Let’s get pickly!
Which Pickle products are we trying today?
Vlasic Pickle Balls
Dorito’s Tangy Pickle
Cheetos Flamin’ Hot Dill Pickle
Who is on this juicy Pickle quest?
Alan, born in the wrong decade.
Matt, starts with the balls.
Amy, it’s crunchy.
And of course, our subscribers! Thanks to our small, yet coveted group. We appreciate the support. You too can join us on this food journey. All you need to do is… SUBSCRIBE!
The History of Pickles
Pickles got their start over 4,000 years ago when ancient Mesopotamians began soaking cucumbers in acidic brine as a way to preserve them. Throughout history, pickling was a necessity since it was the best way to preserve food over a long period of time.
Pickles were brought to America by Christopher Columbus. He liked traveling with them because they could obviously survive the long journeys, and they helped prevent scurvy since they are rich in Vitamin C
The verb “to pickle” means to preserve something in a solution. This solution is often vinegar. Most bacteria can’t flourish in highly acidic environments, so by submerging foods in vinegar helps prevent spoilage. Pickles however, are generally submerged in brine, which is a salty water. The brining method relies on acid’s preserving properties. The acid is introduced by bacteria during fermentation.
Throughout history, people have added spices to their pickle brines, such as garlic, mustard seeds, cinnamon, dill and cloves. These add flavor to the pickles while also providing antimicrobial properties to the equation.
Kosher pickles are not necessarily kosher. Early kosher pickles may have been made kosher per Jewish law, but today the word is used to describe any pickles made in the traditional New York style.
Bread and Butter pickles are a popular option which omit the garlic and add something sweet to the brine, such as brown sugar or syrup.
By the 19th century, H.J. Heinz Company had cornered the market using some unique marketing efforts. At the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, the “Pickle King” H.J. Heinz dispatched some local kids to tempt fairgoers with a free gift if they visited his booth and taste the food. By the end of the fair, Heinz had given out some 1 million pickle pins. They repeated the pickle pin promotion at the World’s Fairs of 1896, 1898, and 1939.
During World War 2, the US government rationed pickles with 40% of the nations production going to the armed forces.
Heinz was the top of the pickle game until the 1970s, when Vlasic and their cartoon stork who delivers pickles instead of babies took over. This marketing tactic worked, especially since it played on the belief that pregnant women crave pickles.
Today, cucumber pickle factories usually ferment cucumbers in large outdoor vats of salt brine. These vats have no cover, completely open to the elements, including bird droppings, insects and other airborne objects. They are left open to let the sun’s ultraviolet and infrared rays assist in preventing yeast and mold growth on the brine surface.
Pickles are rich in vitamin C. Additionally, Vitamin A, iron, zinc and magnesium are found in these delicious snacks. The Iron can help you feel less tired. The zinc can help heal your skin. Magnesium helps you absorb calcium. Vitamin A helps keep muscles and tendons strong and helps support your skeleton. Pickled cucumbers are also full of folate which can help your nervous system and vitamin K which aids in blood clotting.
The Department of Agriculture estimates that the average American eats 8.5 lbs of pickles a year. And in 2020, around 246 million Americans consumed pickles.
The Results
**SPOILER ALERT!**
Listen to the episode first if you do not want the results revealed to you yet!
Vlasic Pickle Balls
Alan - “Gimme more of these pickle balls.” - 8
Amy - “I could get down with these.” - 7
Matt - “It’s the real dill.” - 8
Dorito’s Tangy Pickle
Alan - “I could keep eating these.” - 7
Amy - “These aren’t bad.” - 6
Matt - “They take a bit to get the flavor rolling.” - 6
Cheeto’s Flaming Hot Dill Pickle
Alan - “Tiny twang of juicy.” - 3
Amy - “It has a pickle twinge but not a taste.” - 4
Matt - “It’s just heat and corn.” - 4
There you have it. Vlasic Pickle Balls receive the Quest for the Best seal of approval.
Thank you all for joining us on this episode of Quest for the Best. Let us know what you thought. Have you tried all these Dilly foods? We would love to hear your rating as well.
Also, do you have any foods you would love to get the coveted seal of approval? Let us know in the comments what you want to hear next.
SHOW NOTES:
https://food52.com/blog/13564-strange-but-good-9-ways-to-eat-pickles
https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/648355/pickles-food-history
https://www.exploratorium.edu/cooking/pickles/history.html
https://www.positivehealthwellness.com/diet-nutrition/everything-need-know-pickles/
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