Whether you eat them straight out of the jar or wedged in a sub sandwich (or better yet, in a grilled cheese sandwich), there's nothing like a dill pickle for a zingy dose of flavor. We decided to put the major brands to the test to find out who makes the best dill pickle.
Sometimes they're called gherkins, but don't let that stop you -- gherkins, for all intents and purposes, are just another name for a cucumber. Technically speaking, gherkins are just a different type of fruit than cucumbers, but they're similar enough that it doesn't make a difference, in terms of flavor or snap.
That aside, our panel of taste testers tried out 11 different kinds of dill pickles -- we gathered brands that you can either find at your supermarket or order online (we had to include the popular Rick's Picks). Each pickle was judged on its texture (a nice snap and a firm crunch vs. a softer pickle) and flavor (mild, zesty, sour, herbal or salty). Only one brand came from the refrigerated aisle of the grocery store, while the others came from the store shelf -- check out how they compared below.
Despite all 11 brands being labeled as "dill," there was quite some disparity -- some tasted like bread and butter pickles, while others tasted like "Christmas." Flip through the slideshow below to find out which pickles came out on top.
As always, our taste test was not influenced or sponsored by the brands involved.
Meathead: No-Fuss Kosher Dill Pickled Green Tomatoes
Jennifer Segal: Quick And Easy Dill Pickles
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Posted: 05/18/12 09:56 AM ET | Updated: 08/31/12 10:48 AM ET