Originally Posted by Sandra in Minnesota
Alum usually keeps them crispy, and also hard water or store boughten water helps too. It is a real science to get a good pickle that your family likes, and it turns out every year to be good.
If hard water has much to do with it, our pickles around here could be like cement! We have well water, and we really need a filter. Maybe one day we can get one...right now it is just straight out of the ground, from about 386'. Deep well water with LOTS of minerals!