How Can You Tell The Difference Between Cucumbers?

Picklers tend to be shorter and thicker than slicers. They may have bumpy or spotted skin. Their color, prior to pickling, can vary from yellow to pale or dark green. Gherkins, also known as cornichons or baby dills, are one of the best-known varieties of pickling cucumbers.

How do I know what type of cucumber I have?

Measure the length of the cucumber. Armenian cucumbers are longer than most other varieties. English cucumbers are also long, but are usually slightly shorter than Armenian cucumbers. Garden cucumbers, which are the most common variety in North America, are usually shorter than both Armenian and English varieties.

What are the differences in cucumbers?

The slicing cucumber is shorter, fatter, with thicker skin, and has larger seeds. De-seed this cucumber before eating as the seeds can taste bitter. The English cucumber is typically a darker green, longer, more slender, with fewer seeds. There’s no need to remove the seeds from this green beauty.

How can you tell the difference between cucumbers and pickling cucumbers?

Pickling cucumbers are shorter and bigger around than slicing cucumbers. They are bred to have thinner skins and black spines so the pickled product will look better. Pickling varieties can be eaten fresh and slicing varieties can be pickled, but the differences can be discerned by the average consumer.

What are the three types of cucumbers?

There are a number of common cucumber varieties—Armenian, English, lemon, Persian—that you may encounter. Not only will this guide help you identify cucumbers, but you’ll also get a few ideas on how to use them.

What cucumbers are best for eating?

The best-tasting cucumbers are those that are slicing cucumbers. English cucumbers don’t have the bitter chemical cucurbitacin that some cucumbers have. They also have higher natural sugar content, making them sweeter. The lack of seeds and thinner skin also English cucumbers more enjoyable to eat.

Are baby cucumbers just small cucumbers?

Mini-cucumbers are typically cucumbers that are harvested early, when the fruit is small. They are usually quite tender, and can be consumed with or without the skin. Additionally, some varieties of cucumber have smaller vines and produce smaller fruit as a rule. The mini-cucumber is eaten both raw and pickled.

Which cucumber is best for salad?

English cucumbers typically come wrapped in plastic at the grocery store. It has a deep green hue and pinched ends. Sweet and mild, this seedless cucumber is perfect for chopped salads and canapes because you don’t have to scoop on the centers to prevent bogging down the recipe with excess water.

What’s the difference between a regular cucumber and an English cucumber?

An English cucumber is generally sweeter than the regular, common cucumber which has many large seeds, contributing to their bitter flavor. The skin is thinner than a slicing cucumber and therefore doesn’t need to be peeled.

Which is the sweetest cucumber?

Striped Armenian is one of the sweetest cucumbers. It has small seeds and thin skin. Though it looks like a cucumber, it is actually a melon—a species of Cucumis.

Can you use any type of cucumber for pickles?

Pretty much any type of cucumber can be used for pickling, but true “pickling” cucumbers are different than heirlooms, slicers, or Japanese cukes.

Can you eat pickling cucumbers like regular cucumbers?

Kirby (or Pickling) Cucumbers: Short, oftentimes bumpy, these vary in color from yellow to dark green. They are good to eat raw, but they’re especially ideal for pickling. Persian Cucumbers: Similar to English Cucumbers, these are mild in taste. Sometimes bumpy, and with thin skins, they are ideal for eating raw.

Can you use regular cucumbers for pickles?

You can use whichever kind of cucumbers you want: Small pickling cucumbers, regular cucumbers or English cucumbers (the ones that come in shrink-wrapped). If you want the softest skins and fewest seeds possible, go for the small pickling cucumbers. This also recipe works equally well for making whole pickles.

Do male and female cucumbers taste different?

If you leave the male flowers in situ, bees and other pollinators extract pollen from them and fertilise the female flowers. You don’t want this, because these fruits will taste bitter.

Which cucumber is best white or green?

Green cucumber vs white cucumber
Some fans report that small white cucumbers can taste sweeter, while others report a more sour or bitter flavour when it comes to the larger white cucumbers. But as with all fruit and vegetables, it’s always best to try before cooking, to balance any acidity or bitterness.

How do you know if a cucumber is good?

How to Choose Cucumbers. Look for firm cucumbers, without blemishes or soft spots, which can indicate they have started to rot. They should be dark green without any yellow spots, which develop as the cucumber is getting overly ripe. At that point, it will often produce off-flavors and odors.

What are the tastiest cucumbers?

33 of the Best Cucumber Varieties

• Salad Bush.
• Spacemaster.
• Straight Eight.
• Sugar Crunch.
• Sweet Slice.
• Sweet Success.
• Tanja.
• Tendergreen Burpless.

What are the long skinny cucumbers called?

Persian cucumbers are thin-skinned and only grow to be about five to six inches long and remain quite narrow. These baby cukes are nearly seedless and extra crisp rather than watery, and have a mild, sweet flavor that’s easy to fall for.

How should you store cucumbers?

Wrap individual whole cucumbers in a paper towel to soak up the water the cucumber releases and prevent them from getting mushy. 3. Place the cucumbers in a storage container. Place the wrapped cucumbers in a zip-top bag or in an airtight container to keep them from drying out.

What is the difference between Mini Cucumbers and regular cucumbers?

These varieties exist within two categories – Long English Cucumbers and Mini Cucumbers. Long English Cucumbers are considered the classic Cucumber, whereas Mini Cucumbers look the same as Long English – just in a miniature, snackable form!

Can you eat baby cucumbers?

Nutritional Benefits of Cucumber for Your Baby
Cucumbers are crunchy, cool, and mild in taste. One cup of cucumber slices with the peel has 15 calories and is a good source of vitamin K. Since cucumbers are 95% water, they are also a wonderful food to help promote hydration.