Good dill pickles?--(Kosher-tasting?)

[GraceW]

I try not to buy them because they have little nutritional value for the price.... but I love Claussen (Kosher dill) pickles because I grew up around several Jewish delis that had exceptional dill pickles.

Claussen seems to be alone in terms of taste with respect to other 'grocery-store pickles'... it is also alone in terms of refrigeration (the other generic brands are just on the shelf.. but Claussens are in the refrigerated section.. why?!). I bought the big pickle at Potbelly's once (I think my friend thought I bought soup and a sandwich but it was soup and a pickle--it was just as big as a sandwich), and their pickle actually had the same type of taste as Claussen.

Besides Claussen pickles, are there any similar or better pickles? I abhor Vlassic and abhor all generic pickles that don't have the snap and garlic flavor like Claussen. I suppose it might have something to do with them being "Kosher dill" pickles, but I do not need them to be "Kosher"--I just wonder if anyone has found anything that compares with Claussen that is widely available.

[teemo]

From what I understand most store-bought pickles are boiled and fermented in their processing, so they are safe to sit out on the shelf. Claussen pickles are not cooked, so they have to be refrigerated.

[MacTAC]

We have a great pickle company that I always try to buy from but if I need jarred from a supermarket, the ones I've liked the best are B&G. Wasn't happy with any of the others I tried.

[Terrieltr]

I've always loved Gedney pickles, but they're only in the MN and surrounding states.

[small h]

I don't know how widely available they are, but Batampte pickles are quite good, for jarred pickles. I think they're better than Claussen's.

http://www.batamptepickles.com/

[Steve]

Yes to Batempte Garlic Dills. No Claussen for me.

The only problem with Batempte is that they continue to have problems with sealing their jars, so sometimes you wind up with a bad jar.

[small h]

That is very true. Beware a clouded brine - it does not bode well for the contents of the jar.

[Steve]

Thanks for the tip! Since I always keep myself supplied, that will save me some serious money and aggravation.

[AdamD]

I like the half sours and the pickled tomatoes!!