When Are Cucumbers in Season?

Crisp crunch, fresh flavor, remarkably refreshing. Cucumbers hit all the high notes in our book, and partaking during cucumber season takes this summertime favorite to its peakiest peaks and highest heights.

When is cucumber season? Good question. Important question.

They’re available year-round, but peak cucumber season runs from May through August. Sales tend to rise in spring and then taper off in fall or early winter, but pricing is pretty consistent throughout the year. You’ll maybe see prices dip towards the end of August, but that’s about it.

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Is Cucumber a Fruit or Vegetable?

Ask a scientist, they’ll say it’s a fruit. They are right.

Ask a chef, they’ll insist it’s a vegetable. They are also right (sort of). I mean, they’re right in spirit.

Cucumbers are technically fruit. Fruit is formed so flowering plants can reproduce, and cucumbers do indeed grow from flowers and contain seeds. Vegetables are other parts of a plant, such as the leaves, roots, or stems.

But let’s not discount the chef’s point of view. Cucumbers are treated as vegetables in culinary circles since their crisp texture, mild tasting flesh, and slightly bitter skin lend themselves to savory recipes. They are fruit, but you’ll typically treat them like a vegetable.

How to Pick Cucumbers at the Grocery Store

Cucumbers are fruits of a sensitive disposition, which means care must be exercised during the selection process to ensure each one is fit for use. A tricky proposition for those not in the know, so let’s bring you up to speed on how to spot a prime cucumber:

• Firmness: A good cucumber should be firm with very little give. Puffiness often forms as they start to rot.
• Color: Cucumbers should be a uniform dark green. Yellow spots hint at rot, and lighter shades indicate a cucumber is old and likely to lack crunch and freshness.
• Odor: Fresh cucumbers will be almost odorless, whereas overripe ones often produce an unpleasant smell.
• Skin: Wrinkles suggest cucumbers have been stored improperly and lost their moisture, so look for smooth, unbroken skin.
• Size and Shape: Smaller cucumbers are generally fresher and contain fewer seeds. Put back any with bulges in the middle, as this could mean a pocket of large seeds inside.

You might also consider your plans for these specific cucumbers since different varieties fit different purposes:

• Slicing Cucumbers: Usually longer and a darker shade of green, these are what you’ll commonly see at the store and are meant for slicing. English and Persian are common varieties.
• Pickling Cucumbers: These are shorter, skinnier, longer-lasting, and thicker skinned. Gherkins, national, and regal are common pickling varieties.

How to Store Cucumbers at Home

Perishable and delicate, cucumbers must be stored right if they’re to stay fresh and crisp. They’ll keep for 5 to 6 days when you follow these good practices.

• Store in the Fridge: Cucumbers should be refrigerated, but they can be kept too cool. Place them in the warmest part of your fridge – that’s typically going to be near the front or in the door.
• Keep Them Tightly Wrapped: The tight plastic encasing most store-bought cucumbers prevents spoiling by minimizing moisture loss, so keep as much wrapped as possible.
• Separate From Other Fruit: Cucumbers are highly sensitive to the ethylene gas released by fruits such as melons, tomatoes, apples, and bananas. Store them away from other fruit to prevent yellowing and deterioration.
• Keep ThemDry: Ensuring cucumbers are completely dry before being refrigerated means excess water won’t encourage spoiling. As such, it’s best to leave them unwashed until ready to use.

How to Cut a Cucumber Properly

Go ahead and chomp right into your next cucumber should the spirit move you, but we’d suggest following the herd on this one and cutting it up first. That usually means slicing, dicing, or cutting into batons. Here’s how:

How to Slice a Cucumber

You can cut rounds to your desired thickness simply by cutting crosswise into a whole cucumber. Opt for half- or quarter-moon slices by halving or quartering top-to-bottom before you start.

How to Dice a Cucumber

Deseed your cucumber by quartering lengthwise, then cutting down vertically at an angle to remove the seeded section. Cut into long strips before cross-cutting to your desired thickness – you now have diced cucumber.

How to Cut Cucumber Batons

Ideal whether for kid-friendly dips or an elegant crudités platter, batons are a cinch. Slice your cucumber pole-to-pole, cut them in half crosswise, then cut vertically again to produce batons.

