20 Unexpected Pickle Juice Benefits And Uses You Probably Didn’t Know

Benefits & Uses | What are pickles | Healthy Pickles | Nutrition Values | Precautions | Bottom Line

Stop pouring leftover pickle juice down the drain. Instead, discover the surprising potential of this tangy liquid.

From easing stomach cramps and heartburn to boosting your gut health and immune system, pickle juice offers a variety of unexpected benefits. Whether you need a hangover cure, a natural remedy for sore throats and sunburns, or a handy ingredient in the kitchen, pickle juice has got you covered.

It even works wonders outside the kitchen, like defrosting icy surfaces and eliminating garden weeds. Explore these 20 unexpected pickle juice benefits and uses you probably didn’t know, and make the most out of every drop.

Pickle Juice Benefits And Uses

1. Prevents Stomach Cramps – Drinking pickle juice can quickly ease stomach cramps with its probiotics that help digestion and reduce discomfort.
2. Treats Heartburn – A teaspoon of pickle juice can balance stomach pH levels, offering almost instant relief from heartburn.
3. Great Hangover Cure – Pickle juice replenishes electrolytes and boosts sodium and potassium levels, helping you recover quickly after a night of heavy drinking.
4. Soothes Sunburns – Rubbing pickle juice on sunburned skin provides a cooling sensation and reduces redness and inflammation.
5. Relieves Muscle Cramps – Pickle juice restores electrolyte balance, stopping muscle cramps effectively. Athletes use it for quick recovery during workouts.
6. Eliminates Bad Breath – The antibacterial properties of pickle juice can kill bacteria in your mouth, giving you fresher breath.
7. Helps Soothe a Sore Throat – The acetic acid in pickle juice fights bacteria and reduces inflammation, easing sore throat pain.
8. Treats Hiccups – A teaspoon or two of pickle juice helps reset the diaphragm, stopping hiccups quickly.
9. Great Defroster – Pour pickle juice over icy patios to quickly break down ice, making it a natural and eco-friendly alternative to chemical de-icers.
10. Eliminates Weeds – The acidity of pickle juice helps kill weeds in your garden without the need for harsh chemicals.
11. Marinades and Brines – Use pickle juice as a marinade for meats to add tangy flavor and tenderize them, especially for fried chicken and pork neck.
12. Salad Dressings – Mix pickle juice with olive oil and Dijon mustard to create a tangy, probiotic-rich salad dressing.
13. Pickled Eggs – Soak hard-boiled eggs in pickle juice for a tangy, protein-packed snack that aids digestion.
14. Unclog Your Drains – Combine baking soda and pickle juice to break down clogs and clear out grime from your drains.
15. Create Pickle Popsicles – Freeze pickle juice in popsicle molds for a tangy, refreshing treat that also offers probiotics and aids muscle recovery.
16. Deglazing a Pan – Use pickle juice to lift flavorful bits from the bottom of a pan, creating a tangy sauce for your dishes.
17. Boosts Your Immune System – Incorporating pickle juice into your diet can enhance your immune system and overall health with its probiotics.
18. Use it in Cocktails – Add pickle juice to cocktails like martinis and Bloody Mary’s for a unique, tangy twist and savory kick.
19. Quickly Pickle Other Vegetables – Use leftover pickle juice to quickly pickle vegetables like cauliflower, carrots, or cherry tomatoes, adding zest and probiotics.
20. Snow Cones – Make refreshing pickle juice snow cones, a popular treat in Texas, offering a unique flavor and digestion benefits.

1. Prevents Stomach Cramps

Drinking pickle juice can quickly ease stomach cramps. It’s full of “good bacteria” (probiotics), that help with digestion and reduce discomfort.

When you get those sudden, painful cramps, a few sips of pickle juice can really help. The probiotics in the juice boost healthy gut bacteria, which are key for good digestion and overall gut health.

This quick boost to your digestive system helps calm and relieve stomach cramps fast.

2. Treats Heartburn

Pickle juice can be a natural remedy for heartburn, offering almost instant relief with just a teaspoon. If you often suffer from heartburn and can’t seem to find a solution, give this simple remedy a try.

