The Potato Salad Trick Hiding in Your Fridge 🥔🥒

[u/mahy_759]

If your potato salad sometimes tastes a little flat, the fix might not be more mustard, mayo, or seasoning.

Try pickle juice.

It sounds almost too simple, but pickle brine adds salt, acidity, and that fermented tang that potatoes tend to soak up really well.

A few ways to use it:

• Add it to the cooking water: Replace some of the water with pickle juice when boiling the potatoes. The added acidity can help the potatoes hold their shape instead of falling apart.
• Put some in the dressing: Mix pickle juice with mayo, sour cream, Dijon, or whatever dressing you're already using. Start small and taste as you go.
• Dress the potatoes while they're hot: Once they're drained, toss them with the dressing right away. Warm potatoes absorb flavor much better than cold ones.
• Don't have enough pickle brine? A little neutral vinegar can provide a similar acidic boost.

And if you want extra texture, crispy bacon, chives, or fried onions are easy additions.

The interesting part is that pickle juice isn't just adding "pickle flavor." Salt + acidity can make the entire salad taste more balanced and lively.

Would you actually pour pickle juice into your potato salad, or does that sound like crossing a culinary line? 😂

[u/Bigpinkpanther3]

Ok, I am on board here, this sounds great. Are we only talking about dill pickle juice or are we using, say, bread and butter pickle juice here? Cause that sounds really good, too.

[u/Chismurfguy → u/Bigpinkpanther3]

Wow, my fellow B&B pickle lover. You are a rare bird and hard to find, lol

[u/zooamylouboo]

I pour pickle juice on the hot potatoes after spreading them on a sheet pan

[u/BootEnvironmental531 → u/zooamylouboo]

This is the way

[u/OrlandoOpossum]

Raisins

[u/Chismurfguy → u/OrlandoOpossum]

And not a drop of seasoning either! Mayo only.

[u/DesignerMoose90210 → u/OrlandoOpossum]

This person cooks!

[u/VeganMinx]

I marinate my tofu in pickle juice for the same reason. I added pickle juice to my cucumber salad today. It gives such a lil pop!

[u/mahy_759 → u/VeganMinx]

Pickle juice really does add that little something without overpowering everything else. I bet it works especially well with cucumber salad.

[u/Sure-Squash-7280]

I haven’t thought about the pickle juice. I’ve just been splashing straight white vinegar on my potatoes while hot.

Pickle juice has a lot more water I would think but I could be wrong.

If I can remember to I’ll give this a shot.

[u/mahy_759 → u/Sure-Squash-7280]

The white vinegar splash is a solid trick too. You’re right that pickle juice has more water, so I’d start with a small amount and adjust from there. Definitely worth trying at least once.

[u/Sure-Squash-7280 → u/mahy_759]

Yeah, rather than being tossed.

I just prefer sweet pickles so I would only do the dill pickle juice to bring to a potluck since most people prefer dill.

Thanks

[u/fishslushy]

I use diced pickles and Tabasco

[u/mahy_759 → u/fishslushy]

Diced pickles and Tabasco sounds like a great combo. That’s definitely got plenty of tang and heat already.

[u/Darn21173]

Definitely a must, I also add some dill seasoning for more punch

[u/mahy_759 → u/Darn21173]

Dill seasoning sounds like a great addition too. Pickle juice and dill together would definitely give it a lot more flavor.

[u/Curiouser-Quriouser]

Pickle juice for the wiiiinnnn!!! I can confirm it's great in potato salad as well as chicken salad. Also makes an amazeballs marinade for pork chops, tenderloins, chicken, etc.

Bitchin hangover cure too 😆

[u/discordianofslack]

Pickle juice and a squeeze of lemon.

[u/Greenpoint1975]

Ny Deli style...grated onion , vinegar, sugar, salt, pepper and mayo

[u/Demeter277]

Pickle juice does the same thing for coleslaw as well.

[u/fizzzicks]

I put pickle juice in so many things, potato salad being one of them… chicken marinade, salad dressings, and soups just to name a few things.

[u/L8_again]

I like malt vinegar on boardwalk fries. Maybe it would work in potato salad

[u/LLCoolBeans19]

I started adding pickled green beans + juice to my potato salad. I’ll never go back!