Rub the ends, peel them or salt them: here are three foolproof methods to eliminate the bitter taste of cucumbers, with tricks and tips on how to clean and cut them to perfection.
Light and incredibly versatile, cucumbers are one of the most loved summer vegetables ever. When we buy them at the farmer’s market or grocery store, it is good to know how to choose the best cucumber in terms of taste and freshness, paying attention to some characteristics: the skin must appear smooth, shiny and not wrinkled, while the ends must be firm and not yielding to the touch. Medium-sized cucumbers are preferable, neither too big nor too small, because they are the ones at the right level of ripeness. Once at home, then, we must treat them correctly: but how to clean cucumbers to remove the bitterness?
How to Remove Bitterness From Cucumbers
Along with melon and squash, cucumbers belong to the Cucurbitaceae family. In the roots, stems and leaves of these plants there is a substance called cucurbitacin, which sometimes penetrates the fruit and determines the bitter taste of the cucumber. To eliminate it, you can use three methods, all equally valid: rubbing the ends of the cucumbers, peeling the cucumbers or putting the cucumbers in salt. Let’s look at them in detail.
Rubbing Them
The first method is widely used in Middle Eastern and Indian cuisine in particular. It consists of rubbing the two ends of the cucumber with the previously cut caps: here’s how to do it.
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How to Remove Zucchini’s Bitter Taste
Wash the cucumber thoroughly under running water.
Remove both caps at a height of about 2 centimetres.
Rub the two ends with the cut pieces, using a circular motion.
Continue for about a minute or until a whitish foam forms, which is responsible for the bitter taste.
Rinse the cucumber again to remove the foam.
Use it in your favorite recipes.
Peeling Them
see continuation on next page
