Vacu Vin Instant Pickler

Quick pickles are all the rage on cooking shows, but quick is a matter of opinion.

If you make quick pickles and let the marinate for the time it takes a Chopped contestant to get the appetizers served, what you end up with is vegetables in a vinegar dressing. It's more like salad than pickles.

There are tricks for getting the pickling liquid into the vegetables a little faster. Like using heated liquid and then chilling the vegetables. But then you risk serving vegetables in a warm vinegar dressing. And that's not optimal.

The Vacu Vin Instant Pickler gives you another option. You use the included hand pump to remove air from the container and create a vacuum.

That also removes air from the vegetables and makes them more willing to absorb the pickling liquid.

Look HERE for this pickle recipe.

It's not snap-of-the-fingers fast, but it's a heck of a lot faster than letting the vegetables drink in the liquid at their own pace.

First, I used the Instant Pickler to make some simple cucumber slices. This is something I make often enough to know what to expect. With the Instant Pickler, a few hours gave me the same result that I'd normally get after a day in the refrigerator.

After a full day in the Instant Pickler, the pickles were about as pickled as they could be - like several days the traditional way.

I used the Instant Pickler to make a pickled carrot mixture that would normally marinate for a minimum of two days - or up to two weeks - and I was pretty happy with them after just a day in the fridge.

Who's it for: People who pickle, and want it quicker.

Pros: This makes pickling quicker.

Cons: Pricier than a jar.

Wishes: Right now there's just one size - I'd like to see several other sizes offered, perhaps without the hand pump, since you only need one.

Source: I received this from the manufacturer for the purpose of a review.