The cucumber is one of those vegetables that we all too often take for granted. They’re readily available at the grocery store year round, and their delightful crunch doesn’t entail a hefty price tag.  But don’t let their accessibility lead you to abandoning them in the back of the crisper drawer. No cucumber deserves to end its life as a moldy mess in the bin.  

Instead, maximize the lifespan of your cucumbers with proper storage — and they’ll keep on giving bite to your salads and sandwiches for four to seven days. Whether you’ve got English cucumbers (also known as hot-house), Persian cucumbers, or the classic garden variety, they all benefit from the same approach to storage. 

How to store whole cucumbers:

No matter how you store your cucumbers, the first step is to wash and dry them as soon as you bring them home. Bacteria on the surface of any fruit or vegetable will expedite the spoilage process, so giving cucumbers a good rinse under running water is an essential first step to keeping them fresh. Drying them well is also important as excess moisture on the surface will also speed up spoiling. Once your cucumbers are washed and dried, they’re ready for storage.

Note experts are split about how to handle cucumbers that come wrapped in plastic—as English and Persian cucumbers often do. Some believe it’s best to wash and dry immediately, while others advise you to keep them in their packaging until you’re ready to eat them. We believe in using your senses—if the cucumbers have any visible dirt or grime on them, take them out and wash them. Otherwise, it’s up to your preference. 

Paper towel in plastic bag 

Cucumbers release moisture through their skin. Wrapping your washed and dried cucumber(s) in paper towels before placing them in a zip top plastic bag will help absorb any excess moisture and prevent condensation from accumulating on the outside of the cucumber, which can lead to early spoilage.

If your refrigerator gets a lot of daily traffic, its internal temperature likely fluctuates frequently. This constant fluctuation can be bad for produce — especially cucumbers. A tried and true trick to help address this issue is to place a metal spoon inside the plastic bag with your cukes to help keep the temperature inside the bag more consistent; the temperature of the metal spoon is less impacted by the opening and closing of the door, and will prevent temperature fluctuations within the cucumber. 

Whether or not you opt to add the spoon, make sure to place your plastic bag of cucumbers on the top shelf of your refrigerator, not in the crisper drawer. The top shelf is slightly warmer than the rest of the fridge, which is good for cucumbers: When cucumbers are stored in temperatures below 50°F they are at risk of developing chilling injuries, like slimy soft spots and discoloration, which can accelerate decay. 

If you’ve cut part of your cucumber off but left the rest intact, cover the cut end in plastic wrap to create an additional “skin” on the sliced end. Then, wrap your cucumber in the paper towel again and return it to the plastic bag and top shelf of the fridge. The plastic wrap will help slow the decaying process but not prevent it, so you should still plan to use it within a couple of days. 

How to store sliced cucumbers

Whenever possible it’s best to store your cucumbers whole. But, we know, it’s not always possible. When you wind up with too many sliced cucumbers or you’re prepping slices for later, place those sliced cucumbers in an airtight container lined with paper towels, seal it, and store the container in the fridge. Cut cucumbers will release moisture even faster than whole cucumbers, so the paper towels can help absorb what the slices release. Still, you don’t have much time. Make sure to eat them in one to two days. 

What to do with limp cucumbers

If you’ve noticed that your cucumbers have started to go limp but haven’t yet fully spoiled, you can still buy yourself some time. While cucumbers are best enjoyed crisp in their original form, losing that crispness doesn't mean they can’t be eaten. Here are a few options for what to do if your cucumbers start to sag. 

Pickles

Pickling is one of the premier preservation methods — and might even make cucumbers more delicious than they are naturally (just don’t tell the cucumbers we said that). Of course, there are lots of recipes out there, but this is an easy one for quick dill pickles (not traditional dill pickles, which take a bit more time and preparation). 

Start by whisking together half a cup of vinegar, half a cup of water, a tablespoon of sugar, and half a tablespoon of salt. Once the sugar and salt are dissolved, thinly slice the cucumber into rounds (a mandolin is helpful here), add them to the brine, then toss in a half cup of chopped dill. For a little extra credit, you can add fresh garlic, onion, or other spices and herbs to the brine. Cover and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. 

Gazpacho

Because gazpacho is blended, the cucumber's crispness doesn't matter, making the cold soup the perfect recipe for using a limp cuke. Blend a peeled and chopped cucumber with a chopped tomato, chopped onion, a few cloves of peeled garlic, one cup of water, fresh herbs, and salt and pepper to taste, and you’ve got a delicious gazpacho on your hands. Finish with a drizzle of good olive oil, and you’ve created a masterpiece.

Beverages

If soups and pickles aren’t your thing, you can also add thinly sliced cucumbers to a jug of water to make cucumber infused water — so refreshing! — or throw some chopped cucumbers into a smoothie for a nutritional boost. If you’re feeling spicy, you can muddle cucumber and jalapeno with some tequila to make margaritas, too.  

What to do with cucumbers that have gone bad

If your cucumber has become mushy and slimy, smells bad, and has developed discoloration and soft spots that are brown or yellow, it’s unfortunately too late even for gazpacho. However, before you toss those cukes in the trash, consider recycling them with Mill. The Mill food recycler turns uneaten food into food grounds that can be used to feed chickens or as a soil amendment in your own lawn or garden. That way, you can turn bad green into good green.

Sources:

1. Cleveland Clinic: “6 Health Benefits of Cucumbers.” April 3, 2023. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/benefits-of-cucumbers

2. Colorado State University Extension: “Guide to Washing Fresh Produce.” March, 2010. https://www.nifa.usda.gov/sites/default/files/resource/Guide%20to%20Washing%20Fresh%20Produce508.pdf

3. Postharvest Research and Extension Center, UC Davis: “Cucumber: Recommendations for Maintaining Postharvest Quality.” https://postharvest.ucdavis.edu/produce-facts-sheets/cucumber