Pickle vs. Chutney: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Published on January 6, 2024
Pickle is a preserved food in vinegar or brine. Chutney is a spicy condiment of Indian origin, often fruit or vegetable-based.
Key Differences
Pickle, a preserved food, is typically made by immersing fruits, vegetables, or other foods in vinegar or brine, creating a distinct sour or salty flavor. Chutney, on the other hand, is a condiment of Indian origin, often made from a mixture of fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices, offering a combination of sweet, spicy, and tangy flavors.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
The process of making pickles involves fermentation or marinating in an acidic medium, which acts as a preservative and gives them a long shelf life. Chutney, in contrast, is usually made fresh and has a shorter shelf life, with its flavor deriving from the combination of its fresh ingredients and spices.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
Pickle varieties are diverse, ranging from simple cucumber pickles to complex mixed vegetable pickles, each having a unique flavor profile depending on the ingredients and spices used. Chutneys also offer a wide range, from sweet mango chutneys to spicy tomato chutneys, each with a unique blend of flavors.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
In terms of use, pickles are often served as a side dish or condiment to complement the main course, adding a burst of flavor. Chutneys, while also used as condiments, play a more integral role in Indian cuisine, often used to balance or enhance the flavors of other dishes.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
Culturally, pickles are a staple in many cuisines around the world, including Eastern European, Middle Eastern, and American. Chutneys, originating in India, have become popular globally, particularly in British and other South Asian cuisines, showcasing the cross-cultural exchange of flavors.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
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Pickle and Chutney Definitions
Pickle
A food item preserved in a solution of vinegar or brine.
I added a pickle to my sandwich for extra flavor.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 28, 2023
Chutney
A music genre originating in the Caribbean, blending Indian and local music styles.
The party was lively with upbeat chutney music.
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Dec 28, 2023
Pickle
Informal term for a troublesome or sticky situation.
I'm in a pickle; I can't decide between the two job offers.
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Dec 28, 2023
Chutney
A symbol of the fusion of Indian and local cultures, especially in the Caribbean.
Chutney music represents the cultural diversity of our community.
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Dec 28, 2023
Pickle
To clean metal using a solution to remove oxides.
We need to pickle the steel before painting it.
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Dec 28, 2023
Chutney
A spicy or savory condiment of Indian origin, made from a mix of fruits, vegetables, and spices.
I served mango chutney with the curry.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 28, 2023
Pickle
Something regarded as being in a state of difficulty or confusion.
This project is a real pickle; we need more time.
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Dec 28, 2023
Chutney
A style of dance associated with chutney music.
They performed an energetic chutney dance at the festival.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 28, 2023
Pickle
An edible product, such as a cucumber, that has been preserved and flavored in a solution of brine or vinegar.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 27, 2023
Chutney
Used metaphorically to denote a mix or blend of diverse elements.
The city's culture is a chutney of various traditions.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 28, 2023
Pickle
A solution of brine or vinegar, often spiced, for preserving and flavoring food.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 27, 2023
Pickle
A chemical solution, such as an acid, that is used as a bath to remove scale and oxides from the surface of metals before plating or finishing.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 27, 2023
Chutney
A sweet or savory but usually spicy condiment, originally from eastern India, made from a variety of fruits and/or vegetables, often containing significant amounts of fresh green or dried red chili peppers.
Mango chutney
Lemon chutney
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 27, 2023
Chutney
(music genre) A style of Indo-Caribbean music from the West Indies, associated especially with Trinidad and Tobago.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 27, 2023
Chutney
A warm or spicy condiment or pickle made in India, compounded of various vegetable substances, such as chopped fruits or green tomatoes, etc., often cooked with sweets and acids such as sugar and vinegar, with ginger and spices.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 27, 2023
Chutney
Chopped fruits or green tomatoes cooked in vinegar and sugar with ginger and spices
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 27, 2023
Pickle
A cucumber preserved in a solution, usually a brine or a vinegar syrup.
A pickle goes well with a hamburger.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 27, 2023
Pickle
The brine used for preserving food.
This tub is filled with the pickle that we will put the small cucumbers into.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 27, 2023
Pickle
(informal) A difficult situation; peril.
The climber found himself in a pickle when one of the rocks broke off.
