What's The Best Way To Store Whole And Sliced Cucumbers In The Fridge?

We've all been there. You go to the fridge expecting to find a cucumber, only to discover a mushy mess where a crunchy cuke used to be. Properly storing cucumbers can bypass this mess and avoid food waste, and it all begins with correct prep.

Wash cucumbers in cool running water as soon as they are harvested from the garden or brought in from the store. Next, use a clean dishtowel to throughly dry the cucumbers, wrap them in paper towels, and place that in a plastic bag. At this point, you may think they should go into the crisper with the rest of the vegetables (and there is a correct way to stock the crisper drawer), but that's actually a mistake as the crisper is typically too cold for them and might lead to mush-inducing damage.

Instead, cucumbers should be stored in the center of the refrigerator or on the door. They should also be kept away from any fruits or vegetables that give off naturally-occurring ethylene gas, such as tomatoes, which helps ripen fruits and vegetables and could overripen the cucumber.

Sliced cucumbers need special care. If you're storing a cucumber that's been sliced on just one end, simply cover the cut end with plastic wrap. If you have several slices, put them in a zip-lock bag or airtight container with a paper towel to absorb excess moisture. As in many other cases, moisture will hasten spoilage.

If properly stored, whole cucumbers should last one to two weeks in the fridge. However, sliced cucumbers are a different story. Under the best storage conditions, they will only last for two to three days. 

Why such a loudly ticking clock? Cucumbers are about 96% water, which is why they spoil so quickly if not properly stored. But they can be versatile and delicious fruits (yes, they are botanically fruits) and following these tips will give you more time to enjoy them. Whether you're planning to pickle the cucumbers — and pickles do theoretically last longer in the fridge than fresh cukes – or use them in the cucumber salad that went viral on TikTok, they will be fresh and ready to savor.