Mixed Pickling Spice

Mixed pickling spice for recipes that call for a whole-spice blend.

A blend for pickles and relishes

Mrs. Wages Mixed Pickling Spice combines whole spices for recipes that call for a mixed pickling blend. It was formulated for its Old South Cucumber Lime Pickle recipe and can also be used for homemade pickles and relishes. It is an ingredient, not a complete seasoning mix or brine, so the rest of the recipe supplies the liquid and proportions.

Use the amount your recipe names

Pickling recipes vary, so there is no universal quantity to use for every jar or batch. Start with a tested recipe that calls for pickling spice and measure its recommended amount. The package instruction is to tie that amount in cheesecloth for easy removal after cooking. This keeps whole spices together while they flavor the cooking liquid.

Beyond cucumber pickles

The listed uses also include boiled vegetables, shellfish, pork and beef as uses for the blend. It can bring a familiar warm spice note to a dish when its recipe calls for pickling spice. The cooking method determines how long the spices stay in the liquid and whether they are removed before serving. Avoid using the packet as a substitute for a named seasoning blend.

Keep the pouch ready for the next recipe

Store the spice in a closed, dry place and use a dry spoon if measuring from a larger container. The whole spices are easiest to manage when the amount is tied before cooking begins. Keep the selected recipe nearby so the measure and removal step stay clear. For preserved foods, follow the full tested recipe; the spice itself does not set the acidity or processing method. The spice blend is especially useful when whole spices are wanted without measuring each spice from separate jars. In a pickle or relish recipe, the flavor can be carried through the liquid and then removed cleanly. For boiled vegetables or a meat dish, the recipe determines whether the spices remain during cooking or are lifted out. Keep the spice portion tied to the recipe rather than estimating from the pouch.

PICKLING SPICE Instructions

Instructions

A special blend of spices originally formulated for preparing the famous Mrs. Wages® Old South Cucumber Lime Pickle recipe — a favorite of pickling gourmets for almost a century. Use for all homemade pickles and relishes, or as a seasoning for boiled vegetables, shellfish, pork or beef.

TIE recipe-recommended amount of spice in a cheesecloth for easy removal after cooking.