How to Clean and Cut Cucumbers to Remove Their Bitterness

Light and incredibly versatile, cucumbers are one of the most loved summer vegetables ever. When we buy them at the farmer's market or grocery store, it is good to know how to choose the best cucumber in terms of taste and freshness, paying attention to some characteristics: the skin must appear smooth, shiny and not wrinkled, while the ends must be firm and not yielding to the touch. Medium-sized cucumbers are preferable, neither too big nor too small, because they are the ones at the right level of ripeness. Once at home, then, we must treat them correctly: but how to clean cucumbers to remove the bitterness?

How to Remove Bitterness From Cucumbers

Along with melon and squash, cucumbers belong to the Cucurbitaceae family. In the roots, stems and leaves of these plants there is a substance called cucurbitacin, which sometimes penetrates the fruit and determines the bitter taste of the cucumber. To eliminate it, you can use three methods, all equally valid: rubbing the ends of the cucumbers,  peeling the cucumbers or putting the cucumbers in salt. Let's look at them in detail.

Rubbing Them

The first method is widely used in Middle Eastern and Indian cuisine in particular. It consists of rubbing the two ends of the cucumber with the previously cut caps: here's how to do it.

1. Wash the cucumber thoroughly under running water.
2. Remove both caps at a height of about 2 centimetres.
3. Rub the two ends with the cut pieces, using a circular motion.
4. Continue for about a minute or until a whitish foam forms, which is responsible for the bitter taste.
5. Rinse the cucumber again to remove the foam.
6. Use it in your favorite recipes.

Peeling Them

The second method involves removing the peel of the cucumbers, which also makes them more digestible. Let's see how to proceed in this case too.

1. Wash the cucumber thoroughly under running water.
2. Peel it using a potato peeler or a sharp knife.
3. Repeat the operation, removing a second layer of peel after rinsing both the cucumber and the utensil used.
4. Use it in your favorite recipes.

Putting Them in Salt

The third method, finally, aims to eliminate the bitter liquid contained in the cucumbers by salting them, similar to how you do with eggplants. Below are the necessary steps.

1. Wash the cucumber thoroughly under running water.
2. Peel it using a potato peeler or a sharp knife.
3. Cut it into slices, julienne strips or cubes and arrange the pieces on a colander, without overlapping them.
4. Sprinkle them evenly with salt.
5. Cover with a weight and let rest for about half an hour.
6. After 30 minutes, drain the sliced ​​cucumber and rinse it briefly to remove excess salt.
7. Use it in your favorite recipes.