What Is English cucumber and How Can I Use It?

If english cucumber has turned up in a recipe or caught your eye at the store, here's what you need to use it with confidence and how to choose it, cook it, store it, what to substitute, and 59 recipes to try it in.

What is english cucumber?

The English cucumber is the long, slender, nearly seedless cucumber you usually find sold shrink-wrapped in plastic at the grocery store. It also goes by hothouse cucumber or seedless cucumber, and a single one can stretch a foot or more.

It differs from a common garden cucumber in the skin and the flesh. The skin is thin and tender, with no wax coating, so there is nothing to peel and no bitter film to scrub off. The flesh is milder and far less watery, holding only soft seeds.

It is also a burpless cucumber, bred low in cucurbitacin, the compound behind the bitter aftertaste and the gassy reputation older varieties earned.

How to Use It

This is a raw-first vegetable. Wash it and trim the ends, then slice or dice with the skin on, since that thin skin adds color and a little snap without any toughness. No peeling, no seeding, no salting to drain.

It works best in cool, fresh dishes. Thin half-moons go straight into a Cucumber Tomato Salad with Soy-Sesame Dressing or a Greek Salad with Peppers, and longer batons turn up in lettuce wraps and grain bowls like a Loaded Vegetable & Quinoa Salad with Miso Orange Dressing.

Because the flesh holds together, it is the cucumber for tea sandwiches, where peeled watery slices would soak the bread.

It also blends clean into cold soups and sauces. A Smoked Tequila Gazpacho leans on its mild crunch, and the grated cucumber in tzatziki or a Poached Salmon with Cucumber-Dill Sauce stays fresh rather than washed out.

For infused water, a few unpeeled slices give that spa-water flavor with no fuss.

Cooking and Pairing

English cucumber wants bright, salty company alongside it. It pairs naturally with dill and mint, with feta and yogurt, and with sharp hits of rice vinegar, lemon, soy, and sesame.

Watermelon and feta is a classic summer match, as in a Watermelon, Cucumber & Feta Salad.

The most common mistake is treating it like a watery slicing cucumber and salting it to purge liquid. It does not need that. Salting well ahead pulls out the water that keeps it crisp, so you end up with limp, soggy slices.

The second mistake is dressing it too early. Cut cucumber weeps once acid and salt hit it, so for a crisp salad, slice it and dress it close to serving.

For a quick pickle or a kimchi like Easy Korean Cucumber Kimchi, that weeping is the point and works in your favor.

Substitutes

The everyday slicing cucumber, the common garden cucumber, is the standard stand-in. Peel it to remove the waxed skin and scoop out the large seeds with a spoon, and you land close to an English cucumber in texture and mildness.

Persian cucumbers are an even better swap. They are short and thin-skinned, nearly seedless like the English, so use a few in place of one. No peeling needed.

In a pinch, the bumpy Kirby or pickling cucumber works for crunch in pickles and chopped salads, though its skin is thicker and it carries more seeds.

Buying and Storage

Pick one that is firm end to end with taut, dark green skin and no soft or shriveled spots. A little give means it is past its prime. The plastic wrap slows moisture loss from that thin unwaxed skin, so leave it on until you cut in.

Store it whole in the refrigerator, ideally in the crisper drawer, and use it within about a week. Cucumbers are chill-sensitive and do best around 50°F (10°C), so keep them off the coldest back wall, where prolonged cold leaves watery pitted spots.

Keep them away from apples and tomatoes too. Those fruits give off ethylene gas that speeds cucumbers toward yellowing and soft ends.

Once cut, wrap the exposed end tightly or stash the piece in a sealed container. Use it within a day or two before it dries out at the cut face.

Nutrition

Quick facts

Where to find english cucumber: English cucumber is usually found in the produce section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group: English cucumber is a member of the Vegetables and Vegetable Products US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

In Chinese

英文黄瓜

British (UK) term

English cucumber

en français

concombre anglais

en español

Inglés pepino

How much does english cucumber weigh?

Related

Vegetables and Vegetable Products

Recipes using english cucumber

There are 59 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Waldorf 2015

This modern Waldorf salad swaps walnuts for cucumber and adds protein-packed chicken. Crisp apples, sweet raisins, and creamy mayo over fresh romaine in 20 minutes.

Salad Platter

Creamy avocados, juicy-sweet tomatoes, crunchy cucumbers, meaty chickpeas and salty olives are on top of a bed of lettuce or any your favorite greens. Drizzle some freshly homemade vinaigrette and serve with a few slices of good bread.

Chilled Sonoma Tomato Vegetable Soup

California-style chilled gazpacho built from peak summer tomatoes, English cucumber, red bell peppers, jalapeno, serrano, and a chiffonade of fresh herbs. Vegan, low-fat, and made for blistering Sonoma afternoons.

Loaded Vegetable & Quinoa Salad with Miso Orange Dressing

A wide variety of fresh vegetables and quinoa are tossed with a salty and sweet miso orange dressing. Serve it as a refreshingly nutritious side dish or a vegetarian/vegan main course.