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Dec 27, 2023
Pickle
(baseball) A rundown.
Jones was caught in a pickle between second and third.
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Dec 27, 2023
Pickle
(uncountable) A children’s game with three participants that emulates a baseball rundown
The boys played pickle in the front yard for an hour.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 27, 2023
Pickle
(slang) A pipe for smoking methamphetamine.
Load some shards in that pickle.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 27, 2023
Pickle
(metalworking) A bath of dilute sulphuric or nitric acid, etc., to remove burnt sand, scale, rust, etc., from the surface of castings, or other articles of metal, or to brighten them or improve their colour.
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Dec 27, 2023
Pickle
In an optical landing system, the hand-held controller connected to the lens, or apparatus on which the lights are mounted.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 27, 2023
Pickle
A small or indefinite quantity or amount (of something); a little, a bit, a few. Usually in partitive construction, frequently without "of"; a single grain or kernel of wheat, barley, oats, sand or dust.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 27, 2023
Pickle
To preserve food (or sometimes other things) in a salt, sugar or vinegar solution.
We pickled the remainder of the crop.
These cucumbers pickle very well.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 27, 2023
Pickle
(transitive) To remove high-temperature scale and oxidation from metal with heated (often sulphuric) industrial acid.
The crew will pickle the fittings in the morning.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 27, 2023
Pickle
(historical) To pour brine over a person after flogging them, as a method of punishment.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 27, 2023
Pickle
A solution of salt and water, in which fish, meat, etc., may be preserved or corned; brine.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 27, 2023
Pickle
Any article of food which has been preserved in brine or in vinegar.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 27, 2023
Pickle
A bath of dilute sulphuric or nitric acid, etc., to remove burnt sand, scale rust, etc., from the surface of castings, or other articles of metal, or to brighten them or improve their color.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 27, 2023
Pickle
To preserve or season in pickle; to treat with some kind of pickle; as, to pickle herrings or cucumbers.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 27, 2023
Pickle
To give an antique appearance to; - said of copies or imitations of paintings by the old masters.
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Dec 27, 2023
Pickle
Informal terms for a difficult situation;
He got into a terrible fix
He made a muddle of his marriage
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Dec 27, 2023
Pickle
A rundown in baseball where a runner is trapped between bases.
The player got caught in a pickle between first and second base.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 28, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
How is chutney made?
Chutney is made by mixing fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices, often cooked to blend the flavors.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
Can pickles be sweet?
Yes, some pickles, like bread and butter pickles, are sweetened.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
Are pickles healthy?
Pickles can be healthy due to their probiotic content, but high sodium levels should be considered.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
What is a pickle?
A pickle is a preserved food item, usually made by fermenting or marinating in vinegar or brine.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
Is chutney only spicy?
No, chutney can range from sweet to spicy, depending on the ingredients.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
What dishes are chutneys served with?
Chutneys are often served with Indian dishes like curries, samosas, and dosas.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
What's a popular type of pickle?
Dill pickles are among the most popular in Western cuisine.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
Is chutney used in cooking?
Yes, chutney can be used as an ingredient in cooking to add flavor.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
Can pickles be homemade?
Yes, many people make various types of pickles at home.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
Can chutney be preserved for long periods?
Some chutneys can be preserved longer, but they generally have a shorter shelf life than pickles.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
Are there different types of chutney?
Yes, chutneys vary widely, including mango, tamarind, coconut, and more.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
What's the origin of chutney?
Chutney originated in India and has been a part of Indian cuisine for centuries.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
How long do pickles last?
Properly stored, pickles can last for several months to a year.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
Do chutneys need refrigeration?
Yes, homemade chutneys usually need refrigeration and have a shorter shelf life.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
Is pickling limited to cucumbers?
No, a wide range of vegetables and fruits can be pickled.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
Are all pickles sour?
Most pickles are sour, but the taste can vary based on the recipe and ingredients.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
Can pickling spices be customized?
Yes, the spices used in pickling can be varied according to taste.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
Do pickles have any cultural significance?
Yes, pickles are culturally significant in many regions, often associated with traditional recipes.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
How is chutney served in Western cuisines?
In Western cuisines, chutney is often served with cheese, crackers, or as a spread.
Shumaila Saeed
Jan 06, 2024
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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