What is a cucumber?
A cucumber is technically a type of gourd that belongs to the Cucurbitaceae family along with melons, and squash. Cucumbers are typically green elongated fruits with a mild refreshing flavor and crunch. There are many many varieties of cucumbers but only a few are commonly found in grocery stores. Cucumbers found in the grocery store are often labeled with ‘common names’ instead of a specific variety so the names of cucumber types might be interchanged or depend on region. In my list below I will use the common names of the cucumbers i often see but keep in mind they could have other names associated with them.
Common types of cucumbers found in grocery stores are:
American cucumbers: These are often labeled as just ‘cucumber’ here in the states. They often have a thick dark skin that has an edible wax coating which is designed to help maintain shelf life for longer. The skin can be tough because of the wax and often you will see these peeled. They are good used raw in salads. I often find this variety to be very mild in flavor with the most neutral taste.
English cucumbers: Often found wrapped tightly in plastic to help with water retention and freshness similar to the wax coating method of American cucumbers. However, these cucumbers are much longer yet skinnier than American cucumbers. I find their texture to be a little more crisp with smaller seeds. The flavor is mild and refreshing with a slight sweetness.
Persian cucumbers: Very similar to English cucumbers in texture and flavor yet much smaller in size. These are great for snacking or cutting lengthwise into sticks.
Pickling cucumbers (like Kirby): There are many varieties of pickling cucumbers. These cucumbers are often shorter, thicker, and have bumpy skin making them perfect for holding up well in a pickling liquid. Although these varieties are specifically bred for pickling they can be eaten raw as well.
What do they taste like?
Each variety of cucumber will have slightly varying tastes and textures, but overall cucumbers are mostly water with a crisp texture. Making them a fantastic summer treat as you are basically eating water, vitamins, and fiber. Some say cucumbers have a slight bitterness especially within the skin of the cucumber. Overall, I think cucumbers have a very mild refreshing taste.
What to look for when buying?
Look for cucumbers that are firm with no soft spots or wrinkles as this indicates the cucumber is a bit older. They should feel heavy for their size indicating it still has a lot of water retention.
How to best prepare cucumbers?
Cucumbers are most often found consumer raw either as a snack, in a variety of salads, or pickled.
My basic quick pickling recipe calls for adding equal parts vinegar and water into a small sauce pan and bringing to a boil with a little bit of sugar. Start with 1 cup each of water and vinegar with a tablespoon or less of sugar depending on how sweet you want them. bring this liquid to a boil while you slice your cucumbers. Add cucumbers and boiling liquid into a glass jar, let cool and they are ready to eat. These quick pickles are best if they sit overnight in the fridge but can be enjoyed as soon as they are cooled. Try different variations of pickles with adding dill, coriander, more sugar or onions/garlic.
How to best store at home?
Cucumbers can spoil quickly especially if they are cut. Try to store uncut in the fridge until ready to use. Keep them in a slightly open plastic bag with a paper towel to help absorb any excess moisture. Use within a few days of purchasing.
Pro Tip: When I make big salads for meal prep that I want to last me the whole week that contains cucumbers, I will leave them separate as they are often the first thing to spoil. That way if the cucumbers go bad, the entire salad does not go bad.
What is the best season?
Cucumbers are in season in early summer to early fall with the peak season being June - August. They love warm weather so be sure to enjoy cucumbers when they are at peak freshness during these months.
Nutritional Benefits
Although cucumbers are mostly water they are very vitamin rich. This low calorie fruit contains vitamin K, Vitamin C, Potassium, and fiber. The skins contain the most concentrated amount of nutrients so if you can find a variety that does not have a wax coating and eat the skin that is even better.
