I’ve been a dill pickle fanatic for as long as I can remember—not sweet pickles, not bread and butter pickles, but good ol’ dill pickles. My only issue with pickles is that I can go through an entire jar in about a week, which leaves me with a lot of leftover pickle juice in my fridge.
Although I’m savvy enough to know to save the glass jar for storing leftovers later, I’ve never quite figured out what to do with all of that flavorful pickle juice. With a little research and a lot of creativity, I’ve figure out the best ways to use leftover pickle juice so nothing goes to waste.
Add to soil of acidic soil-loving plants
Growing up, my mom’s garden was bursting with hydrangeas. We were lucky to have fairly acidic soil in our backyard, so her flowers thrived and bloomed in a variety of colors (the color of a hydrangea depends on the pH level of the soil). If you’re trying to grow potted hydrangeas or are struggling to keep your blooms alive, pour some pickle juice on the soil of your flowers to perk them up.
#SpoonTip: This trick works for rhododendrons or any other acidic soil-loving plant as well.
Drink as a natural hangover remedy
Pickle juice is full of electrolytes, making it a more natural (and cheaper) hangover remedy than Gatorade and other sports drinks. Because the brine is quite salty, you don’t want to drink a lot of it. But a shot or two and lots of water will do wonders for your body.
Marinate your own pickles
Instead of pouring the pickle juice down the drain, slice up a cucumber and put it into the pickle juice. You’ll need to wait at least 48 hours before opening the jar, and then use your best judgment to determine when your pickles are finished.
Make marinated cheese
Making bougie snacks doesn’t mean you need to spend an hour prepping. To make some classy marinated cheese, simply soak fresh mozzarella balls with pickle juice, pepper, and herbs of your choice. Pop your creation in the fridge until you’re ready to enjoy your treat.
Make a pickleback shot
Pickleback shots are about as college as it gets. Follow a shot of whiskey with a shot of pickle juice to neutralize the burn of the alcohol. The cheaper your whiskey, the more pickle juice you’ll need to forget how awful that shot was.
Tenderize meats
Use leftover pickle juice as a tenderizer before baking or grilling your meats. You’ll want to let the meat sit in the pickle juice for a few hours in the fridge before cooking it. You won’t taste the pickle juice in the final product, but your meat will have a subtle briny flavor you’re sure to enjoy.
#SpoonTip: This works with any meat, including fish.
Use in place of vinegar
Swap out the vinegar in your favorite salad dressing for leftover pickle juice. The pickle juice adds both acidity and flavor to dressings, which can liven up any side salad.
If you’re not a pickle juice lover after this article, I don’t know what will convince you to love this flavorful liquid. I’ve started using pickle juice in lots of recipes, and I’m hooked. My personal favorite is cheeseburger pie (it’s such a Midwest recipe), which my mom made when I was little. No matter how you use it, leftover pickle juice is a creative, cheap way to add flavor to any dish.