There are so many different brands of pickles that it's hard to determine which one deserves your heart. I went to my local Kroger and bought every type of dill pickle that they had out on the shelves and taste tested them for you so that you can confidently buy the best dill pickles they've got.
8. Kroger Dill Whole
7. Vlasic Zesty Dill Whole
First of all, these are not kosher dill pickles, which really does make a big difference. The delicious salty flavor that all pickle lovers know so well is not present in these pickles since they do not have kosher salt in them. It also turns out that "zesty" really means spicy, which I just wasn't a fan of. All in all, these pickles cannot even be considered being shelved in the dill pickle section, as they are just zesty pickles on their own.
6. Private Selection Garden Kosher Dill Spears
These pickles tasted very different than any kosher dill pickle I had ever tried before. They are marinated in normal pickle juice, but with added carrot, red pepper, and garlic. Private Selection always has to be a bit fancier than other brands, I guess. The flavor was interesting, but it definitely was not my favorite by any means. If you are in search of a typical kosher dill pickle, these are not for you.
5. Boar’s Head Kosher Dill Spears
These pickles reminded me of a New York diner pickle. You know, the ones that they serve with the coleslaw. I found them a little below the Vlasic spears in flavor and crunch, but all in all, these are pretty good.
4. Vlasic Kosher Dill Spears Reduced Sodium
These pickles really shocked me. Although they are reduced sodium, you could barely tell a difference. To me, they were just as delicious as any other Vlasic Kosher Dill. The reason these are #4 on my list is because I'm not the biggest fan of pickle spears. However, they would be a great addition to a sandwich, like a homemade Chick-Fil-A sandwich, or to serve on the side of a meal since they are already sliced into spears.
3. Kroger Kosher Dill Whole
When I first came to college, I would always shy away from the grocery store's brand, but I've learned to appreciate how great Kroger brand really is. The price of Kroger brand pickles is a dream. These pickles have an awesome juicy flavor. Since they are bigger in size, it allows for each bite to be juicier than the smaller pickles. You may want to learn to love pickle juice if you don't already, because it's a great hangover cure! For some people, this is a positive, but for other's, not so much. I find these pickles to have the perfect mixture of crunch and juice to each bite.
2. Mt. Olive Kosher Baby Dill
These pickles are small just like the Vlasic Snack'mms. I chose to make these pickles second on my list because their crunch factor just wasn't as great, and I just didn't find the flavor as strong in these pickles as the Vlasics. It's hard to lose with either pickle, so they are both winners to me.
1. Vlasic Snack’mms Kosher Dill
These pickles are top on my list because of their crunch, flavor, and adorable size. The greatest thing about small pickles is that they are not as messy as the big ones, and you have more of a choice when it comes to the amount of pickles you want to eat. This pickle's flavor is just right. You definitely won't be disappointed by it.