Pickle Juice: What It Is, How to Use It & Where to Buy

Every jar of pickles comes with a bonus: the brine. Pickle juice is salty, tangy, garlicky and full of flavor, and once you start using it you will never pour it down the sink again.

Here is what pickle juice actually is, the difference between the juice in a jar and a bottle of it, seven easy ways to use it, and where to buy it.

What is pickle juice?

Pickle juice is the brine that pickles are packed in. A typical brine is vinegar, water and salt, plus whatever herbs and spices the pickle maker uses. Over time it picks up flavor from the pickles too, which is why it tastes so much more interesting than plain vinegar.

Our Pickle Juice is made with our signature brine, herbs, garlic and spices. It is crisp, tangy and savory, with no sweetness.

Jar of pickle juice or a bottle?

Plenty of people drink the juice left in a jar after the pickles are gone, and that is a great way to start. But if you go through it faster than you go through pickles, or you want it for a recipe or a party, a bottle of pickle juice makes more sense. Ours comes in a 16 oz glass bottle with a resealable lid.

How to use pickle juice: 7 easy ideas

1. In a Bloody Mary

Add a splash of pickle juice to your Bloody Mary mix for extra tang and savory depth. Garnish with a spear of pickled okra and you are done.

2. As a pickleback

The classic bar order: a shot of whiskey followed by a shot of pickle juice. The brine is a sharp, salty chaser that has its own fan club.

3. In a dirty martini or a michelada

Swap some or all of the olive brine for pickle juice in a martini, or add a splash to a michelada. Savory cocktails love it.

4. As a marinade

Pickle juice makes an easy marinade for chicken, pork or tofu. The vinegar and salt season everything through. Marinate in the fridge, then pat dry and cook as usual.

5. In potato salad, deviled eggs and dressings

A spoonful of pickle juice in potato salad, egg salad or deviled eggs adds brightness without extra mayo. It also makes a quick vinaigrette with olive oil and a little mustard.

6. As a brine for quick fridge pickles

Pour leftover pickle juice over sliced cucumbers, onions or carrots, cover and keep them in the fridge. A day or two later you have quick pickles. Keep them refrigerated and treat them like any fresh leftover.

7. Sipped cold after a run

Some runners and gym regulars like a small, cold sip of something salty and tangy after a workout. If that is you, a bottle in the fridge is handy. We just like the taste.

Looking for more? See 5 ways to use pickle juice that aren't just drinking it straight, and if you are curious what has been studied about athletes and pickle juice, read pickle juice for athletes.

Pickle juice FAQ

What does pickle juice taste like?

Tangy and salty first, then garlic, herbs and spice. Ours is savory, not sweet.

How big is the bottle?

Our Pickle Juice comes in a 16 oz glass bottle with a resealable lid.

Does pickle juice need to be refrigerated?

Unopened, it is shelf-stable for up to two years. After opening, keep it in the fridge.

Can I reuse the juice from a jar of pickles?

Yes, for cooking, dressings and quick fridge pickles. Keep it cold and use it like any other opened ingredient.

Where to buy pickle juice

Some grocery stores sell pickle juice in the drinks or pickle aisle, and you can always save the brine from a jar. For a bottle made to be sipped and mixed, order The Pickle Juice direct from our site. It is made in small batches in Atlanta. Shipping is free in the US on 2 or more jars, so add a jar of okra or classic dill for the garnish. Browse Mixers & Drinks for cocktail-ready jars and boxes, or shop all pickles.

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Get the bottle (and the garnish)

Small-batch, made in Atlanta.

The Pickle Juice16 oz bottle. Sip it, mix it, cook with it.Shop · $16.95The Bloody Mary BoxThree jars picked for the Bloody Mary bar.Shop · $65.00The OkraThe Bloody Mary garnish. Crisp and tangy.Shop · $16.95The VintageOur medium-sour classic. Pickles first, juice later.Shop · $16.95