Growing up, I was the kid who accepted when friends dared me to eat weird stuff. I also love dill pickles. I've eaten dill pickle potato chips and more than one peanut butter-pickle sandwich.
These qualifications apparently made me theperfect staff guinea pig for Sonic's Pickle Juice Slush, whichis back on the menu until Aug. 28, along with the Big Dill Cheeseburger. Plus, Sonic says the slush, first introduced in 2018, is one of itsmost requested menu items.
So on my lunch break, I headed for the closest location and went full pickle, ordering both items and signing myself up for a long rowing machine session of atonement later on.
Here's what Sonic says it was going for: "Designed to cure all pickle cravings, the Pickle Juice Slush combines the flavor of a salty dill pickle with a sweet slush for a refreshingly tart treat that tastes just like you’re sipping out of the pickle jar."
In reality, thepickle juice wasn't actually the first thing to hit my taste buds. Don't get me wrong: It was definitely there. But the opening notes of limey tartness reminded me a bit of Mountain Dew. The pickle flavor kicked in as the slushy mixture hit the back of my mouth before I swallowed. It reminded me a bit of the way you taste the pickle on a McDonald's cheeseburger as you're about to swallow.
All told, the Pickle Juice Slushwasn't disgusting. It wasn't life-changing. It was definitely interesting. And something you should drink while it's still ice cold. Lukewarm pickle juice isn't appealing – even to a diehard dill fan such as myself.
Pro tip: If you're a little worried, order a second, fruitydrink as insurance. I went for the cherry limeade as a backup.
You can make your experiment a little less risky by ordering the Pickle Juice slush through the Sonic app or online, which cuts the price in half. I paid $1.65.
How big of a dill is the cheeseburger?
The $4.49Big Dill Cheeseburger features an all-beef patty, American cheese,dill pickle slices and fried dill pickles along with lettuce and ranch dressing on a brioche bun. Alternatively, you can get the pickle fries with a side of ranch for $1.89for a limited time. (If I were to go again, I'd just get the pickle fries.)
These pucker-perfect menu items are available at participating locations. As I mentioned, you can get thePickle Juice Slush for half price through the Sonic appor, Sonic says, you can even add pickle juice flavoring to any otherbeverages for an additional charge.Before you go, you should check whether your favorite Sonic spot offers mobile ordering.
My advice to fellow pickle lovers thinking of heading to Sonic: Order either the slush or the burger, not both. When you have them together, it's a LOT of pickle – even for me.
The combination also made me a bit burpy. And then there's the pickle breath, which cannot be vanquished with just the little peppermint that comes with the slush. Either bring a truckload of Altoids with you or don't breathe on anyone until you can get home and gargle a gallon of Listerine.
Why drink pickle juice? Just, why?
You might wonder, who on earth would willingly drink pickle juice? Well, actual pickle juice – the stuff that comes out of the jar,not the slushie machine– is actually good for you.(At least the naturally fermented kind is. The vinegar-based stuff, not so much.) And you only need a few ounces to reap the benefits.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, naturally fermented pickle juice isfull of probiotics, it helps regulate blood sugar levelsand is a source of electrolytes like sodium, potassium and magnesium. This makes it a good hangover tonic – assuming you can keep it down in that condition. Athletes use it as a recovery drink and to reduce muscle cramps.
Hey, given the choice between a Charley horse cramp and drinking pickle juice, I'll take the pickle juice. Wouldn't you?
The pickle flavor kicked in as the slushy mixture hit the back of my mouth before I swallowed. It reminded me a bit of the way you taste the pickle on a McDonald's cheeseburger as you're about to swallow. All told, the Pickle Juice Slush wasn't disgusting.
How much pickle juice should you drink? Just one sip, a tablespoon or so, as long as it splashes the back of the throat and comes from vinegar-based pickles since the acid is key, Tapper says.
