Pickle Juice Is the Best Hangover Cure, Here's Why

Oh, boy. It’s that time of the year. The time when people around the world are experiencing a heady mix of optimism for the days that lie ahead, and deep, deep regret at how many cheap beers and premade whiskey cocktails they drank the night before. Yep! It’s New Year’s morning, also known as Hangover Central. I’ve lost count of the number of times that I’ve spent the morning of January 1 in bed, and the afternoon wishing that I’d just gotten up and carried on with the day. If only I’d had some pickle juice handy.

“Hang on,” I hear you say. “Pickle juice?” Yep. Pickle juice. It might sound totally wild, but this ingredient, which most of us have in our fridges somewhere, is one of the best hangover cures around. It all comes down to its salty nature. Pickle juice is full of potassium and sodium, essential electrolytes that can be lost when you drink alcohol due to its diuretic effects. If you got to the point of, ahem, vomiting on New Year’s Eve (and we really hope that you didn’t), then the electrolyte loss will be even greater. Pickle juice will essentially help you restock on these, rehydrating you more effectively than just plain water, and easing your headache and muscle pains. Oh, and the fact that it’s composed mainly of H2O helps, too.

How Much Pickle Juice to Drink

Before you grab that jar and down the whole thing, exercise just a little restraint. You only need a small amount of pickle juice for it to have an effect: A few tablespoons will do the trick. If you drink a big ol’ glass of it, you’ll just end up feeling parched once more, and you’ll undo any of the positive benefits it may have had. Because pickle juice is quite literally a preservative, it’ll last for a long time in your fridge – so don’t worry if that jar’s been sitting there for a couple of months. It can also be a great idea to keep leftover pickle juice (ideally from the best dill pickles you can find, for optimal flavor) on hand for celebratory occasions, once you’ve finished munching on the pickles themselves.

What Drinks to Mix with Pickle Juice

You don’t have to do a straight shot of pickle juice for it to work, either (in fact, you may want to avoid the shot glasses in full, after last night). You can mix it into loads of different drinks to dilute its flavor, but to still reap its benefits. The easiest way to do this is by pouring it into a glass of club soda, which will create a delightfully salty drink that feels refreshing and nourishing. If you want to go full-steam ahead with your hangover cure, try adding pickle juice to a virgin Bloody Mary (or add some vodka for a little hair of the dog – hey, we’re not judging!), and top it with your favorite Bloody Mary garnish. Think of it as homemade dill pickle Bloody Mary mix. Once you’ve had your pickle-based cure, you can then crawl back into bed, pull the covers over your head, and wait until January 2.