The Best Cucumbers for Eating or Pickling (Plant A Few Different Varieties)

When choosing cucumbers, the question is really "to burp, or not to burp?" Cucumbers that make you burp are the ones that make great pickles; the burpiness means they have higher levels of cucurbitacin. Cucumbers that are best eaten fresh are called "burpless", "eating", or "slicers", since so many of us slice them into salads or onto sandwiches.

The refreshing aroma of cucumber says summer, and it's the second most popular vegetable with home gardeners (after King Tomato, of course). In our video Tricia plants and grows cucumbers (and fights pests organically). Tricia likes pickling cucumbers, but most gardeners want eating cukes too.

Why Cucumbers?

Cucumbers are one of the vegetables enjoyed by many; they can be eaten raw for their crispy taste. There are many kinds of cucumbers, including the English cucumber, known for its sweet and mild flavor, and the Kirby cucumber, which features a crunchy texture and bumpy skin, making it ideal for pickling.

Additionally, the lemon cucumber is round and has a color resembling that of a lemon, while white cucumbers offer a unique appearance and mild taste. Persian cucumbers and Armenian cucumbers are also popular for their soft texture and soft seeds, making them excellent choices for fresh salads or pickling.

For those looking for the best tasting cucumbers, seedless cucumbers with thin skin are often favored for their crisp bite and refreshing flavor. Dark green cucumbers, commonly found in many types of cucumbers, are also favored for their versatility and classic taste.

Purpose of This Guide

The aim of this guide is to help you decide which cucumbers are the best for your needs. There are many kinds of cucumbers, such as English and Persian varieties, which are perfect for eating fresh, while pickling cucumbers are ideal for making pickles. Cucumbers come in a range of flavors and textures, from smooth-skinned lemon cucumbers to dark green cucumbers with a bumpy skin, and those with a softer texture like Armenian cucumbers.

Understanding the types of cucumbers you want will assist you in selecting the perfect variety for eating on its own, adding to salads, or incorporating into your pickling brine. For example, cucumbers like Armenian cucumbers are known for their mild flavor and tender texture, making them a great choice for fresh eating. Knowing about the cucumbers grown in your area can also enhance your choices and help you pick the best variety for your culinary needs.

Understanding Cucumbers: Types and Varieties

Basic Overview of Cucumber Types

Most cucumbers are designed for specific uses and differ in their form and flavor. Slicing cucumbers have smooth skin and crunchy flesh and are used in fresh salads and sandwiches. They have a fresh body free of bitterness and are firm.

Persian cucumbers and English cucumbers are mild and sweet. Pickling cucumbers have a lovely crunch and are used in pickles. Kirby cucumbers and lemon cucumbers are examples of this cucumber. They may be too thick for pickling brine and pickles, while Armenian cucumbers and cucumbers with extra bumps are unique cucumbers.

Botanical Differences

You can spot botanical differences between cucumber types in how they grow, their skin feel, and how many seeds they have. Garden cucumbers, like Persian and English varieties, usually have smooth, thin skins. These slicing cucumbers are popular for eating raw because they’re crunchy, refreshing, and packed with vitamin C. They typically have small seeds, making them a great choice for salads or a crisp snack.

On the other hand, pickling cucumbers, such as Kirby and lemon types, have thicker skins and big seeds. This makes them perfect for soaking up pickling brine and turning into crisp pickles. Armenian cucumbers are in a class of their own with their bumpy skin and unique traits, such as white flesh and a slightly sweet flavor.

People enjoy these for their special flavor and eating qualities, making them a favorite for growing cucumbers in gardens. Pale green in color, these cucumbers stand out in both appearance and taste, offering a unique twist on traditional varieties.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Cucumbers

Flavor Profiles

When picking cucumbers, taste characteristics like sweetness and bitterness play a big role. People often prefer slicing types such as Persian and English varieties for their sweet flavor and mild taste. These garden cucumbers are great raw, adding a nice crunch to salads. Seedless cucumbers, like the English variety, are particularly popular for their smooth texture and slightly sweet flavor.

