How do you keep cucumbers fresh and crispy for a longer period of time? That’s easy, store them properly! By storing them the proper way you can keep them fresher, longer. No one enjoys eating a soggy and limp cucumber!
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Five months out of the year we grow and harvest our own cukes from our backyard garden. The rest of the year we purchase them from a local Farmer’s Market. No matter where you get them, they all need to be cleaned and stored the correct way.
The first thing you want to do is remove them from the package (if store-bought). Inspect each one for damage. If you find bad spots you’ll want to consume those first (after cutting out the spot).
Wash all cukes under cool running water to remove dirt, debris and germs. I like to rinse each one for at least 30 seconds. Lay a clean cotton towel out on your kitchen counter and lay the washed cukes on top. They need to air dry. Lay them in a single layer so that air circulates around them 360 degrees.
Once they’re dry…you need to store them in the refrigerator. Wait…don’t just toss them into your crisper drawer. No!!! Wrap each cucumber in 1-2 paper towels, depending on the size of the cuke. It should surround it entirely. Then slip each wrapped cuke into a gallon-sized storage bag. I don’t zip mine shut and I don’t recommend over-stuffing the bag. Use 2-3 bags if you’re storing a lot of cukes.
The freezer compartment in my refrigerator is at the top, so I can safely store my cukes in my crisper drawer or on the bottom shelf. You don’t want to store them in the coldest area in your refrigerator. By storing them properly, they should remain crispy and crunchy for 5-7 days.
Additional Tip: I don’t like wasting plastic storage bags. When I use them for storing my fresh, dry produce I re-wash them and dry them for the next time. I have a stash of them labeled that I use just for this purpose. I wash them in a clean sink with just a tad of liquid dish soap. Rinse them out thoroughly. I have a little clothesline (made from rope) in my pantry and canning room. I hang them up with a clothespin to dry. After the first 4-6 hours I go out and turn the bags inside out and let them dry again. Now they’re ready to be re-used.
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I was not aware how to correctly store cucumbers. This information is very useful on how to correctly store cucumbers.
This is helpful information. I use cucumbers in salads all the time and hate to see them go bad. I will now use paper towels around them before putting them in the plastic bags.
I am so going to try these helpful tips thank you for sharing. I usually forget my cucumbers are in the drawer in the refrigerator then when I go to get one they are bad. I just purchased some today so I am so trying these tips this time.