Is Cucumber A Fruit Or Vegetable?

Did you ever ask, “Is cucumber a fruit or a vegetable?” All fruits and veggies are very healthy additions to any diet, but there are some members of the produce category that are simply hard to categorize.

Why Is The Vegetable Category Such A Quandary?

Why is it that some fruits and vegetables, such as potatoes and apples, are so simple to categorize while others confuse us? The explanations vary from culture to word usage, botanical identity, and culinary custom.

In botany, the term “vegetable” usually refers to the edible sections of a plant that are not engaged in plant reproduction. The component of the plant that produces flowers and pollinates is sometimes referred to as a “fruit”.

Culinary customs provide an extra layer of attention. In Western culture, cucumbers are considered as vegetables in the kitchen and at the dinner table. They are sold as vegetables at the market. Cucumbers are considered a vegetable in both culture and cuisine.

Horticulturally, Is Cucumber A Fruit Or Vegetable?

Vegetables are the horticultural products of a herbaceous, annual plant. Fruits are produced by a woody perennial shrub. Herbaceous plants have delicate stems and die back annually. Woody plants, also known as trees, are perennials with stiff, sturdy stems that return year after year.

Cucumbers are therefore considered vegetables in horticulture. Apples are a fruit.

What about Botanically Speaking?

In botany, all non-seed-bearing sections of a plant that can be consumed are referred to as vegetables. This includes the leaves, stems, roots, and flowers.

A vegetable is anything you can eat that does not contain seeds. Fruit is formed when a bloom produces seeds. Cucumbers are thus botanically classified as fruits. Potatoes and celery are vegetables.

What about in Culinary Terms?

In cooking, fruits are usually considered sweet, and vegetables are generally considered savory. Furthermore, when an item of produce is served helps determine whether it is considered fruit or vegetable.

• Produce eaten as or with the main course of a meal is generally considered a veggie.
• Produce eaten after the meal, as dessert, is generally considered fruit.

Cucumbers are usually eaten before the meal in salads or during the meal as a side dish; therefore, culturally speaking, cucumbers are a vegetable. Because cucumbers have such a pleasing taste and texture, it makes a great snack or addition to a wide variety of fresh veggie dishes. Crisp, garden-fresh cucumbers are delicious in salads, sandwiches or eaten out-of-hand. It’s easy to see why these tasty, watermelon-like culinary veggies are also thought of as fruit.

How is a Cucumber used as a fruit?

With its mild flavour, it can be used as you would watermelon and other light, watery fruits. There are cucumber ice cream recipes that are so simple a pair of very clever kids can do it!

What Kinds Of Cucumbers Are There?

There are a few different types of cucumbers:

• When you visit your local supermarket you may find English or European cucumbers. These are hothouse grown and are ideal for slicing.
• Various slicing varieties are excellent for eating fresh. This type of cucumber is typically longer, smoother and darker green than the types used for pickling.
• Pickling cukes are short and squat and a bit bumpy. They are typically a paler green than the varieties meant to be served raw at the table. Even so, pickling cucumbers are perfectly tasty eaten fresh in the summertime. They are also ideal for pickling to enjoy year-round.

If you don’t want to (or know how to) make traditional pickles, try making refrigerator pickles!

Are Cucumbers Good for You?

Cucumbers are very low in calories and very high in water content. This makes them a great, hydrating addition to dieter’s menus. A full cup of sliced cucumber only has about thirteen calories and contains almost a full cup of water! In addition to low calories and high hydration, cucumbers contain:

• Manganese
• Potassium
• Magnesium
• Vitamin A, C and K
• Fiber

Choosing Good Cucumbers

“Cool” and “cucumber” go together. Cucumbers should be kept refrigerated in your local supermarket. When shopping at an outdoor market, always purchase cucumbers exhibited in the shade. Select smooth, plump, and symmetrical cucumbers. The dark green, thin, and crisp cucumbers offer the best flavor. Avoid purchasing any that appear withered, shriveled, damaged, or bloated in the middle. Avoid overripe cucumbers because they have watery flesh, big seeds, and a bad flavor.

On Keeping Cucumbers Fresh

When you come home from the market, place your cucumbers in the veggie drawer of your fridge right away. Do not peel or wash them (unless the skin is covered in garden mud). If you must wash them, dry them thoroughly before storage. If you have a lot of cukes and they get crowded, wrap each one individually in paper toweling or a tea towel before putting them in the drawer. This helps to avoid bruises and deterioration.

How Long Will They Last In The Fridge?

Cucumbers purchased from the supermarket are normally wax-coated and can last up to a week in the refrigerator. Fresh vegetables picked from the garden lacks this coating and will not last as long. Use them within two to three days of picking. If you have any leftover peeled cucumbers, seal or wrap them firmly with plastic wrap and place them on the top shelf of your refrigerator (where it is cooler).

Preparing Cucumbers For Eating?

Wash cucumbers thoroughly before using them.

• Supermarket cucumbers with a wax coating should be peeled.
• Garden fresh cucumbers can be eaten, peels and all.
• English cucumbers have softer peels.

Cucumber Salad

For a simple cool cucumber salad:

• Toss a couple of cups of thin-sliced cucumbers with a cup of thin-sliced red onion. Prepare a dressing of 50/50 white vinegar and water.
• 1 Tablespoon of sugar
• 1/3 of a Teaspoon each of dill weed and coarsely ground black pepper.
• Pour the dressing over the cucumber and onions
• Toss and refrigerate for at least an hour.
• Add salt to taste.

Other herbs and flavorings that go well with cold cucumber include mint, tarragon, red pepper, and lemon.

Cooked Cucumbers

There are some places where cucumbers are served cooked. Their light flavor complements heavier meat dishes well. It is especially nice with fresh game, such as venison.

• To make a simple cooked cucumber dish, peel, and roughly dice cucumbers.
• Sautee them lightly (5 minutes) in butter on the stovetop
• Season with parsley or dill and salt to taste.

For more information about this healthy addition to any diet see USDA Food Facts Sheet on Cucumbers.

Fun Addition!

Read up on Cucumber Beetles!