How to Store a Cucumber Without it Getting Mushy

My middle daughter loves cucumbers. They are her favorite vegetable. Unfortunately, I’ve found it a little difficult to keep them fresh. I’ll slice a portion of a cucumber for her one day and it’ll be nice and crisp. Two days later I’ll slice some more and it’ll be mushy and gross.

I’ve done a little research and tried various approaches. Thankfully, I’ve found a way to store cucumbers—even after slicing off a portion—so they don’t get mushy.

How to store cucumbers before you cut them

There are conflicting ideas regarding the best way to store fresh cucumbers. According to UCDavis, cucumbers are susceptible to cold injury and should be stored above 50°F. In other words, you should store them on the counter instead of the fridge. I’m sure these folks know a lot more about science than I do, but this just doesn’t work in my house. Cucumbers, as well as many other fruits and veggies that experts say aren’t supposed to be refrigerated (including apples, tomatoes, and onions), go bad very quickly if left on the counter in my house. Perhaps this is because we live in Texas where it is very hot and humid. Whatever the reason, it just doesn’t work.

What does work for us is using the approach suggested by Epicurious. I wash cucumbers when I get them, dry them thoroughly, and then wrap them in a paper towel or thin dishtowel. I then tuck the towel-wrapped cucumbers into a baggie. Leaving the baggie partially unsealed (so air can circulate), I place it in the fridge away from foods that give off a lot of ethylene gas (tomatoes, melons, apples, etc.). I like to place it in the door, as this area is cold, but not coldest (see an article about the coldest areas of fridges here). Using this approach, I find that our cucumbers stay fresh for about a week.

How to store cucumbers that have been cut open

Once cut, cucumbers should always be stored in the fridge to prevent the growth of bacteria. When I use a cucumber, I peel and cut off the portion that I need. I then place a small amount of plastic wrap over the exposed end, wrap the cucumber in a dry paper towel or dishtowel, and return it to the baggie.

As with fresh cucumbers, I keep the bag partially sealed, keep it away from the coldest spots in the fridge, and store it away from foods that give off a lot of ethylene gas. Using this approach, I’m routinely able to keep cut cucumbers from getting mushy for six days.

Final thoughts

I’m so glad I figured this out so that my daughter can have crunchy cucumber slices even if it has been days since we got groceries.

What tips do you have for storing cucumbers?

Shared at the following:

Encouraging Hearts and Home, Over the Moon, and Busy Monday.