On the other hand, pickling varieties of cucumber like Kirby and lemon cucumbers might taste a bit more bitter. However, their firm texture, thick skin, and slightly sweet flavor make them ideal for pickling. To pick the right cucumber for you, think about what you like and how you'll use it—whether you want to eat it fresh, make pickles, or cook with it. Lemon cucumbers, with their unique appearance and pale green skin, are also a great pickling choice.

Texture and Crispness

When picking cucumbers, their feel and crunch are key to figuring out if they'll work well. People love slicing cucumbers such as Persian and English types, because they are firm, crunchy, and offer a satisfying bite. This makes them great to eat raw or to add a fresh, extra-crunchy bite to salads. These varieties of cucumber are typically harvested for their thin skinned fruit and tender texture, making them a refreshing snack.

On the other hand, pickling cucumbers like Kirby and lemon varieties need to be crisp with tougher skin. This helps them stand up to the pickling liquid and maintain their texture as they pickle. When growing cucumbers for pickling, it's important to select varieties with a firm, thick skin to preserve their structure. To get the right cucumbers for what you need, think about how firm they should be for eating or pickling.

Size and Shape

Cucumbers should be picked based on size and shape, ideal for how you would like to use them. For slicing, a cucumber should be ideally 8 inches long, be smooth-skinned, and have a thin skin that is easily to slice and eat.

Examples of a slicing cucumber are English cucumbers and Persian cucumbers. For pickling, look for bumpy pickling cucumbers that are know as Kirby or lemon cucumbers with a crisp structure ideal for holding up in the brine and crunchy flesh.

Grow these cucumbers for fresh-from-the-garden flavors

The Armenian cucumbers shown above are a prized variety for eating and slicing (without burping). Suyo Long grows up to 16 inches of burpless tenderness. The celebrated Straight Eight is reliable and smooth, with heavy yields. Plus, it's easy to slice. Lemon cucumbers are round and yellow just as their name would suggest. Their delicate skin and light flavor mean lemon cucumbers often get eaten in the garden.  

Grow these cucumbers for the perfect crunchy pickle

Okay, we made this one easy for you. If you want great pickles, you get a big hint if the word "pickle" is in the cucumber seed's name! Homemade Pickles grows 5 to 6 inches long. Feeling patriotic? National Pickling came from research sponsored by the National Pickle Packers Association and works both when picked gherkin-small at 2 to 3 inches, or at standard 5 to 6 inches.

Cucumbers that play on both teams

Some burpless cucumbers also make good pickles. They call the variety Muncher because it's good straight from the vine, but it's also a nice pickler if you pick it small (4 to 6 inches). Tendergreen is a burpless and you can grow it to 8 inches as a slicer, but if you want to pickle it just harvest the cukes when they're small.

Cucumber vocabulary

Spines

The prickly hairs on certain cucumbers can certainly make their presence felt, as in you might need to wear garden gloves when you harvest your crop. The flavors of some spiny cucumbers make that little inconvenience worthwhile.

Stippling

Those little bumps on some cucumber skins (shown above) have a special name. When reading seed pack information about cucumbers, watch for this word, if the bumpiness is a pro or a con for you.

Cucurbit

Cucumbers are in the cucurbit family, along with pumpkins, squash, and melons. Why do you need to know that? First, because the name is fun to say. Second, because you can avoid many soil borne diseases if you rotate your crops and don't replant family members in the same place for 3 years. We have an intro to vegetable families and crop rotation here.

Cucumber Preservation: Beyond Pickling

Alternative Preservation Methods

When one cannot imagine going for a whole season without being able to enjoy cucumbers, frozen cucumbers for the extended after-harvest period may also work. The best cucumber varieties to freeze and these that are used for making such recipes are Persian cucumbers and English cucumbers because their texture after defrosting remains crisp.

