Are You Actually Choosing The Best Cucumbers At The Store? Here's How To Tell

Fresh cucumbers are fantastic — when you get a good one. It's all too easy to end up with a cucumber that turns mushy fast. Thankfully, keeping a few tips in mind can help you pick better vegetables. To find out how to spot the best cucumbers, Chowhound sat down for an exclusive chat with Chef Megan McCarthy – an Edible Garden Chef and a Foundation for Fresh Produce Have a Plant ambassador. When you're looking over the cucumber selection at the grocery store, McCarthy says to focus on color first. "Look for vibrant, rich green skin with no yellow spots," she said. When a cucumber yellows or wrinkles, it's a sign that it's getting old. This leads to a loss of flavor, which is the opposite of what you want for your crunchy cucumber salads. 

It's also smart to look for a cucumber with a subtle glossy finish — but nothing excessively shiny. "A slight natural shine is a good sign, but avoid anything that looks waxy or overly glossy as it often means it's been coated with a food-grade wax just to look pretty," McCarthy said. Finally, to really know your cucumbers are the ones, McCarthy says to squeeze them before adding them to the cart. If you feel any sponginess, they're likely past their prime. "Cucumbers are over 95% water, so a fresh one feels dense and firm, almost like it's holding a lot of water inside," she says. Opt for firmer options if you can find them.

Not all cucumbers are the same, and understanding freshness indicators for different varieties can help you find the freshest, most flavorful cucumbers your grocery store has to offer. No matter what type of cucumber you're looking for, McCarthy says that her initial advice holds true. "First and foremost, nothing soft or mushy," she said. "No matter the variety, firmness is always key."

If you're purchasing English cucumbers, the long ones that come wrapped in plastic, you should look for options that don't have any condensation inside the plastic wrap. Persian cucumbers, also known as the mini cucumbers that are often kept in the fridge for snacking, are great for pickling. Here, crispness is also key. These should be especially firm, as their skins are thicker than hothouse or standard American cucumbers. Finally, Kirby cucumbers (bumpy cucumbers that are a great fit for super-crunchy homemade pickles) should feel pretty heavy. McCarthy also says their skin should be bright and covered in bumps.

Once you've found the best cucumbers at your grocery store, you'll want to take a few simple steps to ensure that they stay fresh after you get home. To start, Megan McCarthy recommends keeping these vegetables as dry as possible before placing them in the fridge. She says that excess moisture can speed up spoilage. After you've completely dried your cucumbers, wrap them in a paper towel and place them in a loose plastic bag to further prevent wilting. 

Where you store your cucumbers, where you store them also matters. McCarthy says cucumbers are sensitive to cold temperatures. If they get too cold, they'll start to get waterlogged and mushy. To avoid this, keep your cucumbers on a middle shelf or crisper drawer in your fridge. You'll also want to keep your cucumbers away from tomatoes and bananas. McCarthy says these release ethylene gas, which can make cucumbers age faster.

Cucumbers typically last for up to a week in the fridge, but you'll want to keep an eye out for signs of spoilage. If you notice your cucumbers are starting to smell sour, feel bendy or rubbery, or are developing soft spots, it's probably time to toss them. "Also, check the ends," McCarthy said. "If they're shriveling or puckered, that's a sign it's drying out and getting past its prime."