5 hours Ago By Sophie Law
Cucumbers are a popular and refreshing addition to a wide variety of dishes, loved for their crisp texture and fresh taste. Whether added to salads, sandwiches, or enjoyed on their own, they offer a light and versatile ingredient that pairs well with many foods. However, cucumbers are also quite sensitive to improper storage.
If not stored correctly, they can quickly become soft and mushy, losing both their texture and flavour. To maintain their freshness and quality, it is important to store cucumbers under the right conditions. Waste experts at Mill Food Recycler say cucumbers can last for a week if stored alongide one kitchen utensil: a spoon.
They suggest removing cucumbers from their plastic packaging before washing and drying them to prolong their lifespan. "No matter how you store your cucumbers, the first step is to wash and dry them as soon as you bring them home," they said. "Bacteria on the surface of any fruit or vegetable will expedite the spoilage process, so giving cucumbers a good rinse under running water is an essential first step to keeping them fresh.
" The experts suggest wrapping the cucumbers in a paper towel before placing them in a ziplock bag. This will help absorb any excess moisture and prevent condensation from accumulating on the outside of the cucumber, which can lead to early spoilage. Before placing cucumbers in the fridge, they recommend adding a metal spoon to the bag.
"If your refrigerator gets a lot of daily traffic, its internal temperature likely fluctuates frequently. This constant fluctuation can be bad for produce — especially cucumbers," the experts said. "A tried and true trick to help address this issue is to place a metal spoon inside the plastic bag with your cukes to help keep the temperature inside the bag more consistent; the temperature of the metal spoon is less impacted by the opening and closing of the door, and will prevent temperature fluctuations within the cucumber.
" Experts also suggest opting for the top shelf of the fridge to store cucumbers instead of the vegetable drawers. Meanwhile, they recommend covering any cut ends with clingfilm to create a "skin" on the sliced end. They added: "Then, wrap your cucumber in the paper towel again and return it to the plastic bag and top shelf of the fridge.
The plastic wrap will help slow the decaying process but not prevent it, so you should still plan to use it within a couple of days." By storing your cucumbers this way, experts say the will last between "for four to seven days.".
