Can you freeze cucumber? The right way to do it!

If you have cucumber vines in your garden, you probably already know that they produce a bountiful harvest every season. 

Sometimes, they yield an overwhelming amount of fruit, leaving you with plenty of extra cucumbers on your hands.  

So, what do you do with these extra cucumbers? Is there a way to store them for a long time? Can you ever freeze cucumber?

Can you freeze cucumber? The right way to do it!

Yes! You can freeze cucumbers to enjoy refreshing cucumber drinks, sandwiches, and salads even in the midst of a chilly winter! 

The reason why most people are skeptical about freezing cucumber is the high water content of the fruit. 

Cucumbers have over 95% water per volume. So, how can you freeze cucumbers without turning them into a gooey mush? 

Well, the secret to freezing cucumbers lies in the preparation. Let’s take a look at how to freeze cucumbers the right way.

How to freeze cucumber

As you might have already guessed, the standard boil-blanch-freeze method does not work when it comes to freezing cucumbers. 

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to freeze cucumbers like a pro. 

Freezing cucumbers the easy way!

This is perhaps the easiest way to freeze cucumbers. Use this method if preserving texture is not high on your list. 

Cucumbers frozen using this method can last for six to nine months in the freezer. 

Instructions:

1. Wash and clean the cucumbers thoroughly.
2. Dry the cumbers and peel them if you want. However, it must be mentioned that peeling cucumber before freezing is not mandatory. Cut the fruit into nice and thin slices. 
3. Lay the cucumber slices on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and put the baking sheet in the freezer. Your cucumber slices will freeze within a few hours.
4. Once completely frozen, transfer the slices into a ziplock bag. Put a label with the date and pop the bag back in the freezer.

Freezing pickled cucumbers

Many people like to pickle their cucumbers before freezing them. Here’s how to do that.

1. While it is possible to freeze cucumbers of any size, it is best to look for cucumbers that are one to two inches in diameter and about four to six inches long. These perfectly sized cucumbers will give you the best results. 

2. Wash the fruits thoroughly with water to remove any dirt, pesticides, or wax. If you are freezing inorganic cucumbers, you can use detergent to remove wax altogether.

However, rinse them thoroughly to ensure you don’t leave any soapy residue behind.

3. Peel your cucumbers and cut them into slices. You can do it manually with a knife or use a food processor to get nice and thin slices.

4. Prepare a salt bath in a large bowl. Dissolve 2T of salt in water, then add one chopped onion into the solution.

Soak the cucumber slices in the salt bath and let them sit in water for about two hours before draining the solution.

5. In a separate bowl, mix cucumber slices with ⅔ cup of vegetable oil, 1T sugar, 1T vinegar, and 1t celery seed. Cover the slices with the ingredients. Place the bowl in the refrigerator overnight.

6. In an airtight glass jar or plastic container, pack the above cucumber mixture in the brine solution. Leave about an inch of headspace in the container.

7. Place the jar or container in the freezer. Let it sit in the freezer for at least a week before defrosting and using the cucumbers.

This is the best, most effective way of storing cucumbers. Fruits preserved using this method can last for up to a year without losing their refreshing flavor or texture.

How to use frozen cucumbers

Frozen cucumbers can be used as regular cucumbers in any recipe. They are generally used for preparing drinks, such as green smoothies. They also work perfectly well in soup recipes. 

The same goes for pickled frozen cucumbers. However, along with using them in drinks, dips, and soups, you can also enjoy them raw.

How to defrost cucumber

As cucumbers have high water content, they release a lot of liquid when thawed. Plop frozen liquid into a smoothie, dip, or any other recipe where excess moisture is not a problem. You can also place frozen cucumbers in a bowl and thaw them in the fridge. 

The bottom line

Now that you know the secret to storing cucumbers, considering freezing cucumbers when you have extra on hand won’t be an issue anymore. Best, a plentiful cucumber yield will never overwhelm you again. Freeze your cucumbers the right way to enjoy them in all seasons!