Leftover Pickle Brine Does Wonders For Homemade Bread

If you're a fan of pickles, you're in good company. According to Globe Newswire, the U.S. pickle industry is projected to reach $11.7 billion by the year 2027. Additionally, pickle-focused content on TikTok has garnered upwards of 9 billion views, suggesting that pickles' popularity shows no signs of waning. But once you're done adding pickles to sandwiches, snacking on them, or even making trendy pickle pizza, don't discard that leftover jar of ultra-hydrating pickle brine — use it to bake some bread instead.

The most obvious benefit of using pickle brine in bread is the flavor — it will help transform your sourdough, rye, or other types of bread into dill-icious goodness. While the tanginess may not be as potent as when you bite into a pickle directly from the jar, the brine's signature sourness can still make its presence felt. Another advantage of using pickle brine in bread-making is a potentially higher rise and softer texture, due to the vinegar's interaction with the yeast.

All you need to do to incorporate pickle brine into your bread is to replace some or all of the water in your recipe with pickle brine. If you're not proofing your yeast, you can proceed directly to making the bread. If you are proofing your yeast, use the pickle brine in the same manner you would use water, heating it before adding it to the yeast. If you're unsure whether you need to proof your yeast, keep this in mind: most yeast doesn't require proofing. Proofing can make it easier to achieve good results with low-hydration bread, but it's primarily a tool to check the viability of your yeast. If your yeast is fresh, you can probably skip this step.

After making this simple substitution, follow the rest of your chosen recipe as you normally would, and bake the bread in your oven or bread maker. If you want to add even more savory flavor to the bread, consider including chopped pickles or diced olives. For an extra burst of dill flavor, sprinkle in some chopped, fresh herbs, like in this pull-apart dill bread.

If you haven't already used your jar of leftover pickle brine for your delicious dill pickle bread, there are plenty of other ways to repurpose it. To double down on pickle flavor in your favorite sandwich, mix the brine into mayonnaise and spread it on the bread before adding meats, vegetables, or cheeses. That same pickle-infused mayo can also serve as a dressing for pasta salad or potato salad. For green salads, consider making a vinaigrette by substituting your usual acidic component with pickle brine.

You can enhance deviled eggs by incorporating the brine into the mayo-based filling or tenderize and flavor meats like chicken or pork with a pickle brine. When sauteing vegetables, a splash of pickle brine can elevate their taste. If you don't want to make your own brine, use leftover pickle brine to create refrigerator pickles from other vegetables such as carrots, okra, asparagus, or even more cucumbers.

For a unique twist, pour the brine into molds to make savory pickle popsicles. You can also elevate your next party by offering picklebacks, or by adding the pickle brine to gin martinis and Bloody Marys.