It's the unlikely star of the summer. Crunchy, sour and sludge-green, the humble pickle has long lived on the culinary sidelines – known merely as a burger garnish, your mum's weird pregnancy craving, or simply the occupant of that forgotten jar at the back of your fridge.
But the latest Gen Z craze for so-called 'pickle parties' is bringing the flavourful snack back into the limelight. The Big Brine, Picklefest and Pickle Festival are just a few of the pickle-themed events set to merge music, entertainment and the salty snack for young Britons this summer.
Celebrity Pickle Fans
Pickles even have their own celebrity fan club. Baywatch star Pamela Anderson now runs her own pickle brand, while pop-star Dua Lipa shared her controversial Diet Coke and pickle juice recipe with her more than 11 million TikTok followers last year. Singer Selena Gomez is another outspoken pickle enthusiast – admitting that her favourite childhood snack was a pickle snow cone topped with chopped pickles.
Are Pickles Healthy?
Health experts say they can't be more pleased that pickles – full of fibre and low in calories – are finally receiving the praise they deserve. But not all pickles are created equal when it comes to our health.
Gut Health Benefits
Fermented foods, in general, are having a comeback this year – with kefir, kombucha and sauerkraut flying off supermarket shelves, according to industry data. So surely pickles – cucumbers preserved in brine – have a similar gut-healthy effect? Nutritionist Rob Hobson explains: 'Pickles can definitely have a place in a healthy diet, but it does depend on the type you’re buying. Traditionally fermented pickles, usually the kind stored in the chilled section and made using salt water rather than vinegar, may contain live bacteria that could help support gut health, although not all products contain meaningful amounts and many are pasteurised. Standard vinegar pickles are different because the vinegar is added to preserve them quickly, so they are much less likely to contain live cultures.'
Five-a-Day Contribution
Preservation aside, pickles are, at core, little cucumbers. So surely good for us? Yes, says Mr Hobson – and, like cucumbers, they have remarkably few calories, making pickles a great snack for those looking to watch their weight. He says: 'Vinegar pickles can be a useful food because they add flavour and crunch with very few calories, which can help make meals more satisfying without relying on heavier sauces or ultra-processed condiments. Pickles are also still vegetables, so they can contribute small amounts of fibre and count towards your 5-a-day depending on the type and portion size, although most people tend to eat them in fairly small quantities.' The average medium-sized dill pickle contains just four to 10 calories.
Just stay away from some of the more adventurous pickle variations, warns Mr Hobson, if you're looking for a low-cal snack. One such intrepid product is the frickle – or deep-fried pickle – an American classic that made headlines when it landed on UK menus last year. Dating back to the early 1960s in Arkansas, the on-trend appetiser sees pickles deep fried in batter and oil and paired with a dill and caper yoghurt sauce called aioli. Not for the faint of heart – or those with high blood pressure.
Research on Pickle Juice
There's some interesting research around pickle juice and muscle cramps in sport, which is why it has become popular with some endurance athletes,' says Mr Hobson. 'The theory is not really about replacing electrolytes quickly, but more that the sharp acidic taste may trigger nerve reflexes involved in cramp reduction. The evidence is still limited, but it is an interesting area of sports nutrition research.' Other studies have linked the acetic acid in vinegar-based pickles to a reduction in sugar spikes when consumed with a meal.
Choosing the Healthiest Pickles
'One thing to watch with pickles is the salt content because some jars can contain quite a bit of sodium, especially if you eat large amounts or drink the brine, which has become popular on social media and even in some non-alcoholic cocktails,' says Mr Hobson. Pickleback shots – where a shot of liquor is chased by a shot of pickle brine – have become increasingly trendy among Gen-Z in recent years. Singer Selena Gomez, meanwhile, admits to pouring the brine into popcorn as a movie night snack.
Mr Hobson advises: 'If you have high blood pressure or need to monitor your salt intake, it’s worth checking the label of the jar. I’d also look out for lots of added sugar, artificial colours or long lists of unnecessary additives in some sweeter pickle products. The best options tend to be the simpler ones with recognisable ingredients such as cucumbers, water, vinegar or brine, herbs and spices.'
