Easy Classic Pickled Eggs Recipe | Homemade & Yummy (2025)

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Easy Classic Pickled Eggs Recipe is a true pub favourite.

Popular bar styled food made at home with this easy no canning method. All you need is a nice big jar, hard-boiled eggs, and a brine to make the best-pickled eggs ever.

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Who would have thought a hard-boiled egg cured in vinegar or pickling brine would create such a great snack and appetizer?Egg pickles!

Since I was a kid, my mom made these all the time. In fact, she was a true “canner”. All kinds of pickles, fruits, jams, canned tomatoes, sauces and of course sauerkraut, lined the walls of the cold cellar.

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RECIPE and INSTRUCTIONS for this old fashioned pickled egg recipe is at the bottom of this post.

I am more of a quick pickle person. This recipe is a no canning method, just like my zucchini pickles andpickled onions recipe! According to my husband, she made the best pickled eggs, until he tried them done my way.

If you love pickles without all the work, check out this roundup 30 Easy Refrigerator Pickles.

I still remember that room in the basement of my parent’s house. It was dark and only had a small light bulb that did not provide much light at all. The door was hard to open, and the cement floor was uneven. Inside the wooden shelves were lined with various sizes of glass jars.

She also made homemade sauerkraut, which we called kapusta. It is so delicious in the traditional Ukrainian Kobasa Kapusta recipe. Often seen on the holiday dinner tables.

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Those days of traditional canning does not happen in my house.

Simple Pickling Ingredients

Like with ALL quick pickles, ingredients are easy to find.

Mom would make these for every stag or bachelor party that was hosted by the family. Seems the guys loved eating these, especially when they drank beer.

I guess that is why they are a pub favourite, especially in the UK. They are found in fish and chip shops too.

I thought they were Ukrainian pickled eggs. Who knew they would be SO DELICIOUS!

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Of course, my husband happens to be one of those people who loved my mom’s recipe. He would always be so happy when mom made them. In fact, she would make a jar just for him.

Now my grandkids can say grandma’s pickled eggs are the BEST! Just like the kind you can find in the bar.

How To Make Easy Pickled Eggs

This is a super easy no canning method.

  1. Sterilize a clean large glass jar. I add boiling water to it and let it sit for 5 minutes. Pour the water out and you are good to go.
  2. Have your hard-boiled eggs cooked and peeled (the hardest part is peeling those eggs).
  3. Place them in the jar.
  4. Boil the brine ingredients in a small pot.
  5. Pour over the eggs.
  6. Put on the lid.
  7. Let cool slightly, then place in the fridge.
  8. Let sit until seasoned (at least 3 days). Ok…this is the second hardest part.
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After looking at my mom’s recipe, I just could not see how this would be tasty. Vinegar, salt, and mustard powder? Really? What happened to balance? Isn’t there supposed to be water, sugar, and seasoning?

The typical British recipe uses vinegar, salt and sugar. Mine is a no sugar recipe.

I knew I needed something different. I wanted my recipe to be infused with more flavour.

Egg Pickle Variations

  • Brines can be all vinegar (usually white vinegar or malt vinegar)
  • You can use beet juice or pickle juice in the brine
  • Some recipes include salt and vinegar
  • Some use only one or the other
  • Additional seasonings such as dill, onion, jalapeno (for a kick of heat) can be added
  • You can also use a pickling spice blend
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Ok now for the test. I let hubby do the honours. Well to my surprise, he LOVED them. In fact even better than moms!!

This DIY easy pickling recipe is a must-try. You can make them YOUR way. Spicy, flavoured, coloured. Skip the eggs in a jar from Costco. These are better than store-bought hands down.

Recipe Tips

  • If you want the pickling brine to be clear (like the ones you see in the store) do not use the pickling spice (cloves turn the brine brown).
  • Be sure to let the eggs sit for AT LEAST 3 days in the fridge before eating.
  • You can experiment with the brine ingredients, creating the brine you prefer.
  • Be sure to serve at room temperature.
  • Ways to serve pickled eggs include: snacks, party appetizers (especially game night) and sandwich fillings.
  • The longer the eggs stay in the brine, the stronger the taste.
  • Prolonged time in the brine tends to create a rubbery texture.

How Long Do Pickled Eggs Last?

I would say safely 3-4 months. Since this is a quick pickle method, the shelf life is not as long as the traditional canned method, or the ones purchased in the grocery stores.

Do You Need To Keep Them Refrigerated?

Yes for food safety you will want to keep them in the fridge.

Do You Have To Peel The Eggs?

The hard-boiled eggs are peeled before they are put into the pickling brine. Unpeeled eggs will not work in this recipe.

Can You Use Pickle Juice?

People have used pickle juice to make pickled eggs. This recipe uses a seasoned brine. If you use dill pickle juice, the eggs will have a dill pickle taste.Pickled eggs with beet juice will make them pink.

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Easy Old Fashioned Pickled Eggs

Eggs pickled in a brine, no sugar and no canning. Just like in thehe pub.

4.93 from 179 votes

Pin Recipe Print Rate Save

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: British

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Resting Time: 3 days days

Total Time: 3 days days 35 minutes minutes

Servings: 12 servings

Calories: 64kcal

Author:

Ingredients

  • 12 large eggs (hard boiled & peeled)
  • 4 cups white vinegar
  • 1 ½ cups water
  • 1 ½ teaspoons course sea salt
  • 1 tablespoon pickling spice

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

  • Sterilize a large mouth jar.

