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cucumbers

Technically cucumbers are a fruit but are prepared, eaten and thought of as a vegetable. Cucumbers have an amazing capacity to retain water and to remain cool. The interior flesh may be up to twenty degrees cooler than the exterior rind. A proven fact that explains the old expression "cool as a cucumber".

Most often heavily waxed, cucumbers have a dark rich green skin surrounding a whitish firm flesh that offers a very mellow flavor. Some have small bumps and sometimes light green or whitish spots that do not affect quality. Waxing extends a cucumber's shelf life.

Serving Ideas

Waxed cucumbers should be peeled to make this vegetable more digestible. Unwaxed cucumbers need only scrubbing before slicing. Taste the skin to test for bitterness before deciding to peel or not to peel. Cucumbers pair well with mint and dill. Add slices to mixed green salads or use as edible garnish. Marinate peeled slices in seasoned vinegar.

Geography/History

A member of the Cucurbitaceae family and of the Genus Cucumis sativus, the cucumber is botanically a fruit that is consumed as a vegetable. The definition of a fruit is that part of a plant which houses seeds including tomatoes, apples and cucumbers. A vegetable is defined as a vegetative part of the plant including roots, stems and leaves. Produced on sprawling vines with dark green rough three-pointed leaves, cucumbers prefer humid weather, warm moist soil and nurturing sunshine. Frequent watering makes this fruit juicy and crisp. Growing across the United States, they must be planted after the danger of spring frost. Although there are many varieties of cucumbers, there are actually just three main types. The most common and familiar is the slicing cucumber, followed by the pickling cucumber and the nearly seedless English cucumber. In the United States, Florida grows the most cucumbers. California, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia are other significant suppliers. Cucumbers are also imported from Mexico.

Seasons/Availability

Cucumbers are available year round.

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