The vinegar in pickle juice can balance your stomach’s pH levels, reducing the acidity that causes heartburn. [1] Plus, it’s a natural and cost-effective alternative to over-the-counter meds.

Just take a small sip when you feel the burn coming on, and you might find relief faster than you thought possible. The next time you reach for antacids, consider pickle juice instead—it’s a surprising yet effective way to soothe that discomfort. Give it a shot and see if it works for you.

3. Great Hangover Cure

A glass of pickle juice in the morning can be a great hangover cure. It helps replenish your electrolytes and boosts your sodium and potassium levels so you can recover quickly.

When you drink pickle juice, you’re giving your body the essential minerals it needs after a night of heavy drinking. The high sodium content helps retain water, fighting dehydration, while the potassium aids in muscle function and reduces cramping. [2] [3]

Plus, the vinegar in pickle juice can help stabilize your blood sugar levels. [4]

So, next time you wake up with a pounding headache and dry mouth, grab a glass of pickle juice to feel better fast.

4. Soothes Sunburns

After dealing with that hangover, you might find another surprising use for pickle juice: soothing sunburns. Thanks to its cooling sensation, pickle juice can provide quick relief for sunburned skin.

Just rub a little pickle juice lightly on the affected area for an invigorating, pain-relieving experience. The natural acidity and anti-inflammatory properties in pickle juice help ease the burning sensation and reduce redness.

Plus, it’s a cheap and easy remedy you probably already have in your fridge. Next time you spend too much time in the sun, don’t reach for expensive creams; give pickle juice a try instead.

5. Relieves Muscle Cramps

Whenever you get muscle cramps, taking a quick sip of pickle juice can help almost instantly.

It’s full of salt and electrolytes like sodium and potassium, which are crucial for muscle function. When you drink it, pickle juice quickly restores your body’s electrolyte balance, stopping cramps effectively.

Athletes often use this trick for fast muscle recovery during tough workouts.

6. Eliminates Bad Breath

Got bad breath? Pickle juice can help. Its antibacterial properties can quickly kill the bacteria in your mouth, giving you fresher breath fast.

When you swish pickle juice around your mouth, its acidic nature neutralizes harmful bacteria, cutting down on bad odors. The vinegar in pickle juice is great at breaking down the compounds that cause bad breath.

So, next time you need a quick fix for bad breath, grab some pickle juice. It’s a simple, natural solution that leaves your mouth feeling clean and fresh.

7. Helps Soothe a Sore Throat

Got a sore throat? Pickle juice might just be your new best friend. Its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties can help soothe that scratchy feeling.

The acetic acid in vinegar, along with other compounds in pickle juice, fights off bacteria and reduces inflammation. [5]

Just take a few tablespoons a day, and you might find your throat pain easing up.

8. Treats Hiccups

Got the hiccups? Try a teaspoon or two of pickle juice to stop them in their tracks. Hiccups can be annoying, but pickle juice provides a quick fix.

The vinegar in pickle juice helps reset the diaphragm, stopping those involuntary contractions. Next time you feel hiccups coming on, grab that jar of pickles.

According to this doctor, drink about half a teaspoon of pickle juice every 7-10 seconds until your hiccups stop.

9. Great Defroster

Believe it or not, pickle juice is a surprisingly effective defroster for your icy patio during winter – according to the Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides.

Thanks to its high vinegar content, pickle juice can quickly break down ice, making it a natural and eco-friendly alternative to chemical de-icers.

Simply pour the pickle juice over the icy areas, and watch as it melts away the frost, leaving your surfaces safe and slip-free. This method isn’t only cost-effective but also repurposes something you’d normally discard.

10. Eliminates Weeds

Not only can pickle juice keep your patio ice-free, but its acidity also makes it a great natural solution for eliminating weeds from your garden.

The acidic nature of pickle juice helps kill those pesky plants without the need for harsh chemicals.

Just pour the juice directly onto the unwanted weeds or spray it using a spray can, and watch them wither away.

This eco-friendly method not only saves you money but also keeps your garden safe from harmful substances.

11. Marinades and Brines

Pickle juice makes a great marinade for chicken, pork, beef, or fish. It gives the meat a tangy flavor and makes it tender. The vinegar and spices in the juice break down the proteins, which helps the meat become juicy.

