How to Store Garden Fresh Cucumbers
Fresh garden cucumbers make a crisp accompaniment to salads and raw vegetable platters. Cucumbers have a short shelf life and don't tolerate most conventional storage methods, such as freezing. While pickling extends the storage life of the cucumbers for a year or longer, fresh cucumbers are best used within a few days of harvest. You can extend their storage life for several days, but long term storage isn't possible if you prefer to use cucumbers in their fresh natural state. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Dampen a cloth in cool water. Wipe soil and dirt from the surface of the cucumber with the damp cloth then wipe the vegetable dry with a second cloth.
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Place the cucumber inside a perforated plastic bag. Seal the bag closed. Or, place the cucumber in a regular storage bag, but leave the top open so excess moisture can escape.
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Store the cucumber in the vegetable crisper drawer of the refrigerator. Cucumbers retain their quality for up to one week if stored at temperatures between 40 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Inspect the cucumbers daily for moisture collected in the bag. Wipe the cucumbers dry and replace the bag if moisture accumulates during storage. Use any cucumbers that begin developing soft spots immediately.
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Tips & Warnings
Harvesting firm, green cucumbers at their peak ripeness helps ensure the longest possible storage time. Overripe cucumbers become seedy and store poorly.
Temperatures above 59 degrees and below 40 degrees cause the cucumbers to degrade in quality quickly.
Avoid storing cucumbers near tomatoes and other ripening fruits and vegetables. These items produce ethylene gas, which speeds up the ripening and spoilage process in the cucumbers.
References
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