Storing Cucumbers

When storing cucumbers, you need to consider whether you just need short term storage or if you want to preserve your cucumbers for the long term.

Short Term Storage (Fresh Cucumbers):

Cucumbers from the supermarket are often waxed to seal in moisture. Cucumbers that have not been waxed can be tightly wrapped in plastic wrap for the same reason.

To store cucumbers, first wipe them clean with a damp cloth.

Cucumbers should be stored in a cool (but not cold) environment. The ideal storage environment would have a temperature of 50°F to 55°F (10°C to 13°C) and a relative humidity of 95%. If cucumbers are stored for long periods at temperatures below 40°F (5°C), they will develop pitting and get soft and mushy. That said, it is still okay to store cucumbers in the vegetable crisper of your refrigerator for a few days.

Cucumbers can be stored for about 2 weeks.

Long Term Storage (Pickling):

Don’t freeze cucumbers. The best long term storage solution for cucumbers is to pickle them. There are particular varieties of cucumber that are best suited to pickling, however, any variety can be pickled. Cucumbers can be pickled by fermenting or with a vinegar solution, then processed in a boiling water bath.

Pickled cucumbers can keep for up to a year.

Cucumbers and Ethylene:

Cucumbers Produce very low amounts of ethylene, but they are very ethylene sensitive. Because of this, cucumbers should never be stored with high ethylene producers like apples, pears, or tomatoes.

If you found this post useful, or if you have any tips for storing cucumbers, please leave a comment.