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How Long Does Cucumber Last? [Shelf Life Guide]

You love cucumbers. They are healthy, fresh, and delicious. Last week there was a huge sale on cucumbers, and you ended up buying in stock.

Now you’re wondering if you made a mistake by stocking up on so many cucumbers.

You want to know how long does cucumber last or how to store them in order to extend their longevity.

And we are here to help you with that.

In this article, we’ll discuss everything about storing cucumbers the right way, their shelf life, and also some signs of rancid cucumbers.

cucumbers-shelf-life

But before anything else, what exactly is a cucumber? Is it a fruit or a vegetable?

Though most people think of cucumbers as vegetables, they are defined as a type of fruit.

In a nutshell, cucumbers belong to the family of plants and are members of the gourd.

Most cucumbers are cylindrical in shape and have bright green covering, similar to a zucchini.

Now that you have a clearer understanding of what a cucumber is let’s jump straight into the article and discuss all about their shelf life.

How Long Does Cucumber Last? Does Cucumber Go Bad?

Cucumbers are high in moisture, with about 96% of H20. Thus, if not stored properly, they can quickly go bad.

How long your cucumbers will last depends largely on your storage method, if they are kept refrigerated or how you stored them (whole or chopped cucumbers).

how-long-do-cucumbers-last

Whole cucumbers generally do not require to be refrigerated. But make sure to store them in a cool place, preferably room temperature.

However, if you do love fresh and cool cucumbers, there is no harm in storing them in the fridge.

But just make sure not to store them wet. It is best suggested not to wash cucumbers before storing them in the refrigerator.

If you have washed them, no big deal, just make sure to pat them dry. Then you can put them in a plastic bag and place them in the fridge, preferably in the vegetable cooler area.

Whole cucumbers have a shelf life up of around one to two weeks at room temperature. When stored in the refrigerator, they can last up to a week.

On the other hand, English cucumbers and Japanese cucumbers will last for about seven to ten days. And Persian cucumbers last for about a week.

Let’s talk about chopped or slicked cucumbers now. Once cucumbers are sliced, they are more likely to dry out.

Thus, make sure to refrigerate them at all times in an airtight container. Sliced cucumbers will last for a day or two and nothing more than that.

Other than whole and sliced cucumbers, you may even come across pickled cucumbers.

Since pickled cucumbers contain a ton of preservatives like vinegar, they will have a longer shelf life.

Store-bought pickled cucumbers can even last for up to a year, provided you store them well.

On the contrary, homemade pickled cucumbers with no additional preservatives may last for a week or two in the fridge.

How to Tell if Cucumbers are Bad? Cucumbers Shelf Life!

It is quite easy to figure out if your cucumbers have gone bad. If you’ve come across bad zucchini or asparagus, the signs for bad cucumbers are quite similar.

All you have to do is check for signs of spoilage, and you can immediately know if it’s time to toss out your cucumbers.

Whole cucumbers usually last longer than sliced cukes because of their protective outer skin.

However, they do turn bad at some point in time. Wrinkled cucumbers are one of the first signs that your cucumbers have started aging.

You may even notice the appearance of spots of your cucumbers turning yellowish.

All these are typically signs of aging. Bad cucumbers may also become mushy and slimy.

Sometimes a cucumber may only turn bad on one side, and the other may appear perfectly fine. In such cases, examine the better part closely.

If it is not soft or doesn’t smell sour, you can simply chop off the bad part and consume the fresh side.

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On the other hand, chopped cucumbers also tend to become slimy and develop a foul odor when they turn bad.

Also, if you tossed the cucumbers in a salad and the cucumbers turn bad, you would have to discard the entire salad.

When it comes to pickled cucumbers, you can look out for signs of molds or discolorations. You may even take a good whiff.

If it smells sour or has a weird taste, you can toss out the pickled cucumbers.

Conclusion

Whether you like snacking on fresh cucumbers right from your kitchen garden or slurping some delicious cucumber soup, you can never run out of options with this juicy fruit.

You can mix it with other roasted veggies like brussel sprouts, celery, and lettuce and craft your own salad recipes or blend it in the juicer for a healthy smoothie.

Always remember, chopped cucumbers go bad quicker than whole unsliced ones. So, you may want to chop only what’s required for the day.

If at all, you overestimated, and there were tons of cucumber leftovers, you can always place them in a plastic airtight container, and store them in the fridge.

cucumber slices

How Long Does Cucumber Last? Does Cucumber Go Bad?

5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Shelf Life
Servings 1 Serving

Ingredients
  

  • Cucumber
  • Air-tight containers or Ziplock bags
  • Labels and markers

Instructions
 

  • Read the guide thoroughly to learn how long it lasts.
  • Label your container with the content and date and keep track of how much you’re using!
  • Make sure to store in an airtight container in a cool, dark place (pantry or fridge).
  • If frozen, thaw in the fridge before use. Always check for signs of spoilage before using.
Did you make this recipe?Mention @EatDelights or tag #eatdelights!

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