How to Keep Cucumbers Fresh: Tips for Whole or Cut Cukes

Cucumbers are a vegetable from the Cucurbitaceae family of plants. The vegetables—which originated in South Asia—grow on a vine, are cylindrical, and are available year-round. Cucumbers—or cukes for short—have a high water content of ninety-five percent, which gives these vegetables a crispy texture and fresh taste. Cucumbers contain vitamin A and vitamin C, and their peels contain dietary fiber. Cucumbers are low-calorie foods.

Cut cucumbers will last only a few days in the fridge, but whole cucumbers can last up to two weeks in the refrigerator. Whole cucumbers at room temperature on the countertop have a shelf life of up to a week if you keep them away from direct sunlight. Additionally, the veggies are a traditional choice for pickling, and pickled cucumbers can last up to four months in the refrigerator.

Cucumbers in the freezer might last up to six months to a year. To preserve the vegetables, place the whole cucumbers (peeled or unpeeled) in a plastic bag or airtight container to avoid freezer burn. Frozen cucumbers are best for smoothies, fruit water, and soups due to the change in texture and taste that results once you thaw them.

Whole cucumbers will last longer than cut cucumbers. To keep your whole cucumbers fresh, you should store them where they will be cool and away from moisture. Here are steps you can take to maintain a cucumber’s freshness:

1. 1. Rinse and dry the cucumbers. Before storing your whole cucumbers in the refrigerator, rinse the vegetables with cold water and dry them thoroughly.
2. 2. Wrap the cucumbers in a paper towel or tea towel. Cucumbers will stay fresh longer if you keep them cool and dry. The paper or tea towel will absorb any excess moisture that the vegetable produces.
3. 3. Place the wrapped cucumbers in a plastic bag. Airflow is critical to keeping cucumbers dry and preventing condensation from accumulating inside the resealable bag. After you place the wrapped cucumbers in the bag, seal it only halfway.
4. 4. Store cucumbers in the refrigerator door. Cucumbers store better in temperatures around 50 degrees Fahrenheit, but most refrigerators idle around 40 degrees Fahrenheit. To avoid chilling injuries like pitting, store cucumbers in the refrigerator door—the warmest spot in a refrigerator. If your refrigerator has a crisper drawer with built-in humidity controls, this is another good storage option. Set the crisper drawer to high humidity and your cucumbers will stay fresh longer.
5. 5. Keep cucumbers away from other fruits and vegetables. Certain fruits and veggies—such as bananas, tomatoes, and melons—give off ethylene gas. This gas will speed up cucumber decay, resulting in mushy spots.

The general rule of thumb is to cut only what you need from a whole cucumber to maintain the freshest version of the produce. It’s easier to preserve half a cucumber than a sliced cucumber. To preserve half a cucumber, simply wrap the cut end in plastic wrap. To preserve a sliced cucumber, place a damp paper towel in an airtight container. Then place the cucumber slices on top of the paper towel and secure the lid. Store the container in the front of the refrigerator and consume the cucumber slices within two to three days.

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