Pickle juice should not be your choice of drink for weight loss. It is too high in sodium which can cause water retention and bloating. If you'd like to use it for its other possible but not necessarily proven health benefits, however, you can drink some but only in small quantities – about a 1 ounce shot a day.
Drinking pickle juice might sound gross, but there are several reasons to consider it. It is hydrating and may help with muscle cramps, blood sugar, and gut health, among other benefits. Athletes have been sipping this briny beverage for years. Experts didn't know why pickle juice was good to drink after exercising.
While pickle juice offers some health benefits, it may also pose some risks. Most of these risks are tied to the extremely high levels of sodium that pickle juice contains. Those who have or are at risk for hypertension (high blood pressure) should avoid drinking pickle juice.
High sodium: Too much salt can lead to water retention, swelling, and bloating. Raised blood pressure: Water retention from eating large amounts of salt can increase blood pressure. Indigestion: Drinking too much pickle juice can lead to gas, stomach pain, and diarrhea.
Brain freezes happen when something very cold comes into contact with the roof of your mouth. Your blood vessels shrink, then relax again, and that relaxation results in a rush of blood to the brain, causing the sensation of your gray matter being squeezed in a vice.
About Hausbeck Pickle Company. Founded in 1923 by Charles E. Hausbeck, Hausbeck Pickle Company produces pickles and peppers for fast food restaurants, such as Subway, Burger King, Sonic, Domino's Pizza and Papa John's, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and KFC.
Sonic's Blackout Slush Float sounds like a cup of otherworldly deliciousness. The all-black slush is cotton candy- and dragon fruit-flavored, and is topped with creamy white soft-serve ice cream and blue and purple galaxy-themed sprinkles.
It's safe to enjoy a small cup of pickle juice, but make sure that you do not exceed your daily value of sodium. People with high blood pressure, gout, and heart, liver, or kidney disease might need to avoid pickle juice.
The juice's combination of acetic acid and electrolytes is so effective, Harvard Medical School research suggests taking a little sip (just ½ oz.) of pickle juice before bed reduces nighttime cramping by as much as 46%.
Pickles and other fermented foods boast some pretty impressive health benefits. But you have to use some caution: If you have high blood pressure or are sodium-sensitive, salt can drive up your blood pressure levels, and pickles and pickle brine are loaded with sodium that could do more harm than good.
It might sound like a strange drink, but some have taken a fancy to the yellow-green beverage because they enjoy the taste or consider it healthy. While there are a lot of claims of how pickle juice can boost your health, the fad's most well-established benefit is to your gut.
Electrolytes help maintain the fluid balance in your body and keep all systems firing. But when you sweat, you risk losing too many. The antidote? “Pickle juice contains electrolytes in the form of a lot of sodium and some potassium and magnesium.
Pickles, especially in the form of pickle juice, are rich in electrolytes such as sodium and potassium. This electrolyte balance can play a crucial role in relieving nausea caused by dehydration or imbalances in bodily fluids.
It's important to watch your intake of pickle juice because of its sodium content. It's high in sodium and easy to overdo it. Just 1 cup of it contains about 821 mg of sodium. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that most adults limit their sodium intake to less than 2,300 milligrams per day.
The biggest risk of drinking pickle juice is consuming too much sodium. The average adult should not consume more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium each day, but most Americans consume more than that. Taking in too much sodium can increase blood pressure, raising your risk for heart attack and stroke.
The same set of researchers also did a test on pickle juice for cramps earlier in 2010. They found that it did work to shorten cramp duration. On average, it relieved cramps in about 1.5 minutes, and 45 percent faster than when nothing was taken after exercise.
“Pickle juice could help curb your appetite by stabilizing blood sugar. It's easier to lose weight and control appetite when your blood sugar's stable,” says Skoda. “And if you're drinking pickle juice for the probiotic benefit, improving digestion and metabolism could definitely help you lose weight.”
Introduction: My name is Geoffrey Lueilwitz, I am a zealous, encouraging, sparkling, enchanting, graceful, faithful, nice person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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