Another great way to taste cucumbers during the off-season is to include them in a relish or chutney made from pickling cucumbers or lemon cucumbers. The ingredients transform the raw vegetable’s flavor into a tangy or sweet-and-spicy one that can give a zesty kick to any dish. In any event, both ways help to keep the low-odor-oxidant cucumbers’ delightful afternote.

Tips for Storing Fresh Cucumbers

If you want your fresh cucumbers such as Persian and English cucumbers to remain crisp and taste good, keep them in the refrigerator. Keep slicing cucumbers and lemon cucumbers in a perforated plastic bag to provide enough airflow to keep their skin from being affected by the bumps or thicker skin.

Additionally, if extra shelf life is required, avoid washing them until ready to consume or slice them, as additional moisture may be disastrous.

The Pickling Process: Step-by-Step

Types of Pickling Techniques

When choosing between pickling techniques, quick pickling and fermentation offer distinct results. Quick pickling involves immersing pickling cucumbers in a vinegar brine with spices for a speedy, tangy flavor, perfect for slicing cucumbers and lemon cucumbers.

In contrast, fermentation relies on natural processes to develop a complex taste and crisp texture, making it ideal for Persian cucumbers and Kirby cucumbers. For dry salting versus vinegar brining, dry salting draws out moisture for a more concentrated flavor, while vinegar brining adds a tangy kick and helps maintain crunchy flesh.

Ingredients Needed for Pickling

For effective pickling, you'll need salt, vinegar, and water to create a balanced pickling brine. Salt enhances flavor and helps preserve the crunchy flesh of pickling cucumbers like Kirby cucumbers and Persian cucumbers, while vinegar adds the necessary acidity for tanginess.

Spices and flavoring additives such as garlic, dill, and mustard seeds further elevate the taste, making your favorite cucumber varieties, from lemon cucumbers to slicing cucumbers, perfectly suited for pickling and enjoying on the dinner table.

Safety Tips and Best Practices

To ensure the safety of your pickling cucumbers, it is crucial to properly sterilize jars before use. This step helps prevent contamination and maintains the crunchy flesh of cucumbers like Kirby cucumbers and Persian cucumbers.

Additionally, always handle cucumbers and pickling brine with clean utensils and avoid any exposure to bacteria to ensure the best-tasting pickles and maintain the quality of your favorite cucumber varieties.

Additional Information on Cucumber Types

Cucumbers are a versatile and popular vegetable that come in various types, each with its unique characteristics and uses. One of the most well-known uses of cucumbers is in making pickles, such as dill pickles and bread and butter pickles, which are essential components of charcuterie boards and snacks. In this article, we will explore different types of cucumbers, including those ideal for pickling, and discuss their various attributes.

1. National Pickling Cucumbers: National pickling cucumbers, also known as National Pickling or Chicago pickling cucumbers, are a widely grown type for making dill pickles. These cucumbers are relatively short and have bumpy, dark green skin. They are known for their crisp texture and are perfect for slicing into spears or chips for pickling.
2. Boston Pickling Cucumbers: Boston pickling cucumbers are another popular choice for pickling. These cucumbers are known for their uniform size and shape, making them ideal for canning. They have thin skins and a refreshing crunch, which is perfect for creating delicious bread and butter pickles or classic dill pickles.
3. Plants Producing: Cucumbers, including pickling cucumber varieties, thrive in small gardens. These plants are relatively easy to grow and can produce an abundant yield even in limited garden spaces. They require well-drained soil, adequate sunlight, and consistent watering to thrive.
4. Angular Leaf Spot: When cultivating cucumbers, it's essential to be aware of diseases like angular leaf spot, which can affect cucumber plants. Proper care and disease prevention measures, such as crop rotation and selecting disease-resistant cucumber varieties, can help maintain a healthy cucumber garden.
5. Cucumber Mosaic Virus: Another challenge that cucumber growers may face is the cucumber mosaic virus, which can affect the leaves, fruits, and overall health of the cucumber plant. It's essential to monitor for early signs of this virus and take appropriate measures to prevent its spread.
6. Types of Pickling Cucumbers: Pickling cucumbers come in various shapes and sizes. Some are more suited for whole pickles, while others are ideal for spears or slices. Knowing the different types of pickling cucumbers and their characteristics can help you choose the right one for your pickling needs.
7. Thin Skins: Many pickling cucumber varieties are prized for their thin skins, which allow them to absorb pickling brine and spices effectively. This results in pickles with a satisfying crunch and a balanced flavor profile.
8. Dark Green Skin: The dark green skin of pickling cucumbers is not only visually appealing but also an indicator of their readiness for pickling. When cucumbers reach their peak ripeness, their skin will typically have a rich, dark green color.
9. University of Wisconsin: The University of Wisconsin has been instrumental in cucumber research and development. Researchers at the university have contributed to the breeding of cucumber varieties, including those suitable for pickling.

