Kirby Cucumbers & Pickling

[snifflyfro]

Hi,

I'm interested in doing some pickling (NY deli Kosher style fermenting in brine).

I understand that this isn't the proper area for asking questions about Pickling, but does anybody know where I can find Kirbies? I live around Cleveland Circle (but can drive a couple of miles to a different grocery store)

I've found "small salad cucumbers" are these the same things? They seem to have warts (maybe not as much as Kirbies, not sure).

So far I made one batch that were good and a friend ate them up, but they were more full sour, not half-sour due to over fermentation (I think the heat earlier in the week sped up the process).

I'm looking forward to getting some Kirbies once the Coolidge Corner and new Allston Farmers Markets open up, but I'm looking for a retail regular source.

Thanks!

[poptart]

I often get them at Whole Foods.

[greygarious]

The Market Basket flyer for the week of 6/22 has pickling cukes for 99 cents a pound.

[snifflyfro]

Thanks for the suggestions. I went to Russo's (was in the area anyway). What a great place, I've never been there before but I'll certainly been back. They had a ton of good fresh ones.

I had to go to Stop&Shop for a couple of things and they had a few kirby cukes labeled "pickling cucumbers" but as Trufflehound mentioned, they didn't look all that fresh.

[trufflehound]

Stop and Shop usually have pickling cukes but they never seem fresh. My suggestion is head to Russo's or Mt. Auburn St and get soem Armenian cukes.

[Taralli]

Arax usually has these.

[Food4Thought]

I'm guessing Russo's in Watertown would be a good bet.

[SmokeDawg]

Any Farmer's market will soon have plenty of Kirby Cukes.

[greygarious]

I've never heard of "Kirby" cukes, or seen the "small salad cucumber" label, but supermarket produce departments commonly carry those labeled "pickling cucumbers"; I've successfully used them many times. They are bumpy, unevenly streaked with varying shades of green, and usually not more than 6" long, under 2" in diameter. Unlike regular cukes, they are not available 100% of the time, but neither are they rare.

[snifflyfro]

"Pickling Cucumbers" are in fact Kirbies. I've been to a number of stores and haven't seen them around. Do you have any specific stores where you've seen them?

I believe Kirby Cikes AKA pickling cukes are peaking soon, although in this day and age I assume that a well stocked grocer has most veggies year-round (I know, not great for the environment).