How to Keep Cut Cucumbers Fresh

Moisture loss is a cut cucumber’s deadliest foe. Fight back by covering sliced cucumbers in water within an airtight container, changing the water every 2 days to maintain freshness. It’s a good hack to keep under your belt whenever you need to prepare cucumbers ahead of time.

Can Dogs Eat Cucumbers?

Low in sodium, low in calories, and free from fat, cucumber makes a refreshing treat for pups of all ages, especially when they need to stay hydrated on hot summer days. What you’ll need to avoid is the potential risks: overeating and choking.

Eating too much can cause gastrointestinal (GI) upset. Prevent such issues by only letting your dog enjoy the occasional cucumber tidbit. Choking is easy enough to avoid – simply cut cucumber into small chunks before tossing it to your furry friend.

Tasty Cucumber Recipes

Soups, salads, and summery drinks all get a boost from a dose of cucumber. We’ve curated an exquisite selection of quick and easy recipes with cucumber right at the heart, just for you. Still scribbling your list on a scrap of paper? Upgrade to using Fetch (it’s free!) so you can keep track of these ingredients and prioritize those able to earn you the most points and make your grocery list come in under budget.

How to Make a Cucumber Martini

Upscale your martini with fresh, crisp cucumber that sublimely complements the liquor itself. Good news: this one’s grand whether you’re a die-hard vodka guy or a ride-or-die gin girl. Our recipe is perfect when you’re shopping for one, but you can easily double, triple, quadruple, and so on to entertain a crowd.

Ingredients:

• 3 thick slices of cucumber, plus a few thin slices for garnish
• 2 ½ ounces of Absolut vodka or Beefeater gin
• ½ ounce of dry vermouth
• 1 cup of ice

Recipe:

1. Place your thick cucumber slices in a cocktail shaker, then muddle with a wooden spoon or muddler to express their flavor.
2. Add your 2 ½ ounces of vodka or gin, plus the ½ ounce of dry vermouth.
3. Swirl to combine, then add the ice.
4. Put on the cocktail shaker’s top, then shake vigorously for at least 30 seconds to ensure ingredients are well-mixed and that some ice melts to soften the cocktail and blend its flavors.
5. Strain into a martini glass.
6. Garnish with one or two thin slices of fresh cucumber, then serve.

How to Make Cucumber Water

Want to make hydration more refreshing while bringing a snippet of spa-like tranquility to your home? Cucumber water is where it’s at, and the recipe could scarcely be simpler.

Ingredients:

• Half a medium cucumber
• 8 cups (64 ounces) of cold water
• Lemon slices (optional)
• Fresh mint (optional)

Recipe:

1. Wash and thinly slice the cucumber.
2. Add slices to the bottom of a pitcher, then lightly muddle with a wooden spoon to release the juices.
3. Add the cold water, then refrigerate for at least an hour before serving. Add fresh mint sprigs or lemon slices if desired, and consume within 3 days.

How to Make Pickled Cucumber

Bringing a savory kick to summery cucumber, our recipe pairs the classic pickled cucumber with green onion for some extra flavor.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of water
• 1/3 cup apple cider, white, or rice wine vinegar
• 1 to 2 teaspoons of salt
• 2 cups of sliced cucumbers
• ½ cup of sliced green onion
• 2 tablespoons of sugar (optional)

Recipe:

1. Combine water, vinegar, and salt in a small bowl, plus sugar if you’re hankering for a sweeter pickle. Stir to combine until the salt and sugar have dissolved.
2. Add cucumber and onion, ensuring all the cucumbers are covered in your brine mixture.
3. Let rest in the fridge until you’re ready to eat. They’ll taste best after taking an overnight soak.

Use Fetch to Turn Your Cucumber Recipes Into Rewards

Fetch makes adding new recipes to your repertoire and consuming plenty of fresh produce that bit more rewarding. We certainly hope you’re inspired to upgrade your cucumber game, so why hesitate to put your new-found mastery into practice? Download the app today, start grocery shopping, and don’t forget to snap your receipt after!