How to choose the right cucumber?

Cucumbers come in several categories. Vegetables vary in size, color, shape, and application. According to their use, cucumbers can be salad, universal and intended for canning. Salad cucumbers are used fresh, vegetables for canning are distinguished by their density and hardness, which makes them suitable for pickles, and universal types can be used for any of these purposes.

In shape and size, cucumbers can be:

• large, medium, small;
• elongated, curved, oval, round.

The skin of cucumbers can be almost smooth, with pimples or “thorns”. It is believed that cucumbers with pimples and dark thorns on them are ideal for canning. These vegetables will be crispy and moderately firm. If the thorns are white, then the cucumbers will not have a crunching effect after salting. For canning, it is better to choose cucumbers with a green skin and a small size (maximum 10 cm).

By color, cucumbers can be:

• green;
• striped;
• red;
• yellow;
• white.

Red, yellow and white cucumbers are rarely seen on store shelves. They are larger in size than the green species, and in shape they are more reminiscent of zucchini. The taste of these varieties also differs from the traditional version and can be sweetish. Yellow cucumbers must be soaked in water before eating or salting because of the bitter taste.

How to choose cucumbers

First of all, when choosing cucumbers, it is necessary to conduct a visual assessment of vegetables. It is recommended to buy medium-sized cucumbers. Large vegetables (unless the variety implies) can be overripe and taste bitter.

What cucumbers to choose:

• the color of the cucumber should be uniform (with the exception of rare and hybrid varieties);
• fresh cucumber has an elastic and strong structure (when pressed, no dents remain, and the vegetable does not deform);
• fresh cucumber has a characteristic rich aroma;
• in the area of ​​the stalk, the cucumber must be firm and elastic;
• if there are pimples on the surface of the cucumber, then they must be dense (if they break or are soft to the touch, then the vegetable has a dubious quality);
• the standard size of a good cucumber is 10-15 cm.

What cucumbers should not be bought:

• if there are dark or light spots on the surface of the cucumber, then you should not buy them (dark spots can be a sign of decay, and under the light areas the pulp is most often bitter);
• you cannot buy cucumbers with signs of rot (even by cutting off the spoiled part, you will not be able to get rid of harmful bacteria that have spread through the pulp);
• if rot, bitterness or other impurities are felt in the smell of a cucumber, then it is not recommended to buy them (cucumbers are either spoiled or contain a large number of consequences of chemical treatment);
• too many sharp bumps on the surface of the cucumber may be a sign of overuse of chemicals by the manufacturer;
• if in the area of ​​the stalk the cucumber is easily squeezed or wrinkles appear on it, then the vegetable begins to deteriorate;
• cucumbers with cracks on the surface are not worth buying, damages are places of accumulation of bacteria, microbes and other harmful microorganisms;
• it is not recommended to buy washed cucumbers (after such a procedure, vegetables are stored less, and they can start to deteriorate from the inside);
• if the cucumbers are wet, then, most likely, they were dipped in cold water to return to their presentation;
• shine on the surface of a cucumber is a sign of waxing (such a substance is washed off very badly, and under the guise of a shiny vegetable, an almost spoiled cucumber or a cucumber dried up inside can hide).

If cucumbers are bought packaged, then the packaging should be evaluated with special attention. There should be no damage, condensation accumulation on it, and vegetables should be clearly visible from all sides. It is imperative to check the date of packing. The freshest cucumbers should be purchased.