what to do with dill) and garlic. Refrigerate the jar to start the pickling process at least 24 hours before consuming.
Now that we have our pickles, it’s time to figure out how to make deep-fried pickles.
To make deep-fried pickles, take your favorite pickles (I like using either cucumber or dill pickles) and cut them into my desired sizes if they’re still too big. I place each slice onto a paper towel to pat them dry.
The next step is on how to make fried pickles batter. But while I do this, I place oil over a medium pan and preheat the oil to 375°F. If you don’t have a thermometer, you can try dropping a little batter into your oil to see if it is ready to cook.
I use flour, Italian seasonings, pepper, ½ teaspoon salt, and water to make fried pickle batter and mix them thoroughly into a bowl. Adjust your flour and batter until it reaches a smooth, creamy texture.
Drop your dried pickles onto the batter using a tong or spoon, and then move them to the preheated oil. Fry the pickles until golden brown, and serve immediately. Alternatively, you can use breadcrumbs if you want that extra crunch.
The most important thing in cooking fried pickles is making sure your pickles are thoroughly dried before dropping them in your batter. This allows the batter to hold on to the pickles better and reduces splattering while frying.
How to Make Fried Pickles in the Air Fryer
Another way to make fried pickles without the hassle and fear of oil splattering all over is by using an air fryer. Here’s how to make fried pickles in the air fryer, the easy way.
The process is slightly different. First, after drying the pickles, prepare three bowls. One bowl for the flour, another for the egg, and another for your seasonings like Italian seasoning, Cajun, pepper, parmesan, and breadcrumbs.
Take your dried pickles and drop them first onto the flour. Afterward, dip them into the beaten eggs, and the last is to drop them onto your seasonings mixture. Make sure your pickles are entirely covered. Do this for each slice of pickles.
Place the covered and seasoned pickles in a single layer on your air fryer basket and cook them for 10 minutes at 400°F.
If you don’t have breadcrumbs, it’s not difficult to make fried pickles in the air fryer without breadcrumbs but still retain that crisp.
Make sure that your flour mixture covers your pickles. This will make sure that your pickles are still crisp without bread crumbs. However, shake off excess flour before cooking and ensure they don’t overlap in your air fryer basket. Adding oil heavily will make sure your pickle slices are crisp and thoroughly.
Nutrition Facts on Fried Pickles
If you’re wondering how many carbs are in fried pickles, a serving of fried pickles contains 87 grams of carbs. It also has 85 grams of fat, 12 grams of protein, and 1,160 calories.
How to Reheat Fried Pickles
Fried pickles are best eaten hot off the pan or stove. The charm of fried foods comes from when they are the crispiest and hottest, so consuming your fried pickles right after cooking is the best way to eat them.
However, if you have leftover fried pickles you don’t want to waste, you can reheat them! They won’t be as crunchy as when they were first cooked, but they will still taste amazing.
Reheating Fried Pickles in the Microwave
The best way to reheat your fried pickles if you’re in a hurry and don’t have time to prepare kitchen utensils is with the microwave. Grab a microwave-safe plate and place paper towels on the plate. Place the fried pickles on the plate above the paper towels in one layer, leaving space between each other. Place another layer of paper towel on top. This will help absorb the oil during the reheating process so that there’s a higher chance of your fried pickles becoming more crispy. Reheat for 30 seconds at 50% power, and wait for 30 seconds before eating to let the batter harden a bit.
Reheating Fried Pickles in the Oven
Layer your fried pickles on an oiled nonstick baking sheet or an aluminon foil, then place them on a wire rack—Bake for 10 minutes on each side.
Reheating Fried Pickles on the Stove
Preheat oil on a pan, and place the fried pickles on the heated oil for 2 to 3 minutes, until golden brown. Place the refried pickles on a paper towel to drain the oil.
I'm Pauline, a mother of four grown children, my passion for cooking stemmed from the joy i get cooking for my family. I love to try new dishes, especially when dining out but creating and sharing my own recipes is my favourite thing to do!
