‘Cool as a cucumber’ is a catchphrase for a reason –
cucumbers are really cool! Learn about the super-cool benefits of cucumber and you’ll be inspired to try many delicious ways to use them this season.
One of the most refreshing summer veggies around, cucumbers deserve more love than they tend to get. Too often appearing as just a few sad slices atop a green salad, cucumbers have many more delicious possibilities worth exploring.
Below are some excellent reasons to eat cucumbers more often, plus numerous ways to enjoy them.
Top benefits of cucumber
Cucumbers show up in the garden and at farm markets just as summer heat really gets going and we all need help keeping cool. Staying
hydrated in summer heat is vital, and adding certain foods and herbs to your diet can help your body cope better when temperatures soar.
Why are cukes are so cool? Famously low in calories, cucumbers are 96% water, but their
cooling ability comes from more than just their water content. Cucumbers also contain polyphenols considered helpful for
bringing down body temperature. They’re also a good source of
vitamin K as well as
potassium, an electrolyte that can get depleted when we sweat.
Cucumbers’ water and fiber content are also also great for digestion and weight management. Research suggests that
diets emphasizing “low energy density” foods like cucumbers and other water-rich veggies can help with weight loss. Cucumbers’ antioxidants may also aid in calming
inflammation, which is believed to play a role in metabolic diseases.
As with many other fruits and vegetables, much of cucumbers’ nutrition resides in the peels, so resist the urge to peel your cukes unless it’s an older cucumber with an unpleasant-tasting or too-tough skin. Summer cucumbers from your garden or a local farm should taste delicious and sweet with their tender skins still on.
What to look for when buying cucumbers
If you’ve only ever bought standard cucumbers at the supermarket, be sure to look for locally-grown options while they’re in season in your area. Standard grocery store cucumbers have been bred for thicker skins that help them last longer on store shelves – which means cukes you find at the store often don’t have the delightful flavor or texture of locally-grown cukes.
If you grow your own or shop at the farmers’ market, you can find cucumbers in all shapes and sizes from tiny cucamelons and petite lemon cucumbers to crispy, flavorful pickling cukes and numerous varieties of full-sized cucumbers.
Storing cukes: It’s best to store cucumbers in a sealed bag in a crisper drawer. Try to eat them within a few days if possible for best flavor and texture. If you’re not going to eat them right away, try one of the preservation strategies below to avoid
wasting these lovely veggies.
Tasty & creative uses of cucumbers
Easy to grow in a
garden or container and inexpensive to buy at the farmers’ market or grocery store, cucumbers have myriad uses, from snacks to soups!
On their own
Fresh, crunchy cucumbers make a low-calorie but delicious snack on their own topped with a little
seasoning salt. Or serve cucumbers with other garden-fresh veggies and a protein-packed
hummus.
In your drink
When you get tired of water, infusing water with cucumber slices can make it more enjoyable to stay hydrated. There’s a reason cucumber water is a go-to at top spas – it’s incredibly refreshing!
For your skin
While you’re sipping your cucumber water, you can also make a cooling
DIY toner with cucumbers. Cucumber slices or pureed cucumber are some of many
sunburn remedies you can find in your kitchen.
In cooling summer soups
Cucumbers are also perfect for meals that can help with hydration and feel light enough for summer. The classic cold soup
gazpacho is a fantastic way to make a satisfying meal with these delicious summer veggies.
In satisfying salads
You can also use cucumbers to make noodles that form the basis of a filling but light
summer salad, or try a creamy vegan
cucumber yogurt salad.
Cucumber sandwiches
Cucumbers also an excellent addition to your favorite sandwich – pile them high for satisfying crunch and help keep calories down. Or replace the bread with a sliced cucumber to make a
breadless turkey avocado cucumber sandwich.
Add to your smoothie pack
You can freeze cucumbers to use in your favorite smoothie recipe to make it ultra hydrating and refreshing. Try this
save-the-planet smoothie or a
green protein machine smoothie.
Don’t forget the pickles
Cucumbers are the quintessential veggie for pickling, whether you do a quick vinegar-based pickle, or a
probiotic-rich
lacto-fermented pickle.
If you don’t want to pickle your own, you can of course enjoy cucumbers in crunchy
organic pickles any time.
Cucumber chips
If you have too many to use fresh, pickling is only one way to preserve cucumbers. You can also dehydrate them to make crunchy dried cucumber chips seasoned with your favorite
spice blend.
Cucumbers can also be cooked!
Try sauteeing or roasting along with your favorite
herb blend and other seasonal veggies.
Ready to dig in? Here are more delicious cucumber recipes to try:
However you choose to slice them, cucumbers are a cool and healthy way to beat the heat this summer!
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