+14 votes
I am organizing my kitchen containers and preparing to pickle cucumbers for the next several days. My grandmother told me that using iodized salt would make the jars explode, but I only have standard table salt from the supermarket.

I want to ensure my meal prep turns out fine and the process is explained clearly. Please let me know if iodized salt is safe for this specific use.
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6 Answers

+9 votes
the jars will not explode if you use iodized salt for your cucumbers. i use standard table salt for my garden produce and it has always turned out fine for me. the only issue is that the iodine and the anti-caking agents might make the brine look a little cloudy and the pickles might turn a bit dark. it is safe for your meal prep and i have explained this clearly to my own family when we make homestyle dishes. just make sure you follow the heat instructions for the jars.
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+8 votes
I have been a weeknight cook for many years and iodized salt is perfectly safe to use for your cucumbers. The jars will not explode. The only reason people avoid it is because the additives can make the brine look a bit cludy. It still tastes just like grandma made it. I find it saves time to just use what is in the pantry.
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+7 votes
I do a lot of meal prep and have used table salt for my jars before. It is not going to make them explode, that is just an old wives' tale. The iodine and anti-caking bits just make the brine look a bit murky. It's a bit of a faff to find special salt so just use what you have in the cupboard.
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+6 votes
It is always better to use the proper pickling salt if you want things to turn out right. Things were simpler when we did not have all these extra additives in everything. Table salt has chemicals like iodine that turn the brine cloudy and make the pickles soft. Your jars won't explode, but you should stick to the proper ways if you want quality food.
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+1 vote
Using that salt will not cause your jars to explode. It is important to use what you have so the veg does not go to waste. The iodine makes the water look a bit muddy but the pickles are fine. It is perfectly good nosh for a quick tea.
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–1 vote
your fine man i use whatever salt is in the cupboard for my snacks and its all good. your grandma is probably thinking about the brine turning dark. it wont make the jars pop.
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