My Easy Trick for the Best Ever Cucumber Salad

During my 1980s and 1990s childhood, only one sort of cucumber ever showed up in our produce drawer: the slicing cucumber. With its waxy coating, thick skin, and lots of seeds, it required more preparation than the English and Persian cucumbers that are common in grocery stores these days.

I still love slicing cucumbers, though! They’re a little denser, silkier, and often more water-packed than other varieties. As long as they’re chosen and handled properly, they’re my favorite kind to include in salads.

Peeled and seeded is the way to go for slicing cucumbers. I peel them for the simple reason that the skin is often coated in edible wax, which I don’t find very pleasant to eat. Sometimes my mom would use a peeler to remove vertical stripes of skin all around the cucumber for a decorative look when it was sliced into rounds, so very 80s salad bar chic!

Why You Should De-Seed Your Cucumbers

Deseeding cucumbers offers a few advantages. It makes them more pleasant to eat, since the seeds can sometimes be a little tough. Some people say it makes the cucumbers less “burpy” and easier to digest, which may be true for some.

Most importantly, removing the seeds and the gel that surrounds them removes a lot of water, too. If you’re making any sort of salad, you don’t want excess water that dilutes the dressing or vinaigrette. Deseeding makes a noticeable difference.

How to De-Seed Cucumbers

Removing the seeds from a cucumber isn’t difficult at all. If you’ve ever scooped out the seeds from a cantaloupe or honeydew melon, it’s really no different. They’re closely related to cucumbers, after all!

Just cut the cucumber in half lengthwise, then use a small spoon (like a cereal spoon) to dig out the seeds. The cucumbers can then be sliced into half moons.

You can also remove the seeds with a paring knife, if you like. To do this, you’ll want to slice the cucumber into quarters lengthwise, making four spears. Run the knife along each spear, between the seeds and the flesh, to remove the seeds all in one piece. I find this method to be less messy than scooping, and if I’m planning to cut smaller pieces of cucumber, I’ll go the paring knife route.

Quick Tips for Choosing Cucumbers

When shopping for cucumbers, my three main shopping tips are:

1. Choose medium-sized cukes since the larger ones can be bitter
2. Make sure they are heavy for their size
3. Only buy firm cucumbers—if they’re squishy or easily bendable, they are past their prime.

Those are my best tips for handling the humble, old fashioned slicing cucumber. Once you’ve got them prepped, use them in Easy Cucumber Salad, Creamy Everything Bagel Cucumber Salad, or your favorite recipe.