Easy Sweet & Sour Veggie Salad

Sweet, sour and slightly spicy. Cucumber, sweet bell pepper, carrots, wood ears and smoked tofu are tossed with rice vinegar, maple syrup, sesame oil, soy sauce and Korean chili pepper. A very tasty side dish that goes well with all your favorite Korean dishes or most of the main courses.

Greek Mac & Cheese Salad

Add feta cheese, sun-dried tomates, marinated artichoke hearts, mushrooms, olives, fresh cucumber, onions and bell peppers into cooked macaroni. Serve it over a bed of mixed greens, super tasty and refreshing.

Vegetable Smoked Tofu Salad with Soy-Maple Dressing

Lots of fresh veggies and smoked tofu are tossed with a flavorful yet light soy-maple dressing.

Greek Salad Sandwich

I was reading New York Times the other day, and a Greek Salad English Muffin recipe with picture captured my attention. Then I made this Greek salad-one of my favorites, instead of English muffins, I used homemade whole wheat burger bun. So here my sandwich is stuffed with Greek Salad, sounds a good idea, and it tastes amazingly delicious!

Bibimbap2 (Korean Seasoned Vegetables & Rice with Spicy Sauce)

Bibimbap is my all-time favorite Korean dish, I have no problem to make it and eat it everyday :) I made this recipe a few days ago, this time I added homemade bean sprouts as well, and served it with three different kinds of homemade kimchi (cucumber, daikon and cabbage kimchi) and a fried egg as always. Delicious, that's the only word I can say every time :)

Greek Salad with Peppers

Bring a Greek flavor to your salads with this easy-to-follow recipe that will become one of your favorites!

Quick & Easy Cucumber Raita

Cucumber raita is one common side-dish in Indian meal. Its refreshing and creamy taste brings a wonderful balance to the always-spicy main course. This easy and tasty cucumber raita takes on time to make.

Stir-Fried Veggie with Noodles

Stir-fried bell peppers, carrots, and zucchini with garlic, ginger, scallions are tossed with pasta, cucumber, cilantro, and miso-chili sauce. It's a delicious, light yet nutritious one pot meal that's perfect for week-nights.

Korean Seasoned Vegetables & Noodles with Spicy Sauce

A classic Korean dish, seasoned vegetables are served with Korean noodles and spicy sauce along with a small bowl of miso soup and kimchee.

Spicy, Sweet & Sour Cucumber Salad

Spicy sweet and sour cucumber salad: crisp cucumber tossed in a tangy, sweet, and chili-spiked dressing. A quick, refreshing side that gets even better after a chill in the fridge.

Spicy Soba Noodle Salad

A little bit of heat with a tangy sweet and sour taste. This cucumber soba salad for sure refreshes your taste buds while satisfies your tummy.

Easy Korean Cucumber & Bok Choy Kimchi

There are so many kinds of kimchi. Cucumber and bok choy together make a delicious and crunchy kimchi that goes well with any Korean dishes.

Greek Brown Rice Salad

A hearty Greek brown rice salad tossing nutty whole-grain rice with tomato, cucumber, feta, kalamata olives, and creamy avocado in a lemony, minty dressing. A fresh Mediterranean grain bowl.

Chinese Veggie Salad with Soy Dressing

This light yet tasty Chinese veggie salad is made with bean sprouts, lotus root, carrot, cucumber, black mushrooms, and tofu sheet, then tossed with a soy-rice vinegar-sesame oil dressing. A refreshing side dish that goes well with most of the main dishes, or just serve it with some steamed rice to complete a delicious meal.

Japanese Vegetable Salad with Miso Dressing

Inspired by a Japanese salad I had when I was in Australia. The salad tasted so refreshing, and the miso dressing added tons of flavour. An excellent salad.

Korean Cucumber Kimchi

Cucumber kimchi is refreshingly delicious, and it's so easy to make at home. Follow this simple recipe to make your own cucumber kimchi that goes well with all the Korean dishes.

Easy Korean Cucumber Kimchi

Making your own kimchi at home is totally easy, and the best of all is that you can adjust the seasonings to your own taste. Serve it with any your favorite Korean or other dishes.

Watermelon, Cucumber & Feta Salad

Cucumber and cilantro add the extra fresh taste into the salad!

Bibimbap (Korean Seasoned Vegetables & Rice with Spicy Sauce)

A classic Korean dish, seasoned vegetables are served with steamed rice and spicy sauce along with a small bowl of miso soup and kimchee.

Korean Sweet & Sour Cold Noodles

This sweet and sour cold noodles dish is one of my favorites, it's particularly good on a hot summer day. Easy to make, and tastes refreshing and delicious.

Indian Fried Rice

It's a delicious recipe to cook up your leftover cooked rice with some fresh vegetables and Indian spices. Quick, easy and tasty.

Spicy Korean Noodles with Wild Mushrooms

This recipe was absolutely divine. The Korean spicy-sweet sauce was the key, which gave the dish an authentic Korean taste. Assorted mushrooms and vegetables added layers of great textures. The combination was just delicious!

