A lot of times you’ll hear someone refer to a pickle as a kosher pickle or a dill pickle. Are they the same thing? What’s the difference?
The Short Answer
There are Kosher Dill Pickles and Dill Pickles. There are some very minor differences between these two but for the most part, they are the same thing.
The Long Answer
A dill pickle is one of life’s simple joys. I love the savory sweetness of crunching into a fresh dill spear. But dill pickles are also sometimes called kosher dill pickles, and people often wonder about the name difference.
For starters, dill pickles are pickled cucumbers, like every other variety of pickle. The main difference is that they are seasoned with dill, giving them their name and their distinctive taste.
A kosher dill pickle is not necessarily overseen by a Rabbi in accordance to Jewish dietary law like other kosher foods. While kosher dills are considered kosher, they get their name from the manner in which they are prepared, namely in the traditional style of a Jewish New York City kosher deli.
These delis are overseen by a Rabbi, and the pickle companies that create these traditional pickles are located in New York.
The main difference you’ll find between a regular dill and a kosher dill is the presence of garlic. Typically, dill pickles that don’t use garlic aren’t considered kosher dill pickles. That’s more of a traditional thing, however, and not a religious dietary restriction. Some kosher dills also use additional pickling spices and differing amounts of dill so it’s not a one size fits all issue.
If you can’t get enough pickles and are looking for creative uses – we’ve got you covered. The Air Fryer makes Fried Pickles so easy and this Dill Pickle Soup comes together in just 15 minutes!
Do you love dill pickles? Can you tell the difference between a typical dill and one made in the New York kosher deli style? Sound off in the comment section below and let us know!
I Hate Kosher Pickles, Period… I was able to tell the difference with a single bit. I remember going to movies as a kid. They had this great big glass jar on the counter with Very Large Dill Pickles inside. The Dills back then were very, very good. It took me driving all over the place to find what Passes for Dill, not kosher, Pickle. Everyone is right. They aren’t the same…….
Don’t like the kosher style dill pickles big lover of the regular garlic pickles
Thanks for sharing, Roy!
I’m going to have to learn how to make pickles because all the ones in stores are Kosher and I don’t like those.
Does Nathan’s make their NY Style Kosher Dill Pickles in the same way as the ones I used to be able to get out of a barrel in the deli or even some grocery stores?????
I also think theres a difference in cooking time thus changing the consistancy of the pickle.
Hey Kev,
The difference, I think, is that one of the pickels taste better
Kosher dill pickles use Kosher salt rather than Vinegar (which sometimes comes from wine).
I can definitely tell the difference in taste. What I can’t find is the recipe to make the B & G New York deli style pickles. They all have garlic in them and it shouldn’t
It seems that there are no ‘typical’ dill pickles anywhere; only kosher dills. Even Heinz has stopped making their “Genuine Whole Dill Pickles” (my personal favorite).
Kosher dills are great… for everything except what I use dill pickles for. The garlic ruins the flavor of my potato salad and my sandwiches/burgers (although I can still get non kosher dill hamburger chips… for now).
Why does Heinz no longer produce their Genuine Dill Pickles (whole variety)?
Harold is right. Something is going on with the pickle supply. Whole Foods 365 sells organic kosher dill pickles, but they don’t have dill in there nor do they list dill as an ingredient. What’s up with that? I add my own sprig of fresh dill to help make it a bit more authentic. But it still pales in comparison to a real Deli kosher dill pickle.
I hate kosher pickles. They don’t taste good like dill pickles. Unfortunately the only true dill pickles I have found are Mt Olives’ hamburger dill chips. Everything else is kosher and tastes horrible.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us, Kim.
These days I find it hard to find “Dill Pickles” in our daily shopping. Raised on Dill Pickles it upsets me seeing shelf after shelf of kosher dills.
To me something is up and I don’t like it where are all the DILLS I grew up with. Oh, I’m 68
I think kosher dills taste more like cucumbers. They have a crunch and don’t seem as saturated with the brine. I read in my old Kerr canning book that they soak the cucumbers in a salt water brine overnight before canning. That was for regular dill pickles. The kosher recipe did not include this. My partner does not eat kosher pickles because they are like cucumbers to him, which he doesn’t like. But he loves hamburger dills and they are mushy, not crunchy. Just my thoughts as I try to figure out my partner’s likes and picky nature.
Thank you for sharing with us, Nadine!
Deli style kosher dills are fermented in brine to give them the sour flavour. This gives them and the brine many health benefits derived from the natural probiotics. Supermarket pickles are mostly marinated in vinegar, not fermented and lack many of the health bnefits derived by fermentation.
You say the difference is garlic. To me it tastes like kosher dills have a lot of pepper. I long for the large dills you used to get as kids at the carnival (65+) years ago.
Thank you for sharing, Terry!
I much prefer plain dill pickles over kosher dills.