You better have some small gherkins!! I believe you would still use the same processing time as for pints....5 minutes. If you are making pickle relish I'm not sure of the time required.

The processing times for fresh pack pickles in Ball's tested recipes seems to run from 10-15 minutes pints depending on whether chips, chunks. slices. You can always use a smaller (not larger) jar for a recipe, but not reducing the time, you process the same as for pints.

You must have a reason for wanting to use such small jars, but I'm wondering what it is ;) Pickles will keep once you've opened them, they don't have to be used all at once.

Agree with morz that it would be very unusual to want to can pickles in only 4 oz. jars. You can use any of the approved/tested recipes but the processing time will be the same as for pints so it may have more negative effect on the small jars.

Dave

Thanks, everyone. My step-daughter wants to give away these little jars of pickles at her baby shower. I can't explain why. She just asked me to make them.

Thanks again for the help.

Mark

Ok does she want dill,sweet, bread n' butter, whole gerkins or slices, etc. We can probably come up with a recipe with some more info.

Dave

Thanks! She was dill slices. I usually just use the easy old Heinz recipe myself.

Mark

Don't what you mean by the old Heinz recipe as there are many attributed to them (some fine, some very unsafe) so use care. Keep in mind that a minimum of 50% vinegar brine is required and more vinegar is better. Many of us also recommend using Pickle Crisp as it helps keep the sliced picles more crisp.

The Ball Blue Book has several approved recipes and the standard basic one is found at NCHFP.

http://nchfp.uga.edu/how/can_06/quick_dill_pickles.html

Dave

Thank you, sir.

Good luck, mawkhawk, and congratulations to the Mother-To-Be. My daughter gave away those small jars at her wedding, but hers were filled with my salsa. It was a big hit.

I second the pickle crisp, it does make a difference.

Annie

Thank you, Annie. I made the pickles up and they look great. She loves dills so a made up a couple pints for her as well. I'll try pickle crisp this summer. Thanks again.

Hey there Mawkhawk5 - I'm thinking of having some 4 oz. pickle jars as wedding favors in September. How did yours turn out? Did you do 5 or 10 min. water baths? I'd love to see the recipe you used. I'm thinking of making sweet hot chips.