July: National Pickle Month

There are several Types of Pickles

Gherkin
A gherkin is not only a pickle of a certain size but also a particular species of cucumber: the West Indian or Burr cucumber, which produces a somewhat smaller fruit than the garden cucumber. Standard pickles are made from the West Indian cucumber, but the term gherkin has become loosely used as any small cucumber pickled in a sweet vinegar brine, regardless of the variety of cucumber used.

Kosher dill
A "kosher" dill pickle is usually not kosher in the sense that it has been prepared under rabbinical supervision, which would ensure that no non-kosher ingredients were used, and that no utensil in contact with the pickles had ever been in contact with food that was not kosher. Rather, it is a pickle made in the traditional manner of Jewish New York City pickle makers, with generous addition of garlic to the brine.

Polish
Polish style pickled cucumbers are a type of pickled cucumber developed in the northern parts of Europe and have been exported worldwide and are found in the cuisines of many countries. As opposed to some other varieties of pickled cucumbers, they are prepared using the traditional process of natural fermentation in a salty brine which makes them grow sour. There is no vinegar used in the brine of a Polish-style pickled cucumber. They do not, however, keep as long as cucumbers pickled with vinegar. In Poland they are traditionally served as a side dish to vodka.

Lime
Lime pickles are soaked in lime rather than in a salt brine. Vinegar and sugar are often added after the 24-hour soak in lime, along with pickling spices, although this is done more to enhance flavor than as a preservative.

Bread and butter
Bread-and-butter pickles are sweeter in flavor than dill pickles, having a high concentration of sugar added to the brine. Rather than being served alongside a sandwich, they are more often used in fully-flavored sandwiches, such as hamburgers, or used in potato salad.

Swedish and Danish
Swedish pickled cucumbers are thinly sliced, mixed with salt and pressed to drain some water from the cucumber slices. Afterwards placed in a jar with a sour-sweet brine of vinegar, salt, sugar, pepper and parsley.
Danish cucumber salad is similar, but the cucumbers are not pressed and the brine doesn't have parsley. The cucumber salad accompanies meat dishes, especially a roasted chicken dish, and is used on Danish hot dogs.

Kool-Aid Pickles (a.k.a. "Koolickles")
Kool-Aid pickles (considered a delicacy in parts of the Southern United States) are created by soaking dill pickles in a mixture of Kool-Aid and pickle brine.