A friend to sandwiches, salads and dips, cucumbers are a versatile ingredient to have on hand for all sorts of dishes. Unfortunately, they tend grow slimy before their time.
While you’d think there’s no better place to store cucumbers than the fridge, conditions that are too cold can actually make them go bad faster. Cucumbers are surprisingly vulnerable to colder conditions. They suffer ‘cold injury’ and deteriorate rapidly if stored under 10C. Marzia, a chef and creator of Little Spice Jar, has suggested a simple method to preserve cucumbers — all you need is a metal spoon.
Marzia explained, “Add [cucumbers] to a glass or plastic container with a tight-fitting lid. Add a metal spoon to the same container. Snap the lid on the container and place it in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.”
Whilst it may sound odd, a metal spoon maintains a steady temperature, which helps cucumbers remain fresh considerably longer.
Simply store the cucumbers in a container with a metal spoon and put the container on your fridge’s upper or middle shelf. Adding a paper towel to the container helps absorb any extra moisture.
This area typically maintains the warmest temperature within the fridge and provides optimal conditions to prevent cucumber spoilage.
Avoid storing cucumbers at the back of the fridge or near the freezer vent, as the excessive cold can cause chilling injuries.
Moreover, keep cucumbers separate from tomatoes, which release ethylene gas that leads to rapid spoilage.
Ethylene gas, an invisible and odourless substance, helps fruit ripen and develop flavour. This has the side effect of accelerating decay in nearby produce.
By taking a couple of minutes to store cucumbers correctly, they should remain perfectly fresh and crunchy for up to two weeks longer than usual.
