Tyler Florence’s tips for pickling

Sterilize jars
Place jars in large canning pot with boiled water and simmer for about 5-7 minutes to sterilize. Do the same with lids in a separate smaller pot.

Make the brine
Place everything except the garlic, red peppers and dill in a small pot and bring to a boil. Set aside to cool. Meanwhile, stuff the jars with vegetables (keep vegetables separate in different jars so the flavors don’t get muddled up).

In each jar, insert a stem of fresh flowering dill down the side and add 2 cloves of garlic and 2 dried red peppers to each jar. Pour the cooled brine into each jar, filling to just 1/4 inch below the top. Place lid on tightly and submerge the jars back into the cannery pot with hot water. Simmer for 10 minutes, then remove and allow to cool undisturbed on the bench top — this is when the seal forms.

Leave for 12 hours undisturbed. Check the seal by tapping the center of the lid — it should be tightly sucked down. Label your pickles — they should be in their prime 3 months after canning.