A perfectly half-sour dill pickle can be the secret ingredient that elevates various dishes, especially sandwiches. With pickles available in several forms—whole, spears, chips, and flat slices—finding the right type for your meal is easy. While any format can be enjoyed, there exists a technique to maximize the flavor and texture of pickles for an ideal sandwich experience: shaving.

Sandwich-sliced pickles are typically cut lengthwise, allowing them to rest neatly on the bread. While this method works, shaved pickles offer an even better solution. The initial motivation for shaving was simple: a desire for just a hint of pickle flavor.

While preparing an egg salad sandwich, the thought of adding a small hint of pickles came to mind. Whole pickles were my choice because they allow for versatile slicing. Initially, I attempted to create the thinnest slices possible with a knife, expecting that the slippery nature of the slices might cause them to slide out of the sandwich. Frustrated by my lack of success, I decided to employ a vegetable peeler instead.

Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann

The pickle shavings produced were exquisite—thin, delicate, and resembling ribbons. With just a few shavings, each bite of my sandwich was infused with a wonderfully briny flavor without the risk of slipping. This technique provided a superior coverage compared to conventional slices.

How to Shave Your Pickles for Optimal Slices

To achieve the best results, hold one end of the pickle firmly while pressing the other end down onto a cutting board. Use a vegetable peeler to glide along the length of the cucumber with your other hand. Continue this process until you have enough shavings, then return any leftover portion to the brine. A speed peeler or a Y-peeler is recommended for this task due to its advantageous angle.

Advantages of Shaved Pickles

Shaving pickles provides remarkable flexibility. For enthusiastic pickle fans, this approach allows an abundance of pickles on sandwiches and burgers; the thin ribbon-like shavings can be easily arranged to prevent slipping off the edges. In fact, it’s possible to pile on several pickles’ worth of shavings on a sandwich that would usually hold just one.

For those who prefer a milder pickle flavor, these shavings offer the opportunity to incorporate just a couple of ribbons, ensuring a touch of pickle in every bite. This technique is also beneficial for people who may struggle with biting into thick, crunchy items.

While some crunch is sacrificed with shaved pickles, and this technique may not suit every dish, it presents a unique option, particularly for those looking to enjoy more pickles without the usual concerns of them sliding off their hoagies.