Cucumbers are a popular addition to salads and sandwiches but they are often thrown away as most people do not know how to store them properly. A cook has shared a simple hack to keep them fresh
Cucumbers provide a refreshing addition to sandwiches or salads during the warmer months, yet they’re frequently discarded because most people haven’t mastered proper storage techniques.
While it seems logical that salad ingredients belong in the fridge, cucumbers are surprisingly vulnerable to chilly conditions and tend to deteriorate rapidly. Exposure to temperatures below 10C can cause cucumbers to suffer from chilling injuries. This occurs when the vegetable starts to deteriorate, becoming bruised, withered, and potentially slimy.
Fortunately, Marzia, a culinary expert and creator of Little Spice Jar, has revealed a simple method to preserve cucumbers using just a metal spoon, reports the Express. It comes after a Reddit user divulged their secret to incredible testing baked beans.
Marzia explained: “Add [cucumbers] to a glass or plastic container with a tight-fitting lid. Add a metal spoon to the same container. Snap the lid on the container and place it in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.”
Though it may seem peculiar, a metal spoon maintains steady temperatures around cucumbers, enabling them to remain fresh for considerably longer.
Simply place the cucumbers in a container alongside a metal spoon. Adding a paper towel to absorb surplus moisture is also beneficial.
Position the container on your fridge’s upper or middle shelf, as these areas maintain the warmest temperatures and provide optimal conditions to prevent cucumber spoilage. Avoid stashing cucumbers at the back of the fridge or near the freezer vent, as the excessive cold can lead to chilling injuries.
Also, ensure cucumbers are stored separately from tomatoes, which emit ethylene gas, accelerating their spoilage.
Ethylene gas is an unseen and scentless gas that aids in fruit ripening and flavour development. However, when it accumulates excessively in a confined space, it triggers decay in nearby produce.
By taking a couple of minutes to store cucumbers properly, they should remain perfectly fresh and crisp for up to two weeks longer than usual.