A couple of weeks ago, we lost our minds when we were told that bananas should be kept in the fridge. Like, why has no one told us that before?!
And now this…
Did you know that cucumbers should in fact NOT be kept in the fridge?
If there’s one fruit (yes, a cucumber is a fruit and not a vegetable, but more on that later…) we were pretty certain should be kept refrigerated, it’s the humble cucumber. But no sir – according to experts, cucumbers will actually stay fresher for longer if we store them in a cupboard or fruit bowl.
According to the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, if cucumbers are stored below 10 degrees Celsius for more than three days, they can get cold injury which will lead to wateriness, pitting and faster decay.
Sounds gross, tbh, so it’s the fruit bowl for our cucumbers as of this very minute.
Saying that, cucumbers are highly sensitive to ethylene, which is a natural gas that causes the certain foods to ripen (and eventually spoil) very quickly. So be sure to keep them separately from bananas, tomatoes, and melons, which are all high ethylene producers.
Is a cucumber a fruit?
So yeah, back to this thing about cucumbers being fruits and not vegetables, it’s true. According to The European Food Information Council, a cucumber is a fruit because of its seeds.
“A botanist would use the botanical classification, which is based on the plant’s physiological characteristics, like the structure, function and organisation of the plant. Therefore, botanically speaking, a ‘fruit’ is the seed-bearing product that grows from the ovary of a flowering plant or, in other words, a fruit is the plants’ way of spreading its’ seeds. A botanical fruit would have at least one seed and grow from the flower of the plant. With this definition in mind, cucumbers are classified as fruit because they contain tiny seeds in the middle and grow from the flower of the cucumber plant.”
Cucumber recipes
There are so many tasty things you can do with cucumbers. We're particularly partial to these cucumber recipes:
And that concludes today’s class on cucumbers.
Anna Lewis is the News Editor at Delish UK, which means she’s always either writing about food, cooking food or eating food. Anna is in charge of Delish UK’s epic food news output, ensuring you’re always up-to-date with the latest product launches, food trends, and restaurant news. She specialises in Slimming World recipes, but she’ll eat just about anything – ideally gherkins or ice-cream sandwiches (but not together).
FAQs
According to the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, if cucumbers are stored below 10 degrees Celsius for more than three days, they can get cold injury which will lead to wateriness, pitting and faster decay.
Should you keep a cucumber in the fridge? ›
Even though cucumbers are prone to chilling injury, the fridge is still the best place to store them. At room temperature, cucumbers will only last for about two days. So, what's the solution? Store cucumbers in the warmest part of the fridge — towards the front, furthest from the cooling elements.
Why do cucumbers mold so fast? ›
"Both moisture and moisture build-up can contribute to cucumber spoilage," says Roszkowski. "If there is too much moisture, there is a good chance of spoilage-causing bacteria multiplying as this is the criteria they require to grow."
Why does my cucumber freeze in the fridge? ›
Temperature settings
If your food is freezing, then it is possible that your fridge's temperature setting was accidentally set too low. This is a common problem that can lead to your refrigerator freezing food.
Do mini cucumbers need to be refrigerated? ›
Do Cucumbers Need to Be Refrigerated? Contrary to what you may think, cucumbers are most comfortable in a cool and dry environment that is warmer than refrigeration allows (50 to 55 degrees F). This is why we recommend storing them in the warmest zone of your refrigerator, like the door.
What vegetables should not be refrigerated? ›
WHAT VEGETABLES SHOULD NOT BE REFRIGERATED? Vegetables that should not be refrigerated include avocados, bell peppers, onions and potatoes. Some vegetables that you may want to refrigerate include mushrooms, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach and asparagus.
Where is the best place to store cucumbers? ›
As mentioned previously, cucumbers should be stored in the fridge to prolong their life. If you need to store them for a short time on the counter, place them in a cool, dry place that's away from direct sunlight.
Is it OK to cut mold off cucumber? ›
Cucumbers and Peaches: Discard
If mold is found on soft fruit like strawberries, peaches, cucumbers, and tomatoes the food should be discarded. Because these fruits and vegetables are high in moisture, the mold can exist deep into it.
Why do homegrown cucumbers taste better? ›
The cause is an organic compounded call cucurbitacin. Bitter cucumbers contain high amounts of cucurbitacin in their fruit. All cucumber plants contain cucurbitacin but cukes grown in home gardens usually have very little of the harsh chemical in their fruit.
Why do cucumbers get slimy in the fridge? ›
Why Are My Cucumbers Slimy? The light-white or clear coating of slime you may find on your cucumbers is a sign that the rotting process has begun, and it's just matter of time before they totally spoil.
Frozen cucumber slices can be used in drinks as well, and are especially great as a garnish to keep the drink cold without diluting the flavor. However, we would not recommend using a frozen cucumber in recipes where texture is key, like a salad or sandwich.
Why can't you freeze cucumber? ›
Yes, you can freeze cucumbers, but there's a catch. Frozen cucumbers will never have the same crisp snap as fresh cucumbers. Here's why. Cucumbers are about 95% water, so freezing and thawing will affect their cell structure, resulting in a mushy texture.
Why are my cucumbers turning white in the fridge? ›
One reason that cucumber fruit turns white is a fungal disease called powdery mildew. This problem begins on the upper surface of the fruit and the cucumbers may look as though they have been dusted with flour. As it spreads, the entire fruit may become covered with the mold.
Why should you not refrigerate cucumbers? ›
According to the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences - Cucumbers should be stored at room temperature – not in the fridge. Apparently when cucumbers are stored for over 3 days at temperatures below 10 Celsius, they'll get cold injury: wateriness, pitting, and faster decay.
Can cucumbers stay at room temperature? ›
While a fresh cuke can hold its own at room temp for a little while, it's probably not going to yield the results you expect if you don't get to it in a day or two. While it's true that cucumbers can experience "chilling injury" at temperatures below 50℉ (pitting, softening, etc.), cucumbers do need to be refrigerated.
Can dogs have cucumbers? ›
Can Dogs Have Cucumbers? Cucumbers are perfectly safe for dogs to eat, and offer a low-calorie, crunchy snack that many dogs love. Cucumbers only contain about 8 calories per one-half cup of slices, compared to the 40 calories in a single medium dog biscuit. Cucumbers are also very low in sodium and fat-free.
How do you keep cucumbers fresh longer? ›
About this method: To keep cucumbers extra crunchy, Epicurious touts this method: Wash them, thoroughly dry them, wrap them in a dish towel or paper towel, place them in an unsealed plastic bag to allow some airflow, and place them in the crisper drawer. (I used a thin, green grocery store produce bag for my tests.)
How can you tell if a cucumber is good? ›
How to Choose Cucumbers. Look for firm cucumbers, without blemishes or soft spots, which can indicate they have started to rot. They should be dark green without any yellow spots, which develop as the cucumber is getting overly ripe. At that point, it will often produce off-flavors and odors.
Should cucumbers be stored in low or high humidity drawers? ›
For cucumbers, the optimal humidity level to store them at is 85-95%. Storing them in conditions with a lower humidity level than this can cause the cucumbers to shrivel prematurely. Instead, try storing the cucumbers in your fridge's humidity-controlled drawers, with the level set to high.
How long can old cucumber last in the fridge? ›
Old cucumbers will last up to one month in the fridge. They may be stored for even longer if they are kept in a cool area with good ventilation. We'd love to know what you make with your old cucumbers! Let us know in the comments or tag us in an Instagram post!
