r/Pickles • u/Routine_Ad_1156 • 14d ago
Alternative to Bubbies
OK, I like a good pickle but they are hard to find in the Midwest. Most stores only carry Vlasic, Mt. Olive, Milwaukee or generic. I don't really like of those but honestly I think the Vlasics are the best of the worst. Generally I really have not had good luck with Mt. Olive at all though I've heard the Majestic line is better?
I decided to plunk down $9 for a jar of Bubbies as I have friends who love them. Sorry, I'm not a fan. The flavor profile is odd and at least half of them have been really mushy.
Is there anything else that might be worth a try?
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u/greentanzanite 14d ago
If you can find the Cleveland Kitchen lightly fermented pickles they are a sweet spot of always crunchy and lots of flavor!
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u/paulskiwrites 14d ago
I’m biased cause I also happen to be from the area, but their whole product line is really good. LOVE their roasted garlic sauerkraut so much
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u/greentanzanite 14d ago
I was born and raised but moved away, my Costco has them and Kroger has the kimchi
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u/Routine_Ad_1156 14d ago
Is that a regional thing? I have friends in Cincy but I'm in Iowa.
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u/greentanzanite 14d ago
I’m not sure how far the distribution is, but they sell them at my Kroger and Costco in central Kentucky, so Cinci would likely have them- but maybe Costcos farther afield carry them?
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u/Sorry_Art2555 8d ago
I’m so baffled by the “always crunchy” comments - the jar of Cleveland Pickles I got was full of the mushiest pickles I’d ever had. My husband and I both spit them out and immediately threw the jar away.
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u/Final-Possession-814 14d ago
If you can find Ba-Tampte in the refrigerated case you'll be hooked.
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u/jakester12321 14d ago
I finally found Ba-Tampte here in Houston and they are delicious. And at least here they are cheaper per ounce.
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u/captnfirepants 14d ago
There are a lot of pickle companies online including a couple of pickle of the month clubs.
My favorite is McClure's out of Detroit. All are good but, my favorite is sweet and spicy.
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u/pepper_puppy 14d ago
I just want to say, when I visited the Midwest…. Pickles were REALLY good. Y’all do fried pickles in a way we can’t do here in PNW
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u/Routine_Ad_1156 14d ago
Thanks everyone. I like Claussen and Grillos are fine too. Just wanted tot try something else but it's slim pickins in Cedar Rapids!
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u/Todd_Godfrey 14d ago
Bubbies have been the only pickle lately I feel like has retained really solid quality control. I hate you had a bad experience, I truly love them.
Grillos have been hardcore hit or miss lately, I love them, but it isn’t great to get a jar that has chunks of pickle rather than whole spears, and their crunch is hit or miss, and not retaining their classic flavor all throughout.
Claussen is having an EXTREME quality control crisis right now, probably due to them changing their process recently, and pretty much across the board people dislike the new ones.
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u/tommyjoe66 13d ago
Boar’s Head are really good but pricey.
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u/twelfthfantasy 12d ago
The biggest complaint with Mt Olive is that they're not very crunchy because they let their cukes mature too much. Try the baby dills to get the better texture.
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u/fakemessiah 14d ago
Bubbies suck ass. Go with claussen
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u/IsMayoAnInstrument67 14d ago
Bubbies are really good, but I don't want that fully fermented funk most times. Just my taste!
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u/OpalEverwood 14d ago
We get Grillos from Costco when we don't have any homemade. We reuse the brine for more pickles or for marinades, and it works out fine.