Last Updated on April 3, 2024 by Real Men Sow
Cucumbers (Cucumis sativus) grow well in the United States. They thrive in plant hardiness zones 4 through 11 according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Learn how to spot cucumber spoilage through this article. This can vary depending on whether they are fresh from your garden, frozen whole, or sliced.
Garden Cucumbers
It’s normal to expect that a cucumber fresh from the vine will be sweet. But that is not always true. Cucurbitacin is a natural bitterness that cucumbers can develop. The bitter compound in the stem can spread to the fruit from inadequate watering, fertilizer use, cramped growing conditions, or extreme temperatures.
Cucurbitacin does not render the whole cucumber inedible. To remove any bitterness, cut off as much skin as possible. Rinse the fruit with water. Bad cucumbers can become mushy, discolored, or moldy if they are left to ripen too long.
Cucumbers In the Fridge
Cucumbers can be kept in the fridge for approximately one week after being picked. You can use a combination of your five senses and the refrigerator to determine if a whole cucumber is spoiled. It should feel squishy, rather than firm. If only one of the ends is soft, you can cut it off and eat that end. You should not eat any mold growth.
You can remove mold from vegetables and fruits that are firm, but only if the vegetable has a high water content. Mold can easily spread through watery cucumber flesh and spores with its thread-like roots.
Sliced Cucumbers
Cucumbers only last for about a day after being sliced. Before you eat it, look at any previously sliced ones. It is unfit to be eaten if it has a milky or slimy film. Therefore, don’t eat a salad with cucumber in it after a day to avoid foodborne disease, it would already be contaminated.
Considerations
A fresh, 8-inch cucumber can be a great friend for a dieter who is careful about calorie intake. It contains 14 percent of your vitamin D, 6 percent of your fiber, and 45 calories. Some cucumber varieties, especially those that are more bitter, can cause gas. However, a sweeter and less bitter variety of cucumber will not. Cucumbers with high water content have a shorter shelf-life, but you can still keep a fresh supply of cucumbers in a crisper.