Cucumbers are a diverse group of vegetables with various types and applications. When it comes to pickling, National Pickling cucumbers and Boston Pickling cucumbers are top choices due to their unique attributes. Whether you have a small garden or ample space for cucumber plants, with proper care, you can enjoy a bountiful harvest of cucumbers, perfect for making your favorite type of pickles. However, it's crucial to be aware of potential challenges such as diseases like angular leaf spot and the cucumber mosaic virus and take preventive measures to ensure a successful cucumber crop.

For gardeners in dry climates, drought-resistant cucumber varieties can be an excellent choice. These varieties are better equipped to thrive with less water, making them perfect for regions with water limitations.

So, whether you're planning to create dill pickles for your charcuterie board or experiment with other pickling recipes, understanding the different types of cucumbers and their characteristics is essential for a successful and delicious outcome.

Conclusion

Understanding the diverse world of cucumbers can elevate your culinary creations, whether you're making refreshing salads or crisp pickles. From the sweet and mild English cucumbers and Persian cucumbers ideal for fresh eating to the Kirby cucumbers and lemon cucumbers perfect for pickling, each variety offers unique flavors and textures.

By selecting the best cucumber for your specific needs and considering factors like texture, flavor, and skin type, you can enhance your dishes and enjoy the versatility of this popular vegetable. Whether you're planting in your garden or picking from the local grocery store, the right cucumber can make all the difference in your meals. Explore our selection of cucumber seeds for sale here.

FAQs About The Best Cucumbers for Eating or Pickling

• What are the best cucumbers for eating raw?

  • Slicing cucumbers, such as the English cucumber, are among the best for eating raw because of their mild flavor, thin skin, and fewer seeds. If you're asking, 'what is the best cucumber to eat,' English cucumbers are often seedless and ideal for fresh salads and snacks without the need for peeling.

• Which cucumbers are best suited for pickling?

  • Cucumbers with a firm texture and small size, like Kirby cucumbers, are best suited for pickling. Their crunchy flesh and slightly bumpy skin hold up well in pickling brine, making them a popular choice for pickled cucumbers.

• How can I prevent cucumbers from tasting bitter?

  • Bitter flavors in cucumbers can be caused by environmental factors like hot weather or inconsistent watering. To avoid bitterness, select common varieties known for their mild taste, such as the English cucumber, and ensure that the plants receive regular watering.

• What makes cucumbers different from other fruits like tomatoes and apples?

  • Although cucumbers are botanically classified as fruits due to their seeds, they are commonly treated as vegetables in culinary use. Unlike sweet fruits such as apples and tomatoes, cucumbers have a refreshing, crisp taste that makes them versatile in savory dishes and pickling.

• How do cucumbers grow, and what should I know about planting them?

  • Cucumbers grow on vines and thrive in warm conditions with plenty of sunlight. They should be planted in well-drained soil and given ample space to spread out, ensuring that the vines have room to grow and produce high-quality fruit.