Pickle Brine Has Household and Garden Uses, Latvijas Avīze Reports

A feature in Latvijas Avīze, a Latvian daily newspaper, lists 13 ways to reuse the liquid left in the jar once the pickled cucumbers have been eaten. The article, prepared from foreign sources, says many people pour it down the drain, but suggests it can serve household, garden, kitchen and folk-remedy purposes. It deals only with pickled cucumber brine, because the tips rely on the salt and vinegar in it.

For the home and garden

The article suggests pouring brine onto the soil at the next watering to revive struggling plants, noting that it contains potassium and that its acidity helps balance soil pH. It is also described as a natural weed killer for gardens or paving stones in a yard: a little brine is poured on the weeds. Copper items can be wiped with a cloth soaked in brine to remove a greenish tint.

In the kitchen

Brine can replace vinegar in a salad dressing or be mixed with yogurt for a creamy dressing for leafy salads. Some people also use it to marinate meat. Vegetables that might spoil can be placed in brine, which the article claims will keep them for at least a week longer. A vodka cocktail with brine is also mentioned, with a reminder to drink in moderation.

For well-being

The article also lists folk suggestions for health: brine is recommended for indigestion, heartburn (mixed with honey), hangovers, muscle cramps and sore throats. For skin irritation, it proposes applying it after mosquito bites or sunburn, followed by a moisturiser so the salt does not dry the skin. For cramps, it points to the brine's high sodium and potassium content, though it acknowledges that researchers are not sure what causes cramps. These suggestions are informal, and the article provides no medical evidence.