Cucumber
The cucumber, also
known as the cuke, is a green vegetable related to
the squash and melon. Cucumbers are popular in salads and
as pickles.
Varieties
- Persian cucumbers
are also
 known as regular cucumbers with soft, edible
seeds. The skin is often waxed to seal in moisture.
- English cucumbers
are sometimes known as gourmet cucumbers, burpless
cucumbers, or seedless cucumbers. This
variety has seeds that are very small but do not need
to be removed. Longer and thinner than regular
cucumbers, this variety is usually shrink-wrapped to
seal in moisture because they are not waxed.
- Pickling cucumbers
are stubby and warty.
- Lemon cucumbers
are yellow and oval, like lemons.
Selection and Storage
It’s important to look
for firm cucumbers with rich green color (except lemon
cucumbers!) and no soft spots. Cucumbers that bulge in the
middle tend to be filled with large watery seeds and
tasteless flesh.
Whole cucumbers should be
refrigerated in a crisper for up to a week. Unwaxed
cucumbers will easily lose moisture, so keep them wrapped
tightly in plastic.
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