Five ways to use up leftover cucumbers (2024)

FAQs

Five ways to use up leftover cucumbers? ›

A great way to use up excess Cucumbers, lemons, limes, berries, and citrus fruits is by slicing them up and adding them to your water! Not only will these fresh foods infuse a simple glass of water with refreshing flavor, they will also add a dose of vitamins and nutrients that will help to nourish your body.

A great way to use up excess Cucumbers, lemons, limes, berries, and citrus fruits is by slicing them up and adding them to your water! Not only will these fresh foods infuse a simple glass of water with refreshing flavor, they will also add a dose of vitamins and nutrients that will help to nourish your body.

Yes, you can freeze cucumbers, but there's a catch. Frozen cucumbers will never have the same crisp snap as fresh cucumbers. Here's why. Cucumbers are about 95% water, so freezing and thawing will affect their cell structure, resulting in a mushy texture.

Here it is: wrap each cucumber individually in a paper towel, then put all cucumbers wrapped in paper towels inside the plastic bag. Put the plastic bag with the cucumbers in a refrigerator. That's it! It works like magic – the cucumbers will stay perfectly fresh for the whole week!

Even though cucumbers are prone to chilling injury, the fridge is still the best place to store them. At room temperature, cucumbers will only last for about two days. So, what's the solution? Store cucumbers in the warmest part of the fridge — towards the front, furthest from the cooling elements.

Ladle cucumbers into freezer containers, bags, or can-or-freeze Mason jars. Be sure to leave at least one-half-inch of head space for expansion. Label containers and freeze. Wait at least a week before eating.

Wash and thinly slice cucumbers. Spread cucumbers in a single layer on a shallow tray. Place in the freezer just long enough to freeze until the cucumber slices are firm. Place cucumbers in an airtight bag, leaving no headspace, then seal.

What can I do with too many cucumbers besides pickles? ›

#1 Bake or Roast Your Cucumbers

“We tried roasted cucumbers. Toss with some butter and season salt and then liberally sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese and baked in the oven (along with our squash). Now we have a new favorite.”

Wrap the whole cucumber in plastic wrap and then store it in an airtight container. The plastic wrap acts as a shield and locks in moisture, which prevents the cukes from ripening and becoming mushy.

Tips for Storing Cucumbers:

Ensure that the cucumbers are stored away from ethylene-producing fruits like tomatoes, apples, and bananas. Ethylene can cause cucumbers to ripen and spoil more quickly. Avoid placing cucumbers near foods with strong odors as they absorb odors easily.

Turn those big boats of overripe cucumbers into a zippy cucumber relish to enjoy in hot dogs, hamburgers, sandwiches, and as a condiment to any grilled or roasted meat. This easy relish combines the cucumbers with onions and apples to make a delightfully sweet 'n tangy relish - mustardy and tangy and just right.

Thinly sliced and cooked in a hot skillet or wok, cucumbers still maintain some crunch and freshness even when cooked, like in our Sautéed Cucumbers With Green Herbs recipe. Or give sliced cucumbers a quick stir fry with ground beef or sliced steak, it's a perfect pairing.

Can Dogs Have Cucumbers? Cucumbers are perfectly safe for dogs to eat, and offer a low-calorie, crunchy snack that many dogs love. Cucumbers only contain about 8 calories per one-half cup of slices, compared to the 40 calories in a single medium dog biscuit. Cucumbers are also very low in sodium and fat-free.

If you only used half a cucumber or pre-cut it into slices, store the leftovers in an airtight container or resealable bag in the fridge, placing a paper towel inside to absorb extra moisture.

There's no real problem with reusing the slices of cucumber, other than the fact that they will eventually start to lose their flavor.

Surprisingly, once a cucumber is sliced, moisture loss is the greatest threat to freshness. Store sliced cucumbers in an airtight container, covered in water. The water will prevent the cut cucumbers from drying, shrinking or softening. Be sure to change the water every 2 to 3 days, to maintain freshness.