These tips for how to store cucumbers will mean fewer trips to the store to stock up on salad ingredients – some might surprise you

I love cucumbers for the refreshing crunch and deep green shade that they add to recipes, and simply to eat on their own with a homemade dip. But knowing how to store cucumbers properly will help you avoid finding one lurking – slimy and forgotten – in the bottom of the fridge, and it will certainly make a difference to that tasty summer salad.

I've learned the hard way that cucumbers can go bad quickly if they aren't correctly stored, going from crisp and mellow to soggy and bitter. So, to ensure your cucumbers stay fresh for as long as possible I consulted expert gardeners to reveal their top tips for storing cucumbers. Being armed with this knowledge will make all the difference to your cucumbers' taste, texture and freshness.

How to store cucumbers

If you know how to grow cucumbers and when to plant cucumber seeds, you will likely be met with an abundant crop to store when they're ready to harvest. By learning how to store cucumbers correctly you can make the most out of your haul, whether it's from your yard or the grocery store.

1. Store cucumbers in your fridge's crisper drawer

Cucumbers are rather particular about their storage needs, prefering to be cold but with some humidity, so the crisper drawer in your fridge is the ideal spot. If. like me, you weren't aware that the crisper drawer offered more humid conditions or that cucumbers preferred a cold but slightly humid environment, this tip could really save your salad veg some shelf (or fridge) life.

Zoe Ganslaw, field manager at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Community Farm at Norristown Farm Park, says, 'The ideal storage temperature for cucumbers is 50-55°Fahrenheit and humid. Although your fridge is likely colder than this, placing them in the crisper drawer will help counteract the difference in temperature.'

If you're storing other produce in your crisper drawer, you can keep the area neat and tidy using containers like the Criusia 6pc Drawer Organizer Set from Amazon. I find my fridge so much easier to use when it's thoughtfully organized and prepped before I return from the store to unload.

2. Wrap whole cucumbers in paper towel, then bag them

I've noticed some people wrapping cucumbers in paper towels before storing them in the past, but now I know why. The paper towel absorbs excess moisture from the cucumbers as well as the fridge, helping to prevent them from prematurely rotting.

Tammy Sons, CEO of TN Nursery, who studied horticulture and runs a family nursery, explains: 'When it comes to storing cucumbers, I treat them like delicate flowers. I store whole cucumbers unwashed, wrapped loosely in a paper towel, and stuffed into an open produce bag in the crisper drawer. If you keep them too dry, they shrivel; if they get too wet, they rot.'

You can use plastic or paper produce bags for this, but each have something to be mindful about. If you're using plastic bags your cucumbers can sweat and excess moisture can become trapped. To counteract this, store smaller batches with plenty of paper towel and ventilation, created by keeping the bag open at the top.

If you're using paper produce bags (like these Great Value Standing Lunch Bags 100 count from Walmart) you'll need to use enough paper towel so that excess moisture won't soak through the paper bag and cause it to disintegrate or hold moisture near the cucumber. Always leave the tops open so your cucumbers can breathe.

3. If you open your fridge a lot, store cucumbers with a metal spoon

This may sound like an old wives' tale but according to the experts storing your cucumbers next to a metal spoon actually keeps them fresher for longer. This is because it can help to regulate the temperature, which is especially important if you live in a busy household where the fridge is constantly being raided for snacks.

Jessica Mercer pHD, an expert at Plant Addicts, says, 'If refrigerator doors open constantly in your household, you can buffer temperature swings by adding a metal spoon to the storage bag. Growers and produce managers say the spoon absorbs brief blasts of warm air and keeps the micro-climate around the cucumbers steady, which can buy you an extra day or two before soft spots appear.'

Any metal implement will do, but spoons are recommended as they're less likely than a knife or fork to damage the cucumber or injure you when you're grabbing it from the fridge.

4. Cover cut ends with saran wrap

You may not need to use a whole cucumber in one go. When this happens, I find the ends can end dry or discolored and need to be chopped off by the time I'm ready to use some more. The best way to avoid waste and keep cut cucumber fresh is simply by wrapping the end in saran wrap, as this preserves moisture, according to Jessica.

'Cover the cut face of your cucumber with plastic wrap or a silicone “food hugger,” re-wrap it in a paper towel, and refrigerate. Cut cucumbers stored like this will usually hold for three days before beginning to soften.'

I use the Hoan Silicone Food Hugger set of 4 available on Amazon. The set comes with four different-sized huggers, for protecting a variety of fruits and vegetables from spoiling.

5. Keep cucumber slices in an airtight container

If I'm expecting guests and want to serve salads, I like to prep my ingredients ahead of time. But, I used to find that cucumber slices would go a bit limp by the time I was ready to serve them.

I've since learned the key to keeping them in the best condition. 'When storing sliced cucumbers, I preserve them in an airtight glass container with a dry paper towel underneath,' says Tammy. 'It keeps them dry, preventing a soggy edge from forming. If you're tempted to soak them in water to keep them fresh longer, don't. Water leaches flavor and texture.'

I'm going to invest in this 24 Piece Glass Food Storage Containers Set from Amazon, perfect for keeping slices stored away neatly as well as ensuring optimal freshness.

Cucumber storage FAQs

How do I know when cucumbers are ready to pick?

Knowing when to pick cucumbers depends on two main factors: color and the size of cucumber you wish to harvest.

'Harvest your cucumbers when they reach the size you're looking for, which depends on the variety you're growing,' says Zoe. 'They should be a deep green color and feel firm and plump. If they look wrinkly or feel soft, wait a couple days before harvesting. Cucumbers require frequent harvesting since they can size up quickly, it is ideal to harvest every other day if possible.'

Why do cucumbers get bitter?

If your cucumbers taste bitter, there are many factors at play that may have altered their flavor profile.

'If cucumber plants are stressed, they produce an excess of the bitter component cucurbitacin, so any cucumbers that grow from it will naturally have a more bitter taste,' says Zoe. This stress could be caused by disease, pests, excess heat, or not enough water. They can also taste bitter if they become overripe and weren't harvested in time. One sign of a cucumber being overripe is yellowing of the skin.'

If you're looking to expand your produce garden, cucumbers are relatively simple to grow. You can grow cucumbers in pots or in the ground, so even if you don't have a large yard you can still give it a try.