Cucumbers stay fresh for weeks with 10-second tip loved by chefs

A clever cucumber storage hack that keeps the green vegetables fresh and crunchy for an extended period has been shared by chef and recipe developer Kat, known as @katcancook on social media.

In her TikTok video, Kat reveals: "These cucumbers are 10 days old. I'm going to show you how to store cucumbers so they stay nice, fresh, and crunchy and they don't get soft in three days."

Initially, she suggests removing and recycling the packaging the cucumbers come in from the shop, as it's no longer needed.

She explained: "The way that produce is transported is often not the way that produce should be stored. We're going to give them a little rinse and pat them dry with a paper towel."

According to Kat, two "enemies" of produce are oxygen and water.

"Too little or too much of either one is going to make them turn on you," she explains. "Cucumbers are full of water so what we want to do is soak up the moisture.

"First, I'm going to take a silicone bag, or you can use a ziplock bag if that's what you have. We're going to make my little paper towel sleeping bag and put the rinsed and dried cucumbers in the bag, seal it, and put it into the refrigerator.

"The paper towel is going to help soak up excess moisture to keep your cucumbers fresh."

It really is as simple as that - and plenty of people have taken the time to leave positive comments about Kat's clever method.

The short but informative clip has garnered more than 320,000 likes and dozens of gushing responses.

One impressed viewer commented on her video, saying: "Problem is right after I do this I'm never opening that bag again."

Another user chimed in: "I just buy them to do mould experiments in the veggie drawer."

A third user suggested: "I have found that baking paper works even better than paper towels. No idea why, but try it out."

More ways to keep cucumbers fresher for longer

1. Put them in the fridge - place cucumbers in the crisper drawer, which has higher humidity and is less cold than other parts of the fridge.

2. Wrap them in paper towels - Wrap each cucumber in a dry paper towel to absorb excess moisture, then place them in a plastic bag.

3. Keep away from ethylene-producing fruits - Fruits like bananas, tomatoes, and melons release ethylene gas, which speeds up ripening and spoilage. So store cucumbers separately from them.

4. Don't wash until ready to use - Washing introduces moisture, which can promote mould and spoilage. Only wash cucumbers right before eating or preparing them.

5. Try pickling - If you have too many cucumbers, consider pickling them. Pickled cucumbers can last for months in the fridge.