What Are Cucumbers and How Can I Use Them?

Wondering what to do with cucumbers? This guide covers how to pick them, cook them, store them, and swap them — with 776 recipes to put them to work.

What are cucumbers?

The cucumber is a creeping vine that roots in the ground and grows up trellises or other supporting frames, wrapping around ribbing with thin, spiraling tendrils. The plant has large leaves that form a canopy over the fruit.

The fruit is roughly cylindrical, elongated, with tapered ends, and may be as large as 60 cm long and 10 cm in diameter. Cucumbers grown to be eaten fresh (called slicers) and those intended for pickling (called picklers) are similar. Cucumbers are mainly eaten in the unripe green form. The ripe yellow form normally becomes too bitter and sour. Cucumbers are usually over 90% water.

Having an enclosed seed and developing from a flower, botanically speaking, cucumbers are classified as fruits. However, much like tomatoes and squash they are usually perceived, prepared and eaten as vegetables.

The cucumber is usually long and cylindrical in shape, has rounded edges, and can appear in various sizes. The fruit often has green skin and a white inside with many seeds in it. The taste of fresh cucumbers is usually refreshing, watery, and can have a slightly bitter aftertaste. Cucumbers are commonly eaten fresh or used in pickling.

Like the tomato, the cucumber is a fruit. Botanically speaking, a fruit is the mature ovary of a flowering plant and is used by the plant to disperse seeds. The term “vegetable,” on the other hand, is commonly used to describe any other edible part of a plant. Cucumbers and other such fruits are called vegetables because they are commonly used as vegetables in cooking. In addition, they are not sweet like other types of fruits.

There are several different types of cucumbers available on the market. Two popular varieties are English cucumbers and the common garden cucumbers. Garden cucumbers have thicker skin that is usually peeled before eating. In addition, it is usually waxed to keep the moisture in the fruit from being lost while in transit and storage.

The English cucumber is generally longer, has thinner, smoother skin that can be eaten as and is generally said to be seedless. Unlike the garden cucumber, English cucumbers are sold wrapped in plastic rather than waxed. 

Nutrition

Where found

Cucumbers are usually found in the produce section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group

Cucumbers are a member of the Vegetables and Vegetable Products US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

How much do cucumbers weigh?

Related

Vegetables and Vegetable Products

Recipes using cucumbers

There are 776 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Gazpacho (Salad Soup)

Classic gazpacho, the chilled Spanish salad soup, with fresh tomatoes, cucumber, green pepper, olive oil and white wine vinegar. No cooking required, just blend and chill.

Delicious Chunky Gazpacho

Chunky gazpacho: a no-cook Spanish-style cold soup of tomato juice, fresh chopped tomatoes, and cucumber, chilled three hours so the flavors marry. Vegan, gluten-free, low-fat.

Mom's Gazpacho

Fresh vegetable gazpacho with tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, and bell peppers. Quick cold Spanish soup ready in 10 minutes, perfect for summer lunches.

Kettle River Gazpacho

Kettle River gazpacho with fresh tomatoes, cucumber, green pepper, garlic, and chili sauce. A hot-and-spicy chunky version of the Spanish classic that works chilled, room temperature, or gently warmed.

Make-Ahead Gazpacho

Make-ahead gazpacho with a Mexican twist: chilled tomato soup brightened with green taco sauce, cucumber, bell pepper, and scallions. A quick simmer melds the flavors before chilling for a sharper, deeper bowl.

Yummy Gazpacho Soup

No-cook chunky gazpacho with crushed and diced tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, and a triple citrus-vinegar punch. Vegan, gluten-free, ready in 10 minutes plus chill.

Margaret's Garlicky Gazpacho

Garlicky gazpacho blended cold with six cloves of garlic, ripe tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers and onions, sharpened with balsamic vinegar and tomato-vegetable juice. A bold, no-cook summer soup served chilled.

So Dood Gazpacho

Classic chilled gazpacho, the no-cook Spanish soup of ripe tomatoes, cucumber, pepper, and onion blended with tomato juice and a splash of wine. Light, refreshing, vegan, and ready in 10 minutes.

Good Morning Sandwich

A quick, easy and refreshing sandwich is perfect for a morning breakfast.

Smoked Salmon Hero Sandwich

Warm French bread loaded with cream cheese, thin-sliced smoked salmon, cucumber, red onion, black olives, and peppery watercress. A deli-style hero sandwich ready in 20 minutes.

Easy Gazpacho

Simple gazpacho with fresh garden vegetables in tomato or V8 juice. Classic cold soup that's vegan, gluten-free, and ready in 20 minutes with no cooking required.

Garlic Gazpacho

Spanish-style garlic gazpacho blends fresh tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, and raw garlic into a chilled, no-cook summer soup. Vegan, gluten-free, and lemon-bright.

Cucumber Soup with Spring Vegetables

All veggies are young, fresh and full of spring garden aroma. Is there anything more lovely?

Falafel, Vegetarian Style

Vegetarian falafel with a clever bake-then-fry hybrid technique: oven-baked first to set, pan-crisped in olive oil to finish. Tucked into pita with cucumber, tomato, and yogurt sauce.

Basic Yummy Gazpacho

No-cook gazpacho made with Roma tomatoes, cucumber, red bell pepper, garlic, and white wine vinegar. Five-minute blender soup, vegan, naturally low-calorie, and ready as soon as it chills. Summer in a glass.

Blender Gazpacho

Quick blender gazpacho with tomato, cucumber, green pepper, and rice vinegar. Vegan no-cook Spanish-style cold soup ready in 10 minutes. Garnish with finely diced cucumber for crunch.

Favourite Classic Greek Salad

A refreshing and tasty summer salad that uses fresh and seasonal tomatoes and cucumbers. It takes no time to make, and a great side dish that goes well with any main course.

Basic Red Gazpacho

Basic red gazpacho is the classic Andalusian chilled tomato soup: ripe tomatoes, red bell pepper, cucumber, garlic, and stale bread blended with sherry vinegar and olive oil. No cooking required.

Easy & Yummy Gazpacho

Classic gazpacho, the chilled Spanish tomato soup with fresh tomatoes, cucumber, green pepper, garlic, and a bright lime-and-lemon finish. No-cook summer dish, ready after a 2-hour chill.

Avocado Gazpacho Soup

Cold avocado gazpacho soup with cucumber, cilantro, lime, and a splash of hot sauce. Mexican-style chilled summer soup, no cooking required.

Indian Gazpacho

Indian gazpacho with hot green chiles, garlic, and dry red wine in a chilled tomato-based vegetable soup. The South Asian spin on Spanish gazpacho with a slow-burn heat.

Tom's Best Gazpacho

Classic Spanish gazpacho with ripe tomatoes, cucumber, green pepper, garlic and white wine vinegar. No-cook chilled summer soup blended in 5 minutes.

Crisp Cucumber Salsa

wow! tangy and so good!

Grandma's Great Gazpacho

Cold gazpacho soup with tomato, cucumber, green pepper, onion, garlic, and a hit of red wine vinegar and lemon. Chilled, no-cook, and perfect for hot summer afternoons.

Barb's Best Gazpacho

Gazpacho done right: ripe tomatoes, cucumber, and peppers blended smooth, then topped with the same vegetables finely diced for crunch. A no-cook chilled soup with lime, Tabasco heat, and an optional vodka kick.

All 776 recipes