15 Quick Pickles to Preserve Summer for a Little Longer

Homemade Refrigerator Pickles

This simple recipe is an excellent intro to quick pickling. Watch the video to see how easily you can pickle a tangy/sweet mix of cucumbers, onions, and bell peppers to enjoy even after summer's just a memory.

Pickled Grapes

If you think pickling is just for cucumbers, you need to taste the magic of pickled fruit. The process takes mere minutes, and the grapes are ready to eat after one day of soaking.

Refrigerator Rainbow Carrot Pickles

Buckwheat Queen says, "This is a game changer when it comes to the game 'how to keep salads interesting.' They give it flavor, crunch, and if you add a little brine and oil, no need for fattening dressings." Tip: You can slice the carrots into rounds or into matchsticks.

Pickled Garlic and Jalapeno Peppers

Make summer's heat last a little longer with a jar or two of pickled peppers. Recipe creator Kate Przbylo says, "You could also substitute serrano peppers for the jalapenos, cauliflower for the carrots, or add small onions. Pickles will keep approximately 6 weeks in the fridge."

Quick Pickled Radishes

These lovely quick pickles take only a few minutes to make, but you should let them sit in the fridge overnight to get the best flavor. Recipe creator France C says the color will deepen the longer they sit.

Addictive Spicy Dill Avocado Pickles

"Underripe avocados are lightly pickled in brine that is tangy and slightly sweet," says recipe creator Buckwheat Queen. "These are great to serve with your favorite burger, hot dog, or Tex-Mex dish. They make a snazzy addition to salads too!" They'll last about 5 days in the fridge.

Sugar Snap! Pickled Peas

Recipe creator Matt Wencl recommends letting these snappy pickled peas sit in the fridge for at least 1 day and up to 2 weeks before serving. Watch the video to see how easy they are to make.

Vietnamese Pickled Daikon Radish and Carrots

"This crispy Asian-style refrigerated pickle combination (do chua) is best known as an addition to banh mi sandwiches," says recipe creator bd.weld. "You can also add cucumber and onions, if you like. This also works well with BBQ pork or as a rice side. They will keep for 4 weeks in the refrigerator."

Nana's Southern Pickled Peaches

This top-rated recipe uses a hot water bath process to preserve the peaches for long-term storage. BUT, if you eliminate that step, you can make quick pickled peaches to store in your fridge. Serve these sweet and spicy peaches over ice cream, pound cake, or cheesecake. They're also sensational with grilled chicken or pork.

Pickled Watermelon Rinds

You know that watermelon rind you usually throw out? Yes, you can pickle that. (I have, and it's incredible!) Watermelon with a thick rind works best for this recipe because you cut off the outer green skin and all the red fruit before pickling the white rinds.

Catherine's Pickled Blueberries

Personal shout-out for this sweet/tart pickle. I'd never tried pickled fruit until my pickle-expert friend introduced me to these, and now they're a must-make when blueberry season hits. Take it from me, they're dangerously addictive as an appetizer with goat cheese and a sliced baguette, and they're amazing served as a condiment with grilled or roasted meats. The recipe includes water bath processing, but you can skip that to make quick pickles instead.

Cucamelon Pickles

"Cucamelons are adorable tiny melons that taste like cucumbers. Eaten on their own they are a bit dull, but they make very tasty pickles. They develop really good flavor after about 7 days and will keep up to 1 month in the fridge." —nch

Fresh Pickled Beet Melody

"A modern day spin on an old-time favorite, incorporating fresh beets, carrots. and onion in a tangy, sweet marinade. Very quick and easy to make. Beets stain! Make sure to wear an apron!" —Ginger Hackley

Refrigerator Giardiniera

"Very good. I added celery and omitted most of the peppers (I only had part of a red pepper). I used olive oil and canola oil and added a TBS of sugar. I I had to make more almost immediately because it disappeared so fast." —ilene

Summertime Sweet Pickles

When your garden (or the farmers' market) is overflowing with cucumbers, fill a few jars with these sweet quick pickles. You'll want to let them refrigerate for 24 hours before dishing them up.

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