  • Hard boil and peel the eggs.

To make the Brine:

  • In a pot combine the vinegar, water, salt and pickling spice.

  • Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.

To Pickle:

  • Place peeled eggs into the clean jar.

  • Pour brine over eggs.

  • Seal jar. Leave on kitchen counter for about 1 hour, then place in fridge.

  • Let eggs sit in brine for at least 3 days before eating.

  • ENJOY!!

Nutrition Information

Calories: 64kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 164mg | Sodium: 354mg | Potassium: 66mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 238IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 1mg

Notes

***Always keep the pickled eggs refrigerated until ready to eat*** These will keep for several months.

You can take them out of the brine and bring them to room temperature before eating if you wish.

You can make less brine if you wish. I wanted to make sure I had the eggs completely submerged in the liquid.

Tried this recipe?Take a picture and tag @homemadeandyummy

Nutritional information on this site is generated via a plugin. I am not responsible for the accuracy of the plugin information.
Easy Classic Pickled Eggs Recipe | Homemade & Yummy (2025)

FAQs

How long should eggs be pickled before eating? ›

If small eggs are used, 1 to 2 weeks are usually allowed for seasoning to occur. Medium or large eggs may require 2 to 4 weeks to become well seasoned. Use the eggs within 3 to 4 months for best quality. Each of these recipes uses 12 peeled, hard-cooked eggs.

How do you make pickled eggs not rubbery? ›

And If the eggs sit in that liquid too long, you get rubbery eggs. There's a simple enough way to avoid this problem. You want the pickling liquid to do its job in the beginning, and then after the eggs have reached the proper degree of pickling, you can dilute the solution with some water.

How long will pickled eggs keep for? ›

Pickled eggs MUST be always stored in the refrigerator. The pickling solution must completely cover all hard-boiled eggs. Once eggs have been combined with a pickling solution, a period of 1 to 3 weeks is required for seasoning to fully penetrate the eggs. Use pickled eggs within 3 to 4 months for best quality.

Can you pickle eggs by just putting them in pickle juice? ›

Add the boiled eggs directly to the jar of pickle juice or put eggs and juice in a clean mason jar. Refrigerate for at least 3 days before eating. The longer the eggs are in the juice, the more pickled and flavorful they'll become. Eggs will last 3 months in the fridge.

Can I reuse the vinegar from pickled eggs? ›

No, it's not considered safe to reuse the pickling brine.

Are pickled eggs better cold or room temperature? ›

Remember there are no research supported home canning processes for pickled eggs. The recipes provided here are all meant to be stored in the refrigerator. Pickled eggs should never be stored at room temperature, except during serving and they should not be at room temperature for more than two hours.

Do I have to boil vinegar for pickling? ›

No, there are other methods for pickling, including quick pickling and refrigerator pickling. But this pickling method does call for boiling the brine. This process helps bloom the flavors of the ingredients and help speed up the pickling process when it's added to the fresh vegetables or fruit.

What's the best pickling vinegar? ›

Most pickle recipes call for distilled white vinegar. This is the clear, colorless vinegar made by fermenting grains. It has a mellow aroma, tart acid flavor and does not affect the color of light-colored vegetables or fruits.

Is eating pickled eggs good for you? ›

Pickled eggs are a great healthy snack to have in the fridge. The recipe is simple, easy to follow, and requires only a few ingredients. You will love the flavor of the spices and garlic in the pickling brine.

Should I poke holes in my pickled eggs? ›

Danger: Some older recipes suggest using a toothpick to poke a deep hole in the boiled egg for better penetration of the pickling fluid. This has resulted in cases of (very unpleasant and/or fatal) botulism poisoning.

What is the best pickle juice for pickle shots? ›

As stringent as you should be about the whiskey, there's no need to be picky about the pickle juice. The brine from any jar of pickles will work. Go ahead and pour from that commercially produced jar or your favorite homemade pickles—the shot will be just as good either way.

Do you leave the shell on when pickling eggs? ›

Gently tap the eggs on the work surface and peel off the shells. Put the boiled eggs in a sterilised jar where they all fit, about 1 litre, and pour over the cooled pickling liquid to cover. Seal and leave in a cool, dark place for at least two weeks, or up to three months.

How many pickled eggs can you eat a day? ›

How many pickled eggs should (can) I eat a day? So, we did some more digging, and found that eating one egg a day wasn't going to kill you; in fact, it may actually REDUCE heart disease. Other studies have shown no ill effects on people who have consumed up to 12 eggs a week!

Are pickled eggs healthy? ›

Pickled eggs are a great healthy snack to have in the fridge. The recipe is simple, easy to follow, and requires only a few ingredients. You will love the flavor of the spices and garlic in the pickling brine.

How long will hard boiled eggs last in pickle juice? ›

Pickled eggs will keep for one month in the refrigerator. To make your own pickling spice mixture, use 1 tsp (5 mL) peppercorns, 10 whole cloves, 1 bay leaf and 2 dried whole chili peppers. For a quick method of pickling eggs, place hard boiled eggs in pickle or pickled beet juice.

Why do people eat pickled eggs while drinking? ›

It is believed that the an amino acid called cysteine present in the eggs, aids the functioning of the liver and works well to prevent excessive hangovers. This is followed by the simple logic that when you're munching on something while taking a drink, it helps to mellow down the effect of the booze.

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