Worst Pickles I Ever Done Did Have……Nathan’s!

[Panhead John]

My favorite pickles and my go to is normally Mt. Olive Zesty Dill Spears or Claussen’s. The other day while at HEB I saw some Nathan’s Kosher Spears, thought I’d give em a try. With a famous name like Nathan’s, and having good luck with their hot dogs, I was really looking forward to trying them. I ate one the other day and was surprised, ate another one today to make sure it wasn’t a fluke. Worst pickles I’ve ever had! The skin on the pickle was hard and chewy, almost like trying to eat a thin slice of watermelon rind. I actually had to make a bit of an effort to bite through them. The first pickle I gave up on and ate just the inside soft part. And the taste was just….different than most pickles I’ve had. It wasn’t off putting but, I don’t know, I just didn’t care for the taste. I ate the second one today to see if maybe it was just a bad pickle, nope, the second one was almost as tough and the taste…..it wasn’t horrible by any means, I still ate it. But the taste of em, not my cup of tea I guess. Have any of you guys tried Nathan’s before? If so what did you think? I’m actually going to throw away the rest of the jar and go back to my Mt. Olive.
What’s your favorite pickles BTW?



They looked like regular ol’ pickles, but didn’t taste like em……

[captainlee]

Too bad, never have had those. I see why you tried them, famous name. Thanks for the heads up.

[ecowper]

Never had Nathan's ...... not even sure I've ever seen them in a store. If I had, I probably would have tried them.

I generally get either Claussen or Vlasic for Kosher Pickles. also a huge fan of Maille Cornichons

[Panhead John]

Yeah, the other day was the first time I remember seeing them. They weren’t on a shelf with all the other pickles, they were in a refrigerated area near the deli.

[STEbbq]

I normally hate all pickles but I do like Amanda’s ones that she grows. So clearly not a standard pickle flavor that everyone likes.

[Jfrosty27]

Mt. Olive all the way as our #1. Claussen a close #2.

[Panhead John]

Same here!

[Ace]

Panhead John
+1 on the Mt. Olive brand. That's all I buy anymore.

[Panhead John]

Yep, Mt. Olive is on my list for tomorrow!

[Spinaker]

Gedney! it's a Minnesota Pickle!

[Spinaker]

Hahaha, when I was a kid, everyone was always signing that song. It never leaves your head. best of luck to you! Panhead John

[fzxdoc]

I had to turn the sound off. But now I want to try the pickle.

Kathryn

[Spinaker]

That is how they get you! fzxdoc

[barelfly]

I’ve not tried those, but thanks for the feedback! See if we can help you through this bit of a pickle…..sorry

We enjoy Mt. Olive as well Best Maid. But the best Ive found, and I don’t remember the brand but we found them in the deli and dang were they great! I don’t know if they were Boars Head brand??? For some reason I think they were? But they were a sweet and spicy pickle and were great!

[Oak Smoke]

Since my childhood I have loved Best Maid pickles. They even sell gallon containers of pickle juice.

[Oak Smoke]

barelfly Pickle juice is especially good when mixed with a bit of Grey Goose and a touch of vermouth with a couple of olives.

[SheilaAnn]

barelfly ever had a pickle back? Inexpensive bourbon shot with a pickle juice chaser. Long story, I’ll share some time……

[fzxdoc]

I'll be waiting for that post, SheilaAnn .

K.

[Michael_in_TX]

I've nearly picked this up myself. I've never actually bought any of these "fresh" spears..... I wonder if that contributes to the difference?

[Panhead John]

Micheal, I started wondering that myself after eating one. It’s like they weren’t given time to “age” properly or something. These were actually in a refrigerated area near the deli. Most pickles I’ve bought were just off the shelf with the rest of em.

[RonB]

If ya love garlic, these are pretty good.

[Panhead John]

Not at $30. a jar I ain’t! 😳

[RonB]

Sorry John - the're about $8 at Publix.

[Panhead John]

Ron, I actually just checked my Kroger app and they carry them for about the same price as Publix. I was checking out a few reviews on em and one person said the skin was hard just like on the Nathan’s. Did you find that to be the case also?

[lonnie mac]

I have been hooked on these this year. Usually about 1 jar a week. I don't know who makes them for HEB but they are really good! Not really that spicy but dang good pickle.

[Panhead John]

I saw those for the first time recently and almost bought some. Looks like I need to give em a try, thanks!

[Ace]

Looks like True Texas BBQ is one of the companies owned by HEB. (Internet search) :-)

[Whiskeyman53]

We only buy Mt. Olive. Before the covid shutdown there was a local hamburger restaurant that sold half sours out of the barrel for a steal. I would go for the pickles and stay for the burgers.. Unfortunately they didn’t reopen.

[Andrrr]

Milwaukee’s petite dills, kosher or regular

Edit: I need to add Wickle’s pickles in there too. Those are a little mushy sometimes but they are good.

[fzxdoc]

I'd give them a try just to say the name as I served them.

Kathryn

[Mosca]

I’ve had Nathan’s. I don’t remember liking or not liking them, though.

A couple years ago my daughter and I did a pickle taste test, using refrigerated (uncooked) grocery store pickles. We both liked Claussen the best, but I think Wegman’s store brand is close enough to justify paying $2 less. The only one we didn’t like was Ba-Tampte; they are an acquired taste, and neither of us had acquired it. And we weren’t too keen on Grillo’s, either.

With pickles, I think you kinda know what you want and expect them to taste like, and if they’re too far off that, they fail. I have two expectations: Claussen for fresh, and whatever McDonald’s uses for cooked.

[shify]

Agree with your last comment - there is such a variety in taste/texture of store-bought pickles that it all comes down to expectations.
Ba-Tampte is one of the few store bought pickles I'd buy - but I only get the Full Sours. I also like the Grillos spicy dill. Outside of those two, I don't really buy grocery store pickles as I'm lucky enough to have a pickle guy that sells at the local farmers markets.

Mt. Olives taste like soft sadness to me - every one I've ever had is limp and soft