How to Store Cucumbers

 

Learn how to store cucumbers properly, and you’ll never find a mushy cuke in your refrigerator again!

From salads to sandwiches, sauces to dips, cucumbers add a refreshing crunch to any dish. However, storing them can be tricky since cucumbers have a notoriously short shelf life. Here’s how to keep cucumbers firm and crisp for as long as possible.

If you’ve harvested a lot of cucumbers and don’t want them to go to waste, consider preserving them with a cucumber pickle recipe.

How to Choose Cucumbers

When selecting cucumbers—whether from your garden or the farmers market—look for firm, unwrinkled specimens with bright medium to dark green skin. Avoid cucumbers with soft or mushy spots, as well as those with black or white blemishes, which indicate over-ripeness. An unusually heavy or waterlogged cucumber is also a sign that it’s nearing decay, so keep looking!

How to Store Cucumbers

1. Rinse: Once home, rinse your cucumbers in cool water. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that soap or produce wash isn’t necessary. A clean produce brush can help remove dirt and debris, but be gentle with thin-skinned varieties like English cucumbers, which can be easily damaged.
2. Dry: Thoroughly dry the cucumbers with a clean towel. Any moisture left on the cucumbers can expedite rotting.
3. Wrap: Wrap each cucumber in a paper towel. This acts as a barrier, preventing condensation from affecting the cucumbers.
4. Bag: Place the wrapped cucumbers in a zip-top bag. The bag helps retain humidity to prevent dehydration.
5. Refrigerate: Store the bag in the warmest part of your refrigerator, such as the door or top shelf. The crisper drawer is often too cold, causing the cells in the cucumber to rupture and resulting in mushiness.
6. Check: Occasionally check your cucumbers for signs of mushiness or discoloration and remove any that show these signs.

Do Cucumbers Need to Be Refrigerated?

Do Cucumbers Need to Be Refrigerated?

If you plan to eat your cucumbers soon, leaving them on the countertop for a few hours is fine—though a few days at room temperature can lead to rot due to humidity fluctuations. Your best option is refrigeration, but avoid the crisper drawer.

How to Store Sliced Cucumbers

If you prefer to slice your cucumbers before storing them, keep the following in mind:

• Dehydration: Sliced cucumbers dehydrate quickly, which can make them soft and mushy.
• Storage: To combat this, store your sliced cucumbers in an airtight container filled with water. This will help keep them crispy. Remember to change the water every two to three days.

By following these tips, you can enjoy fresh, crisp cucumbers for longer!