Ball Pickle Crisp Granules 5.5 oz Pack of 1

Anyone that does canning will choose pickle crisp versus paying twice for half that amount. To me it's like choosing Sprite over 7-UP....they both taste great so why pay more for Alum. (found on-line...): Alum, found in aluminum, also combines with natural pectin to firm texture. While alum has long been used in home pickle making, it can give pickles an objectionable bitter or astringent flavor. While there is no proven link to food, persons with Alzheimer's disease have higher amounts of aluminum in brain tissue. For these reasons, alum is no longer recommended for pickling. If you do choose to use alum, it can be used with fermented cucumbers (genuine or crock dills) only, it does not work with fresh-pack or quick-process pickles. Remove a thin slice (1/16″) from the blossom end of each cucumber prior to pickling. Enzymes which cause softening are concentrated in the blossom end. •Consider a commercial crisping agent (calcium chloride). Commercial products, such as Pickle Crisp,* which are designed to help cucumbers retain crispness are readily available. Use as directed. Source: www.uwex.edu