Why Do Pickles Float In The Jar?

“Hey, I’m pretty new to canning and pickling, and I’ve been having this issue where some of my pickles float to the top of the jar no matter what I do. I tried different sizes and types of cucumbers, but they still keep rising while others stay neatly submerged. I’m following the instructions closely, but I just can’t seem to figure it out. Any tips or insight on what could be causing this? Thanks a lot!” – Rebecca, Perth, Australia.

Why Do Pickles Float In The Jar?

Oh, Rebecca, I feel your frustration! Floating pickles can be one of those quirky and pesky little issues that seem simple but can leave anyone scratching their head. In truth, pickles floating isn’t uncommon, and the reason behind it can be a combination of things, from the natural make-up of your cucumbers to your brine and packing technique. Let’s roll up our sleeves and talk through why those little buggers decide to defy gravity in your jar — and how we can keep them where they belong!

It All Comes Down to Density (And Some Air!)

At the root of pickles floating is density. In plain terms, if something is less dense than the liquid it’s in (in this case, your brine), it’s going to float. Cucumbers are naturally full of water — especially fresh, homegrown cucumbers like what I get out here in Utah. But they’re also full of small, hidden air pockets. When we turn them into pickles, the air doesn’t just magically disappear. This trapped air is quite happy to make your pickles float around like little life preservers in your jar!

If you slice a cucumber in half horizontally, you can usually see what I’m talking about: there are tiny little air pockets spread throughout the flesh. Even if they feel dense, these guys can still have a lot of trapped air. The more air inside, the greater chance those pickles’ll float.

Are You Using Fresh Cucumbers?

Freshness matters a lot when it comes to canning and pickling, Rebecca! If you’ve ever tried making pickles with cucumbers that sat around for a few days, you might’ve noticed they float more (and don’t always stay as crisp). That’s because as cucumbers age, their internal structure weakens, and the flesh can get squishier, allowing the fruit to suck in even more air.

Fresh-picked cucumbers (like, ones that you pick that same day) tend to have tighter, denser flesh, so they’re heavier in the brine, much less likely to float, and they stay crunchier. I always say — if you haven’t waited too long to pick your cucumbers off the vine, they’ll treat you better in the jar later!

How The Cut Affects Floaters

Rebecca, you didn’t mention if you were slicing your cucumbers or leaving them whole, but let me share a little secret — the cut really matters. Whole cucumbers have more volume for that air to sit in compared to sliced or speared cucumbers. Those little air pockets I was talking about don’t have as much room to escape naturally, especially in whole cukes. Result? They float more often.

If you’re having consistent problems with whole cucumbers floating to the top, try slicing them up into spears or chips before canning them. Spears tend to sink a little easier than whole cucumbers because you’re allowing any trapped air to escape better when you cut into them.

Are They Packed Tightly?

Okay, here’s another trick for you, Rebecca. Try packing your jars *very* tightly. When you’re filling your jars with cucumbers, don’t be shy about really cramming them in there. It’s actually tougher to over-pack a jar than you might think (unless you’re squishing them to the point they start to split).

A loosely-packed jar will leave room for cucumbers to shift and float to the top. When there’s too much empty space in the jar, a cucumber can easily make its way from the bottom to the top of the jar, encouraged by bubbles or air pockets. So, shove those guys in there! Your cucumbers shouldn’t be able to swim around in their briny pool — lock them down!

The Air Bubble Phenomenon

Remember how I mentioned air pockets earlier? Well, let me tell you, those little bubbles are sneaky. After you fill your jar with cucumbers and pour the brine in, air bubbles can get trapped in between the cucumbers or under them. These bubbles, often tiny and hard to notice at first, can push lighter cucumbers up to the surface.

A handy trick I learned (mostly from trial and error!) is to tap and lightly shake the jar after pouring in the brine. You’ll often see some bubbles making their way up. You can also gently “poke” into the jar with a clean knife or small spatula to help release these trapped air pockets before sealing the jar. It might look a little like that old lava lamp you had in high school, but getting rid of these bubbles can make a big difference.

Adjusting Your Brine Ratio

Okay, this one’s a little more on the advanced side of pickle-making, but Rebecca, if you’re feeling experimental, you can try tweaking your brine. The brine’s salt and vinegar content impacts the density of the liquid. If your brine is too diluted (i.e., it has more water than it should), pickles are more likely to float. More concentrated brine — literally saltier and more acidic — makes the pickles heavier in proportion to the liquid.

That said, messing with the salt-to-water-vinegar ratio isn’t something you want to do lightly. The ratio is there both for safety and taste, but there are safe ways to adjust it slightly while still following proper pickling guidelines. A little more salt or vinegar can slightly change the liquid density, which might help those stubborn floating cucumbers sink a bit more.

Troubleshooting Other Issues — Soft Or Floating Pickles

While floating pickles can sometimes just be a minor annoyance, sometimes it’s also tied to another issue — soft or mushy pickles. If your pickles are floating and they don’t have that nice crispy texture when you bite into them later, you may be suffering from the dreaded soft pickle syndrome. (Sorry, that probably isn’t a thing, but it feels dramatic, doesn’t it?)

Here are a few fix-it tips if both floating *and* soft pickles are plaguing your process:

• Use Fresh, Firm Cucumbers: Older cucumbers are softer and have more air, both of which make them more likely to float and be squishy later.
• Add Pickling Lime or Grape Leaves: If soft pickles are persistent, adding natural crisping agents like pickling lime or grape leaves can help maintain the texture.
• Don’t Over-Process: Boiling the jars for too long during the canning process will weaken the cucumbers and increase their tendency to soften — and float.

How To Keep Pickles Under The Brine

Aside from tweaking your brine or packing methods, sometimes you just need a friendly nudge for those cucumbers to stay put.

Some simple physical barriers can keep pickles nicely tucked under the brine. While you don’t want to stuff your jar so tightly that liquid can’t circulate, adding a weighted object designed for fermentation (like small glass or ceramic weights) can help lock the cukes down. These aren’t essential, but if the floating is seriously getting on your nerves, it’s worth trying — especially if you plan on doing bigger batches.

Storing Your Pickles: Keep Them Cool

After you’ve sealed the jars and canned them properly, the way you store them can make a bit of a difference too. Ideally, jars should be stored in a cool, dark place, like a pantry or basement if you’ve got one.

Heat can mess around with pressure inside your jars, encouraging pickles to rise to the top even after they’ve been packed and sealed. This isn’t a huge factor in all cases, but if you’ve already got floaty pickles, a stuffy warm environment can make them even floatier!

Final Thoughts…

Rebecca, thanks so much for reaching out with your question, and I hope these tips make your next batch of pickles behave themselves in the jar! Pickling is such a satisfying process — and sometimes a little tweak here or there is all it takes to nail down that perfect final product. Don’t worry too much if they float; it’s more about getting the texture and flavor right in the end. With tighter packing, fresher cucumbers, and maybe some tiny air-bubble-poking action, you’ll have those pickles submerged in no time. Good luck and happy pickling!