Korean Sweet-Sour Cucumber Salad

This Korean inspired cucumber salad is sweet, sour and slightly spicy. Cucumber, sweet bell pepper, carrots and tofu sheets are tossed with rice vinegar, maple syrup, sesame oil and Korean chili pepper. A delicious and light side dish.

Cucumber Rounds with Smoked Salmon Mousse

Quick and easy to make finger food perfect hors d'oeuvres or even as a mid-day snack. Rich and creamy smoked salmon mousse on top of light refreshing cucumber rounds.

Cucumber, Bok Choy & Radish Salad

This refreshing cucumber-radish salad is sweet, sour and slightly spicy. It's a Korean inspired side dish, and goes deliciously well with any meat main dishes. It helps to cut through the fat and brightens up the whole meal.

Cucumber Tomato Salad with Soy-Sesame Dressing

This refreshing and tasty salad is made with garden-fresh cucumber and juicy-sweet tomatoes, and tossed with a soy-sesame dressing.

Smoked Tequila Gazpacho

A Mexican-inspired chilled gazpacho loaded with fresh Roma tomatoes, zucchini, roasted garlic and spicy vegetable juice, topped with crispy tortilla strips and crumbled Cotija cheese.

Iced Strawberry Soup

Iced strawberry soup with fresh berries, English cucumber, lemon yogurt, light rum, and mint. Pink chilled summer starter that doubles as a boozy brunch refresher.

Thai Fish Cake

Thai fish cakes with red curry paste, nam pla, chopped green beans, and fresh basil, pan-fried golden and served with a sweet-tangy cucumber salad on the side.

Tod Man (Thai Fish Cake)

Tod Man Thai fish cakes with red curry paste, fish sauce, green beans, and basil, fried golden and served with a tangy cucumber salad. Authentic street food flavor at home.

Oriental Flavored Cucumber Salad

Asian cucumber salad with rice vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, chili paste, and garlic. A cool, crunchy side dish that comes together in minutes with no cooking.

Chilled Cucumber Soup(Weir)

Chilled cucumber yogurt soup with strained yogurt, fresh dill, mint, and garlic. Mediterranean-style summer soup that beats the heat. No-cook recipe served icy cold.

Cucumber & Avocado Salad

No-cook cucumber avocado salad with lime, chili pepper, and red bell pepper. Paper-thin cucumber slices with creamy avocado and a spicy citrus kick.

Colorful White Gazpacho

Rainbow-bright chilled gazpacho with red, yellow, and green peppers finely diced in tangy buttermilk and sour cream. Fresh lime juice, cucumbers, and tomatoes.

English Cucumber & Ginger Conserve

English cucumber and ginger conserve macerates sliced cucumber in sugar, then simmers the syrup with bruised ginger root for a translucent, spiced preserve. An old British country jam for cheese boards and tea.

Tomato & Watermelon Salad

Tomato and watermelon salad with cucumber, avocado, fresh herbs, and freshly ground coriander seed in an aged balsamic vinaigrette. A juicy, summery side dish that tastes like August on a plate.

Seoul ful Chicken with Minted Cucumbers

Korean-style grilled chicken thighs marinated in soy, sesame oil, ginger, and honey, served with a cool minted cucumber salad. A bright, balanced weeknight dinner.

Good Karma Schawarma

Homemade chicken shawarma: yogurt-marinated thigh meat layered with spinach and roasted red peppers, baked into a stacked loaf, sliced thin, and served on fresh chapati flatbread with tzatziki.

Melon, Cucumber & Tomato Salad

Melon, cucumber, and tomato salad tossed in a lemon-mint dressing with fresh parsley. A refreshing vegan summer salad that balances sweet, tangy, and herbal flavors.

Barbequed Swordfish with Black Olive-Cucumber Salad

Barbequed swordfish with a spicy tomato glaze and a Mediterranean black olive, cucumber, and plum tomato salad. A composed summer plate finished with a Dijon-chive vinaigrette for restaurant-level dinner party plating.

Beet & Cucumber Salad with Orange Dressing

Beet and Cucumber Salad with Orange Dressing recipe

Overnight Chinese Pasta Salad

Overnight Chinese pasta salad with cool rice vermicelli, snow peas, cucumber, shrimp and crab in a sesame-ginger dressing. A make-ahead potluck favorite with serious crunch.

Cold Shredded Vegetables with Chicken

Stunning Chinese shredded vegetable and chicken platter with wood ear fungus, egg strips, and a ginger-mustard sesame dressing. A composed cold salad that looks as spectacular as it tastes.

Pickled Beets with Cucumber & Onion

Pickled beet salad tossed with English cucumber, thinly sliced red onion, and fresh dill. A four-ingredient cold side that comes together in minutes and pairs with everything from grilled fish to roast pork.

Simple Chicken Noodle Salad with Chili Dressing

Chicken, noodles, and veggies, simple and easy preparation

Cucumber Pachadi

South Indian cucumber pachadi with tamarind, green chilies, and a sizzling tempering of mustard seeds, fenugreek, and asafetida. A tangy, spicy condiment served cold.

All 59 recipes