The Big Mistake You Might Be Making When Washing Cucumbers

From not cutting them uniformly to storing produce incorrectly and sacrificing freshness, mistakes are quite common when prepping vegetables. Many people also stumble when it comes to washing veggies, as fresh produce must be rinsed (and scrubbed in some cases) to prevent germs from causing a nasty bout of illness. While this rule absolutely applies to cucumbers, timing is important when washing this particular type of produce. If you wash cucumbers too far in advance, there's a risk that mold will proliferate, thanks to lingering moisture. 

Accordingly, cucumbers should be washed right before you're ready to use them, whether you're preparing a salad or whipping up an old-fashioned creamed cucumber slices recipe. Ensuring that your veggies are sufficiently dry after washing is also important for deterring mold growth. Mold spores float through the air in search of what they need to survive. Food is particularly tempting to mold, as it offers nutrients, and moisture makes fungal growth even more likely. As a result, keeping cucumbers and other produce dry will prevent growth and keep your food fresh and palatable. 

When it comes to drying recently rinsed cucumbers, a paper towel should suffice. However, if you use a cloth kitchen towel instead, make sure it's clean or you might inadvertently contaminate your produce. Along with mold, cross-contamination and bacteria transfer are among several gross things that can happen to your food every day. 

Properly washing cucumbers is also crucial for eliminating germs. While rinsing and drying are perfectly sufficient in this regard, you should also use a scrubbing brush to clean the outer peel. If you really want to deep clean your cukes, dunking them in a bowl containing a solution of 1 cup of water to ½ cup of distilled white vinegar can reduce bacteria, thanks to white vinegar's antibacterial properties. Regarding pesticides, allowing the cucumber to sit in a mixture of baking soda and water (use 1 teaspoon of baking soda per every 1 cup of water) may remove residues on the outer peel.