What to Do With Extra Cucumbers (Including Two Great Ways to Use FROZEN Cucumbers!)
At my house we eat a lot of cucumbers. I love cucumbers because they’re:
Kid-friendly
Easy to eat
Refreshing
Hydrating
Nutritious
Filling
Delicious!
Ways to Use Fresh Cucumbers
Fresh cucumbers have a mild, fresh flavor that makes them a great option for:
A simple side to your meal
An addition to your salad
A sandwich topping
An easy snack
A packed lunch item
A delicious veggie tray item
Dipping (We love them with hummus.)
Health Benefits of Cucumbers
Cucumbers also have an impressive array of health benefits. For example, they:
Provide vitamin C, vitamin K, folate and other B vitamins, carotenes, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and manganese.
Are high in nutrients and fiber yet low in calories, which is helpful for weight loss.
Contain antioxidants, which are protective against many chronic illnesses, including heart and lung conditions, autoimmune diseases, and cancer.
Can help lower blood sugar.
Promote hydration due to their high water content.
Promote regularity due to their high fiber content.
What to Do When You Have TOO MANY Cucumbers
For the reasons listed above, we consume a lot of cucumbers. In the summertime they are a mainstay in my vegetable garden.
Fresh produce isn’t cheap, so growing your own cucumbers can definitely save you some money. Not to mention, home-grown cucumbers taste much better than than store-bought ones! (What’s up with the waxiness on some of them?!)
It’s so nice when our first few cucumbers show up in the garden… We can pick them and eat them right away.
🥒🥒🙂
But before long, the plants are producing like crazy, and we end up with way more than we can eat!
🥒🥒🥒🥒🥒🥒🥒🥒😬
Cucumbers don’t keep for too long, so it’s important to use them relatively quickly.
Besides giving them away, what can you do?!
3 Ways to Prevent Waste & Make Good Use of Excess Cucumbers
1. Canning
One option is to can them. This is usually done in the form of pickles. I don’t personally can my cucumbers, for two main reasons:
I’m just not in to canning. (Someday I might be, but not right now.)
Canned pickles are typically loaded with sodium and/or sugar (not exactly a health food at this point).
However, if you buy pickles and/or relish regularly and want to save money by making your own, this is an option.
2. Refrigerator Pickling
Another option is to do a refrigerator pickling method. This basically consists of adding a little vinegar and some seasonings, perhaps other veggies too (such as onion).
I do this from time to time. This pickling method has a fresher taste and texture than canned pickles. It’s also much easier. The vinegar helps to preserve the cucumbers in the fridge longer.
3. Freezing
The third option is to freeze your cucumbers. This is my favorite way to use up excess cucumbers and prevent waste. When I store them in my deep freeze, this generally allows me to enjoy my garden cucumbers for an additional three months!
People don’t typically consider freezing cucumbers, but you can! You just have to use them differently.
How to Use Frozen Cucumbers
Because cucumbers will lose their shape and texture if frozen then thawed, it’s best to use them in their frozen form. For me, this is in the form of DRINKS!
This is really easy. To start:
Wash the cucumbers.
Cut them up.
Store them in a freezer, in an airtight container.
Frozen cucumber chunks work great in green smoothies. Simply use the frozen cucumber pieces in place of ice cubes. This is an EASY way to get an extra “plant” in your day.
Frozen cucumbers also work great for infused water. Simply place the frozen cucumber pieces into ice water, either alone or with other fruit if you like. It instantly makes your water more flavorful and fancy!
So There You Have It!
Many uses of fresh cucumbers… as well as ways to enjoy your cucumbers longer and prevent waste.
How About You?
In what ways do you like to use cucumbers? Have you ever put cucumbers in the freezer? I’d love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below!
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This post was originally published on 7/29/20.
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