Difference between revisions of "Cucumbers"

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[[Image:Cucumbers and spring onions.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Ready for the crispy duck]]
 
[[Image:Cucumbers and spring onions.jpg|300px|thumb|right|Ready for the crispy duck]]
Though it technically is a fruit, the [[cucumber]] is widely considered a vegetable.  It is used commonly used as a salad ingredient; raw, sliced and often peeled. The seeds can cause flatulence (gas), but can be easily removed by slicing length-ways into four quarters and then running a knife along each length to separate the seeds from the flesh.
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Though it technically is a fruit, the [[cucumber]] is widely considered a vegetable.  It is used commonly used as a salad ingredient; raw, sliced and often peeled. The seeds can cause flatulence (gas), but can be easily removed by slicing lengthwise into four quarters and then running a knife along each length to separate the seeds from the flesh.
  
 
It is also a key ingredient for crispy duck pancakes.  A really good cheat to save time [[julienning]] a cucumber is to use the slicing attachment of a food processor. It does not look quite as good but it saves a lot of fiddly work. The [[spring onions]] can be dealt with in the same way as the picture shows.
 
It is also a key ingredient for crispy duck pancakes.  A really good cheat to save time [[julienning]] a cucumber is to use the slicing attachment of a food processor. It does not look quite as good but it saves a lot of fiddly work. The [[spring onions]] can be dealt with in the same way as the picture shows.

Revision as of 10:42, 13 April 2015

Ready for the crispy duck

Though it technically is a fruit, the cucumber is widely considered a vegetable. It is used commonly used as a salad ingredient; raw, sliced and often peeled. The seeds can cause flatulence (gas), but can be easily removed by slicing lengthwise into four quarters and then running a knife along each length to separate the seeds from the flesh.

It is also a key ingredient for crispy duck pancakes. A really good cheat to save time julienning a cucumber is to use the slicing attachment of a food processor. It does not look quite as good but it saves a lot of fiddly work. The spring onions can be dealt with in the same way as the picture shows.

Growing your own cucumbers

Cucumbers, potted, in a conservatory (June 5th)

In the UK cucumbers really need to grown under cover, eg: a greenhouse, poly-tunnel, etc. We have had great success this year, growing them in our conservatory. It regularly reaches 48° C on a sunny day and where most plants succumb to mildew or pests, the cucumber seems to thrive. All it seems to require is plenty of water and a little feed now and then.

How much does a cucumber weigh

A whole cucumber weighs approximately 400g (14 ounces).

How much does one cup of cucumber weigh?

Estimated US cup to weight equivalents:

Ingredient US Cups Grams Ounces
Cucumber raw - diced/chopped
1
150 grams > 5 ounces
Pretty cucumbers sliced in a food processor

Conversion notes:
Every ingredient has a cups to ounces or grams conversion table. Search for the ingredient, cup to weight conversions are at the end of each ingredient page.

We also have a generic conversion table and a portions per person lookup.

Seasonal Information: Cucumbers

This information is specifically for countries in the northern temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere; particularly the United Kingdom, however it should be applicable for northern USA, northern Europe, Canada, Russia, etc.

Cucumbers are at their best and in season during the following months: July, August & September.