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    Home » Easy Recipes

    Easiest Pickled Cauliflower

    Published: Jul 13, 2023 · Modified: Aug 4, 2023 by Susan Moncrieff · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Making refrigerator pickled cauliflower.

    Maybe I should have titled this post, "How to make cauliflower taste better." Cauliflower seems to be the darling of the no-carb world right now.  But, I don't find cauliflower on its own tastes very good. It's a big old hunk of hard white boring vegetable. Yes, I said that.  Do you agree?

    cauliflower in a used pickle container

    When I buy cauliflower for a specific purpose, I usually have a bunch leftover and I used to dutifully keep it in the fridge for a few weeks until it looked pitiful and then threw it out. This recipe extends the life of the cauliflower. The best part is you have a delicious cold veggie side or veggie snack that has so much flavor because it has been marinated!

    This method is also great for extending the life of your cucumbers! Make refrigerator pickles/cucumbers this way too!

    Table of contents

    • Making refrigerator pickled cauliflower.
    • Why I love preserving cauliflower this way
    • Ingredients & Supplies
    • Instructions
    • How to serve
    • How to store
    • FAQs
    • Other ways to reuse pickle brine
    • Printable recipe

    Why I love preserving cauliflower this way

    I hate wasting food! This way of preserving cauliflower improves the taste of this veggie and it preserves it for you. This is a great way to add a vegetable side ready to go from your fridge. Also, you save money by not wasting the cauliflower and having a delicious marinated vegetable available as a side or a snack.

    Ingredients & Supplies

    I had a recently emptied pickle jar but kept the original pickle brine (aka pickle juice).
    My family's favorite pickles are the refrigerated Clausen pickles. We love the flavor! I don't normally advertise brands, but these pickles are the best. They are in the refrigerated section of your grocery store.

    Clean and cut up cauliflower pieces

    pickle jar full of pieces of raw cauliflower


    Instructions

    You do want fresh cauliflower to do this. Don't buy old limp cauliflower that has spots on it.  Do this when your cauliflower is still fresh.

    a big piece of white fresh cauliflower


    Step 1
    Cut the cauliflower into smaller pieces.
    Step 2
    Put as many cauliflower pieces into the pickle jar as you can fit. This helps the brine cover all of the cauliflower and let it marinate in the pickle juice.

    cauliflower pieces filling up a pickle jar


    Step 3
    When I put the jars into the fridge, I turn them upside down for a day, then turn them right-side up. Normally, after 2 days, the cauliflower tastes delicious!

    Upside down pickle jar full of cauliflower pieces.

    How to serve

    Use this cauliflower as a snack, a side or a garnish.  It has a nice crisp texture and a pickle flavor.  Try this, you'll be pleasantly surprised! Think of it as a marinated vegetable.

    How to store

    This is for short term storage of cauliflower only. You are not canning/processing the cauliflower. Keep it refrigerated and use it up or throw it out within approx. 2 weeks. I toss it when the cauliflower loses its crispness.

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    FAQs

    Can I store this in my cool basement?

    No. This is not a canned item. This method is only good for extending the life of the cauliflower for a couple of weeks. It must be kept refrigerated.

    Can I reuse the brine and then process the cauliflower to can it?

    You should never reuse brine to can or process anything. Canning is a science and you need to keep a specific ratio of vinegar and salt so that nothing spoils.

    Other ways to reuse pickle brine

    • close up of partially peeled cucumbers in a jar
      Reusing brine to make refrigerator pickles
    • Creamy dill pickle pasta salad
      Dill Pickle Pasta Salad

    Printable recipe

    Please come back and leave a 5 star rating!

    pickle jar full of pieces of raw cauliflower
    Print Recipe
    5 from 4 votes

    Pickled (marinated) cauliflower

    An easy and cheap way to use and keep your extra cauliflower.  Makes cauliflower taste delicious! The cauliflower is perfect as a side, garnish or a snack.
    Prep Time10 minutes mins
    marinating time2 days d
    Total Time2 days d 10 minutes mins
    Course: Salad, Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 24Kcal
    Author: Susan Moncrieff

    Ingredients

    • 1 jar pickle juice emptied of pickles but containing the original pickle brine (pickle juice). My family loves Clausen pickles.
    • 1 medium cauliflower Use fresh cauliflower cut into small pieces. This process is not recommended for cauliflower already spoiling.

    Instructions

    • Cut the cauliflower into small bite-sized pieces.
    • Place the cauliflower pieces into the pickle brine.  Put as many in as you can so that the brine covers the most cauliflower.
    • Screw the lid on tight.  I put the jar into the fridge, upside down the first day.
    • The second day I put it right-side up.  By the third day, it's delicious and ready to eat.  Perfect as a snack, a side, or a garnish.
    • This is not a processed canning system. The cauliflower is more like a marinated vegetable. Keep in the refrigerator and use within a couple of weeks.

    Notes

    This method does not process the jars, so this is not a long term storage process.  The cauliflower in the brine should be eaten or disposed of after 2-3 weeks. I've kept it longer, but once the cauliflower loses its crispy texture, I toss it.  If the cauliflower looks or tastes off, obviously you don't want to eat it -  throw it out!

    Nutrition (I am not a nutritionist. These are estimates only)

    Serving: 1g | Calories: 24Kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 0.3g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.03g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.03g | Sodium: 31mg | Potassium: 287mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin C: 46mg | Calcium: 21mg | Iron: 0.4mg

    Please pin to your Pinterest account.

    a big piece of cauliflower with a text overlay saying make cauliflower last longer.

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    I'm Susan! I love sharing easy recipes, especially those that take less than 30 minutes and have less than 5 ingredients. I'm passionate about gardening and creating flower planters. My home is 100 years old and sometimes you will see it in my posts! It was a true fixer upper and I love it!

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