Written by Andrew Akhaphong, MS, RD, LD
Updated May 30, 2024
In a consumer survey published by the International Fresh Produce Association in 2022 -(1)
- 50% of consumers purchases cucumbers the past year
- 73% prefer to eat cucumbers with a salad
- Persons ages 50 to 49-years are the largest purchasing group of cucumbers
- The majority of consumers do not have specific preferences on what species of cucumbers they purchase
The most consumed variant of a cucumber is in the form of a pickle. It is estimated Americans “consume more than 2.5 billion pounds of pickles per year”.(2)
There are many species of cucumbers and many have their preferences on what is used for pickling. These include the species Boston, Bush, Calypso, H-19 Little Leaf, National, and Wisconsin SMR 58.(3)
Recently in the supermarkets consumers may also find “new” varieties of cucumbers including baby snacking or English. Are there any differences between all these species or types? Let’s find out!
Identifying Cucumber Species
Pickling – There are three characteristics that make these cucumbers ideal for pickling.(3)
- Cucumbers with thinner skin allow for the brine to penetrate deeper into the cucumber which helps giving the cucumbers their unique, pickle flavor.
- The flesh, or inside of the cucumber, should be dry but firm.
- They are smaller in size which allows them to fit as whole or cuts in jars to improve the pickling process
Slicing – These cucumbers are sold fresh and immediately for raw consumption.(4) These are often found in your supermarkets. They can be mini snacking cucumbers, English cucumbers, or burpless bush cucumbers.
Nutritional Benefits
Cucumbers are 96% water which makes it a great source for hydration during hot months.(5) In parts of Asia frozen cucumbers are a popular refreshing snack!
We often associate bananas as a high source of potassium; however, one-whole unpeeled cucumber provides approximately 442-milligrams of potassium which is very close to bananas themselves!(5) Potassium is essential to reduce muscle cramping as we can lose a lot of potassium from sweat. Additionally potassium helps your kidneys manage healthy blood pressure levels.
Ate spicy food but do not have milk to calm your tastebuds? Cucumbers have a special protein that can help alleviate the intensity of the pain from spicy food as well as milk!
Oi Munchim (Korean Cucumber Salad)
By Cara Harbstreet of StreetSmartNutrition, June 1, 2023
What You Need
- 6 Persian cucumbers
- 1 green onion
- 1-2 garlic cloves, finely minced
- 1 tablespoon low sodium soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 1-2 teaspoons gochugaru or red pepper flakes
- 1-2 teaspoons toasted sesame seeds
- 1 teaspoon white granulated sugar
What You Do
- Wash and dry the cucumbers, then slice into thin rounds. Place in a large mixing bowl or storage container.
- Mince the garlic and slice the green onion into thin slices. Add to the cucumbers, along with the soy sauce, sesame oil, gochugaru, sesame seeds, and sugar.
- Use tongs or chopsticks to mix all ingredients together, making sure the cucumbers are coated. Cover the bowl or seal the storage container. Refrigerate to enjoy chilled, or serve immediately as a side dish or snack.
References;
- The Packer, Fresh Trends. IRI shopper sentiment survey. 2022. FAOSTAT. Accessed May 30, 2024. https://www.freshproduce.com/siteassets/files/commodities/profiles/cucumbers.pdf
- I Love Pickles. A peck of perfectly plausible pickle and pickled pepper facts. n. d. Accessed May 30, 2024.
- Mock N. The best cucumbers for pickling. Taste of Home. Updated December 14, 2023. Accessed May 30, 2024. https://blog.bostonorganics.com/what-is-the-difference-between-a-slicing-cucumber-and-a-pickling-cucumberhttps://www.tasteofhome.com/article/best-cucumbers-for-pickling/
- What is the difference between slicing and pickling cucumbers?. Boston Organics. February 17, 2021.
- Jones J. 6 benefits of eating cucumber. Healthline. Updated February 29, 2024. Accessed June 12, 2024. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/health-benefits-of-cucumber
