What is Pickle Crisp made of?
Pickle Crisp is calcium chloride, the same firming salt used in store-bought pickles. The calcium helps vegetables keep their snap through the heat of canning. There's no sodium, and it doesn't change the flavor.
How to use Pickle Crisp
- Pack your cucumbers or vegetables into clean jars as your recipe says.
- Add Pickle Crisp to each jar: 1/8 teaspoon per pint or 1/4 teaspoon per quart (Ball label directions).
- Pour in your hot brine, cap, and process in a water bath canner for the time your tested recipe calls for.
Pickle Crisp adds crunch only. It doesn't replace the vinegar, salt or processing time in your recipe. For tested pickle recipes, see the Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving.
Pickle Crisp vs. pickling lime
| Ball Pickle Crisp | Pickling lime | |
|---|---|---|
| Ingredient | Calcium chloride | Calcium hydroxide |
| Soaking | None: add it straight to the jar | Overnight soak, then several rinses |
| Yield | About 80 quarts per 5.5 oz jar | About 16 quarts per bag |
| Extra steps | None | Rinse thoroughly to remove lime |
Where to buy Ball Pickle Crisp
- Online: order right here. It's in stock and ships fast.
- In person: Red Hill General Store, 1035 Sylvatus Hwy, Hillsville, VA 24343. Call 276-728-3456.
- For your store: hardware stores, garden centers and general stores can order by the case of 8.
Goes with Pickle Crisp
Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving
Tested pickle and canning recipes.Canning jar lids
Regular and wide mouth.Water bath canners
For pickles, jams and tomatoes.Fermentation crocks
For crock pickles and sauerkraut.Pickle Crisp questions
What is Ball Pickle Crisp made of?
Ball Pickle Crisp is calcium chloride, a food-safe salt used in commercial pickles to keep them firm. It is the only ingredient.
What does Pickle Crisp do?
It keeps home-canned pickles and vegetables crisp and crunchy. It replaces the old pickling-lime soak, so there is no overnight soaking or rinsing.
How much Pickle Crisp do I use?
The Ball label calls for 1/8 teaspoon per pint jar and 1/4 teaspoon per quart jar, added right into the jar before processing. Always check the label on your jar.
How many pickles does one jar make?
One 5.5 oz jar makes about 80 quarts of pickles, compared with about 16 quarts from one bag of pickling lime.
Does Pickle Crisp replace vinegar or salt?
No. It only adds crunch. Keep the vinegar, salt and processing time your tested recipe calls for.
Where can I buy Ball Pickle Crisp?
It is in stock here for $7.49 and ships fast. You can also buy it in person at Red Hill General Store, 1035 Sylvatus Hwy, Hillsville, VA 24343. Stores can order it by the case of 8.
Is Pickle Crisp the same as pickling lime?
No. Pickling lime is calcium hydroxide and needs a long soak and several rinses. Pickle Crisp is calcium chloride and goes straight into the jar.
How do I store Pickle Crisp?
Keep the lid tight and store it somewhere cool and dry. It pulls moisture from the air and will clump if left open.
Updated September 2026
