Food Reference Website Logo

Foodreference.com - Articles & Features Section
Articles, Essays, News & Interviews about food & beverages -  History, Culture, Science and More

. Home . . Articles & Features . . Food Trivia . . Cooking Tips . . Recipes . . Quotes . . Who's Who . . Food Timeline . . Food Videos . . Food Trivia Quizzes . . Crosswords . . Humor & Poetry . . Cookbooks . . Food Posters . . Magazines & Catalogs . . Flowers . . Key West . . Gourmet Tours . . Cooking Schools . . Festivals & Shows .

You Are Here > 

 HomeArticles & FeaturesVegetable Articles >  Cucumbers, Facts & Varieties >

Next

Bookmark and Share 

 

3 Young Chefs
Click on the
3 Young Chefs
for the best
Culinary Schools
Restaurant, Hospitality & Hotel Management Schools

Get a Free Trial issue!
SAVEUR
SAVEUR
The Award-Winning magazine that celebrates the people, places and rituals that establish culinary traditions

 

See Also: Trivia/Facts & Cooking Tips  

cukesVegetables
See also: Cucumber History & Use; Cucumber Trivia; Tips; Quotes

CUCUMBERS

 

"Cool as a cucumber" isn't just a catchy phrase. The inner temperature of a cucumber can be up to 20 degrees cooler than the outside air. No wonder these are such a summertime favorite!

Cucumbers were believed to have originated in India and spread through Greece and Italy. They made their way into North America agriculture by the mid-16 century. Cool and moist due to their high water content. "Cukes" belong to the same family as pumpkins, zucchini, watermelon and other squashes.

cukesVarieties
There are several varieties of cucumber; the most popular are English, Persian, and Pickling cucumbers. All these varieties are available year round.

CUCUMBERSPersian cucumbers are also known as regular cucumbers with soft, edible seeds. The skin is often waxed to seal in moisture.

English cucumbers are sometimes known as gourmet cucumbers, "burpless", or seedless cucumbers. This variety has seeds that are very small but do not need to be removed. Longer and thinner than regular cucumbers this variety is usually shrink-wrapped to seal in moisture because they are not waxed.

cukesSelection
It’s important to look for firm cucumbers with rich green color and no soft spots. Cucumbers that bulge in the middle, usually most likely means its filled with large watery seeds and tasteless flesh.

Storage
Whole cucumbers should be refrigerated in a crisper for up to a week. Unwaxed cucumbers will easily lose moisture so keep them wrapped tightly in plastic.

cukesUses & Preparation
Wash; removing seeds and peeling depends on the variety and is optional. To seed, slice in half lengthwise and scrape out with the tip of a teaspoon.
Add a decorative touch to your veggie platter. Run tines of a fork down the entire length of the cucumber, penetrating the peel. Slice crosswise.

  • EAT 5 TO 9 A DAYMake Cucumbers Part of Your 5 A Day Plan
  • Add sliced cucumbers to tossed salads.
  • Shred cucumbers and mix with dill and low fat or fat free sour cream for a tasty dip or accompaniment to a salmon entree.
  • Use cucumbers as an edible garnish to your main dishes.
  • Serve cucumbers on your veggie platters at your next gathering.
  • Try cucumber gazpacho with diced cucumbers, bell peppers, scallions, garlic, and tomato juice, stir, chill and serve!
     

TOP


 

•Vegetable Articles• •Lettuce & Leafy Greens >>>• •Mushrooms & Fungi >>>• •Allium: Onions & Leeks >>>• •Roots & Tubers >>>• •Squash & Gourds >>>• •Ackee, Akee, Achee• •Alien Vegetables• •Artichokes, Tips & Facts• •Artichokes, All Choked Up• •Asparagus• •Asparagus, Herald of Spring• •Avocado, Details & Types• •Avocados, General & Recipe• •Avocado Fruit of the Conquistador• •Avocado Season, California• •Beans, Fresh• •Beans, A Hill of Beans• •Bell Peppers• •For Whom the Bell (Pepper) Tolls• •Black Beans (dried)• •Black Eyed Peas• •Broccoli: Cabbage Sprout• •Broccoli• •Brussels Sprouts• •Cabbage• •Cactus, Prickly Pear• •Cauliflower• •Celery• •Celery Root Remoulade• •Chili Peppers, WHY are they hot?• •Chili Peppers• •Chiles, Some Like It Hot• •Corn• •Corn, A-Maize-ing II• •Cranberries, Leaving Turkey Aside• •Cucumbers, Facts & Varieties• •Eggplant: Identity Crisis• •Eggplant, Description & Tips• •Eggplant (Aubergine) Season• •Lentils• •Okra, History & Facts• •Okra, Types & Tips• •Peas• •Peas in a Pod• •Plantains• •Poblano Chile Peppers• •Purcell Mtn Farms• •Rhubarb• •Spinach• •Sprouts, All About Sprouts• •Sprouts, Types & Tips• •Tamarillo, Tree Tomato• •Tomatoes: Summer's Heirs• •(Tomatoes) Love Apples• •Tomatoes, Facts & Tips• •Tomatillo•


. Home . . About & Contact . . Cooking Tips . . Facts & Trivia . . Website Bibliography . . Food Links .



Please feel free to link to any pages of FoodReference.com from your website.
No permission is necessary to link to our pages.

For permission to use any of the content on FoodReference.com please contact:  james@foodreference.com

All contents of this website are copyright © 1990 - 2009 James T. Ehler and FoodReference.com unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. You may copy and use portions of this website for non-commercial, personal use only. Any other use of the materials in this website without prior written permission is prohibited.
 



 

OTHER FEATURES

• Recipe Contests
• Food Festivals
• Holiday Features
• Football Food
• Today in Food History
• Food Trivia Quizzes
• Recommended CookBooks
 

Food Posters & Art

 

Unique Food Posters

 

Free Magazines