Author: Cyndie Story
Last saved by: michelle.armstrong
Company: Culinary Solution Centers, LLC

Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program
Vegetable Preparation Methods and Tips

Segment 28: Cucumber

Chef Cyndie: The cucumber is in the squash family, and actually may be used interchangeably with squash in recipes.  Simply peel the cucumber, cut it in half, remove the seeds with a spoon, slice, and add to recipe.  Cucumbers may also be pureed and used in salad dressings to replace up to half the amount of oil.  Cucumbers are tasty and filled with potassium, Vitamin C, and folic acid.  

Ah, and good for the skin too.  Cucumbers are often added to facial masks to improve the skin’s elasticity and smoothness. But, don’t forget to remove the facial cream before you leave for work.

So now that you know cucumbers are good for you inside and out, let’s take a look at the ones customers like to eat.  First, select cucumbers that are green and firm.  Try to avoid those that have soft spots or any yellowing.  The larger the cucumber, the larger the seeds plus, very large cucumbers tend to be bitter and bland tasting.  

There are two types of cucumbers; the pickling and the slicing.  And these are not interchangeable.  Pickling cucumbers have white or black spines and are very bitter in taste.  Hence the need for pickling before eating.  Slicing cucumbers include the common cucumber that most of us are familiar with and also the English cucumber also known as the hothouse cucumber.  Both are delicious eaten raw with or without a low fat or fat free dip.

To prepare cucumbers with a little more flare to catch your customer’s eye, start by rinsing and removing 3 to 4 sides with a vegetable peeler. Place the cucumber on the cutting board on one of the cut sides.  The cut area is now flat, and the cucumber does not roll around on the board.  This makes it easier to slice.  Wow, look at how attractive these cucumber slices are now that we used a garnishing technique.  

As an option, you may prefer to cut the cucumber in half prior to slicing.  This makes half moon style pieces.  Or, you can make cucumber sticks.  Cut the cucumber into three inch lengths.  Then cut in half and cut the half into quarters.   As an option, you may cut the entire cucumber in half, then into quarters, then into the length you want.

In some instances processing whole cucumbers may require a food processor to complete these tasks easily and quickly. See the segment titled Automated Food Processing Equipment for more information on slicing cucumbers.
Want to live to be 90 and still dancing the rumba, then eat your cucumber.  Eat fresh fruits and vegetables every day.