The explanation lies in why your English cucumbers aren’t waterlogged.
If you've spent time looking through the vegetable aisle, you might have observed an array of cucumbers displayed with their subtle variations in green hues. Almost anyone would be familiar with regular American cucumbers or perhaps smaller versions often found pre-packaged in bags. However, among these, there’s one type of cucumber that stands out due to its distinct packaging: the English cucumber. English cucumber .
An outstanding member of the produce family—since cucumbers are technically fruits—and readily identifiable due to their packaging, English cucumbers are consistently encased in plastic wrapping. Why is this so? The plastic covering serves to shield these English cucumbers, as detailed further down.
Purpose Of The Plastic
English cucumbers, also known as hothouse cucumbers or European cucumbers, feature a slender elongated form with a delicate, edible peel. Due to their fragile outer layer which can lead to easy damage, these cucumbers are typically encased in plastic wrap during transportation to retail stores for protection.
English cucumbers have a comparable flavor to American cucumbers, yet they tend to be somewhat sweeter and contain less seed content along with an eatable skin. Similar to various types of cucumbers, English varieties are rich in fiber and nutrients.
Since the skin of English cucumbers is quite delicate, there’s no need to remove it before using them in your cucumber dishes.
Related: 15 Refreshing Cucumber Recipes To Beat The Heat This Summer
When Should You Take Off the Plastic?
When you bring your groceries home, do you remove the plastic wrapping from fresh English cucumbers just as you might with items taken out of a plastic bag? In brief, the answer is likely no.
If you intend to consume your English cucumbers immediately, feel free to remove the plastic wrap when unloading your shopping. However, since cucumbers tend to lose moisture rapidly and may turn soft, it’s advisable to leave them covered with the plastic until you’re ready to use them. consume them The plastic serves as a protective shield for the delicate skin, which can extend the lifespan of your English cucumbers by about seven days.
Following that reasoning, would you encase all your veggies in plastic wrap? Not really. A lot of produce features a tough outer layer or natural coating that serves as protection inherently.
Related: For How Long Can You Keep Cucumbers Refrigerated?
Read the initial article on Southern Living
