I tried this recipe last year and my family loved the pickles. Have started making pickles this year but have heard that it is bad to use the alum in this recipe. I have been reading about alum and it does sound like a bad ingredient so I will make more pickles omitting the alum.

Hi Terri,

You don't need to use alum for this recipe - the pickles will be just as tasty! Alum is used for crisping pickles but can be omitted in most recipes.

-- CM

Not enough alum to do any harm----Pickles will be crispier if used.

This recipe is excellent. I didn't use the alum and used hot peppers instead of the green peppers. Pickle chips have a little heat which everyone just loved.