Q&A for How to Cook a Cucumber

Yes, a cucumber can be eaten raw and in fact, this is the way it is consumed most of the time. It makes for an excellent salad vegetable and can be sliced, diced, spiraled or chopped and then added to the salad. A cucumber can also be eaten on its own as a snack, in slices or sticks or added to a vegetable platter for dipping. Always wash well before eating and if it has a rough skin, peel first.

If a recipe requires removal of the seeds of a cucumber before cooking, this might be for one of several reasons. First (and the main reason), the seeds might release too much additional liquid to the recipe, throwing out the moisture balance. Second, the seeds might have an unwanted texture for the dish. Third, the seeds might impart too strong a cucumber flavor to the dish.

Bitterness is usually only found at the ends, so you can always cut away the ends and only eat the middle. However, there is a trick you can try to make the whole cucumber less better. Cut off the ends of the cucumber. Using the part cut off, rub each end until a white foam appears. Once this appears, rinse off the ends to remove it, then use the cucumber as desired. It should no longer taste bitter.

Cucumbers are best kept refrigerated in the vegetable drawer. They will keep well for 3 days and may keep up to 7 days, depending on freshness and how they're stored. Make sure they are completely dry before storage and they'll last longer if kept in a plastic bag. While keeping stored cucumbers cold is vital, avoid storing them too cold or they will go mushy.