This trick works especially well for fried chicken and pork neck, giving them a unique kick.

12. Salad Dressings

That’s my personal favorite.

Give your salads a tangy twist by adding pickle juice to your dressings. Just mix it with olive oil and Dijon mustard for a tasty vinaigrette.

Pickle juice not only adds zest but also helps digestion because of its probiotics. Pairing it with olive oil boosts flavor and adds healthy fats. Dijon mustard makes the dressing smooth and creamy.

This simple dressing is free from fake additives, making it a healthy choice.

13. Pickled Eggs

Soaking hard-boiled eggs in leftover pickle juice makes a tangy, protein-packed snack that’s tasty and good for your digestion. By using pickle juice, you’re adding probiotics and important nutrients from the brine to the eggs.

This easy method doesn’t need any special tools or skills, so anyone can try it.

Pickled eggs are also flexible; you can eat them by themselves, slice them onto salads, or add them to sandwiches. The vinegar and spices in the pickle juice give a unique flavor and help with digestion by promoting healthy gut bacteria.

14. Unclog Your Drains

That made me feel curious and bit disbelief when I first read it on Reddit but, it seems that it is a well-know natural method for Unclogging your drains.

According to Liquid-Plumr, baking soda is a base, while vinegar is an acid made of water and acetic acid. When you combine them, they react to form carbon dioxide and water, which bubble through the clog and break it up.

Drainage pipes aren’t pressurized like regular water systems. Adding boiling water helps increase pressure, and combined with gravity, it pushes the clog out. Baking soda, vinegar, and boiling water can clean drains naturally, but for really tough clogs, you might need something stronger.

Here’s how you do it:

• Start by pouring some baking soda into the drain, then follow up with the pickle juice.
• You’ll see it bubble as it breaks down the clog.

15. Create Pickle Popsicles

Why not turn your leftover pickle juice into pickle popsicles for a tangy treat that also offers plenty of health perks? This unique snack is refreshing and packed with probiotics, which help with digestion and boost your immune system.

Just pour the pickle juice into popsicle molds, freeze, and enjoy a cool, savory treat. Plus, they’re low in calories, making them a good option if you’re watching your diet.

16. Deglazing a pan

Picture this: you’ve just seared some juicy meats, and there’s a layer of tasty browned bits at the bottom of your pan. Instead of reaching for wine, grab that jar of pickle juice.

Pour a splash into the hot pan and watch as it lifts those flavorful bits, creating a tangy sauce. The acidity in pickle juice helps balance the richness of the meats, adding depth.

Keep pickle brine around like you’d cooking wine, and transform your meals with this unexpected twist.

17. Boosts Your Immune System

Incorporating pickle juice into your diet can really help boost your immune system and improve your overall health. Pickle juice is rich in lactic acid bacteria, which are known for their probiotic benefits. These good bacteria enhance your natural resistance to infections in the gastrointestinal system.

Plus, pickle juice can help prevent various infections and might even lower cholesterol levels. Research suggests that fermented pickle juice has immune-boosting effects, improving overall health in animal studies.

18. Use it in cocktails

Pickle juice gives cocktails a unique and tangy twist, making it a versatile ingredient for drinks like martinis, Gibsons, micheladas, and Bloody Marys. Picture adding dill pickle juice to your martini or pickled onion brine to your Gibson. These additions enhance the flavors, giving your drinks a savory kick.

If you’re searching for a perfect ‘hair of the dog’ remedy, a splash of pickle juice in your michelada or Bloody Mary works wonders. The tangy, salty notes pair well with tomato juice and spices, creating an invigorating drink.

19. Quickly pickle other vegetables

Turn your veggies into tasty snacks quickly by using leftover pickle juice for an extra kick and some probiotics. Got some cauliflower, carrots, or cherry tomatoes (these three are my personal favorites 😊)? Just dunk them in the leftover pickle juice and let them chill in the fridge for a few hours.

The vinegar, ginger, and garlic in the brine will give your veggies a zesty flavor while helping with digestion and gut health. This trick not only makes your veggies taste better but also adds some good bacteria.

