The Easy Hack To Get Your Cucumbers To Soak Up More Salad Dressing

If you've hopped on the viral cucumber salad trend taking over TikTok, you are no stranger to the vast possibilities that a single cucumber can offer. Especially on a blistering hot day, chances are you're craving something refreshing and hydrating — and what is better than a fresh cucumber salad to save the day? From chef-approved pro-tips for perfectly crunchy cucumber salads to techniques to level up your salad's visual appeal, there is no shortage of ways to elevate your cucumber salad. Here, we bring you one more trick to transform your cucumbers into flavor-packed vessels.

To increase the amount of dressing absorbed by the cucumbers in a salad, the key is to freeze the slices and thaw them before mixing in the dressing. This hack works because cucumbers have a high water content, and when frozen, the water crystallizes into ice. These ice crystals break down the cell walls, which in turn softens the slices and allows them to better absorb more salad dressing and become infused with more flavor. In fact, freezing the cucumbers has a similar effect to smashing them for a better salad, where the increased surface area from the nooks and crannies enables more of the flavorful marinade or dressing to stick. Try the freezing technique and compare it with tossing freshly sliced cucumbers in dressing. You may notice that the latter lacks in the flavor department. This is because the salt in the dressing will draw out moisture from the raw cucumbers and dilute the final product.

Usually when something calls to be frozen in advance, that may require some pre-planning. The good news here is that this frozen cucumber salad hack is versatile, based on whether you're ready to serve right away or possibly the next day. Start by slicing the cucumber into thin pieces. Bear in mind that the thickness would depend on when you plan to serve the salad, as thinner slices will more readily absorb the dressing or marinade and soften quickly, which is suitable for being savored immediately. If you plan to serve the next day, aim for ¾ inch-thick slices so that they don't turn overly mushy. Allow the slices to freeze until firm, which should take approximately 15 to 30 minutes. Next, combine the frozen slices with your chosen mixture and let the salad rest in the refrigerator till the cucumbers thaw — and you're ready to serve.

Now for the fun part: the dressing! Cucumber and ranch is one of those classic food combinations that many enjoy; for a protein-packed version, swap out mayonnaise with tahini for a healthy, creamy, plant-based ranch. Keep things vibrant and zesty with Ina Garten's favorite lemon vinaigrette, or put an Asian spin on your creation with a soy-sesame dressing with a scoop of our favorite chili oil for a touch of heat. If you prefer homemade dressings, be sure to avoid the common ratio mistake that ruins recipes. On the other hand, for a convenient, store-bought option, reach for our favorite, herbaceous dill dressing from Trader Joe's, which we're pretty confident is going to be added to your list of Trader Joe's staples if it isn't already.