Plus, it’s a simple and natural way to make your veggies last longer. So, don’t toss that pickle juice—reuse it to whip up some delicious, probiotic-rich snacks!

20. Snow cones?

Did you know that pickle juice snow cones are a unique and refreshing treat, especially popular in Texas? These snow cones offer a cool twist to the traditional icy snack.

Some vendors use straight pickle juice, giving you pure briny goodness that pickle fans love. Others add sugar to thicken the juice, which slows down the ice’s melting so you can enjoy it longer.

This unusual flavor not only gives you a taste of something different but also provides benefits like aiding digestion and offering probiotics.

What Are Pickles Anyway?

Ever wondered how cucumbers and other veggies turn into the tangy, flavorful snacks known as pickles? It’s all thanks to pickling.

Pickles are among the most popular fermented foods around the world. The vegetable is usually left to ferment in brine, vinegar or some other solution. The vinegar creates an acidic environment that preserves the veggies and enhances their flavor. You can pickle cucumbers, peppers, carrots, and even some fruits. Plus, the pickling process encourages the growth of good bacteria, adding probiotics to your diet.

The crunchy and sour taste is a favorite of thousands and is especially popular in Eastern Europe. Pickles are usually consumed in the winter thanks to their good vitamin C and vitamin A content.

They go great with stews and other types of food, although many people like to eat them on their own. The lacto-fermentation makes the pickles great for our health too. In fact, fermented foods have much more benefits for our health than other types of food, especially regarding the immune system and our gut health.

And, although we love pickles, we must all agree that we throw away the pickle juice down the drain when we’re done with the food.

That’s wrong.

As a matter of fact, pickle juice has just as many (maybe even more) health benefits as the pickles themselves, which is why we should consume it more often.

Choosing Healthy Pickles

According to Dr. Oppezzo, all pickles are a healthy snack, whether found on the grocery store shelf or in the refrigerated section. However, for gut health, choose pickles from the refrigerated aisle.

“The pickles that are good for your gut are the fermented ones, made by brining in salt rather than vinegar,” says Dr. Oppezzo. “While vinegar pickling is common, true fermentation in brine enriches them with beneficial probiotics for your gut. To find these, check the refrigerated section of your grocery store. They won’t be on the regular shelf.”

Pickles fall into two main categories: pickled and fermented.

Pickled Pickles (Vinegar Pickled)

• Made with vinegar, which kills all bacteria, including gut-beneficial ones.
• Vinegar pickles are shelf-stable and found unrefrigerated.

Fermented Pickles

• Made with brine, allowing natural fermentation with beneficial bacteria.
• Contain probiotics if not pasteurized.
• Pasteurization, involving heat, kills probiotics.
• Found in the refrigerated section, often near the cheese.
• Look for labels saying “fermented,” “unpasteurized,” “live cultures,” or “probiotic.”
• Bubbles on the surface of the brining liquid indicate live bacteria.

Dr. Oppezzo also advises checking labels for added sugar to avoid unwanted sugar intake.

Pickles Nutrition Values

Here are the approximate nutritional values for 100 grams of pickles.

Note that a small gherkin pickle weights around 10 grams. So, eating 10 of them will yield approximately these values.

Side Effects of Drinking excessive amounts of pickle juice

Drinking too much pickle juice can cause health problems because it’s high in sodium.

Too much sodium can raise your blood pressure and increase the risk of heart issues. You might also get digestive problems like diarrhea and stomach upset due to the salt.

It’s important to drink water to stay hydrated if you’re having pickle juice. While it has some benefits, moderation is key. Overdoing it can cancel out the good stuff and harm your health.

Conclusion

Incorporating pickle juice into your daily routine can offer surprising benefits for health and wellness.

From aiding digestion and enhancing athletic performance to improving sleep and supporting sustainable practices, this versatile liquid is a powerhouse.

So, don’t just accept that pickle juice; welcome its myriad uses.

Whether you’re looking to boost probiotics or reduce muscle cramps, pickle juice has a role to play.

Start sipping and experience the transformative effects today!

Check Some of our Pickles Recipes

ℹ️ FoodNourish is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission without any surcharge to you.