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Do you also peel your cucumber before eating it? Then don’t throw away the bowl in the future. Because this can be used in many ways. Whether for consumption, the skin or as a cleaning agent, cucumber peels are a real all-rounder.

Do not put cucumber peel in the compost: you can still use it for that

You will be amazed what else you can do with the cucumber peels. Without any extra effort, they are useful helpers in everyday life.

Smoothies with cucumber peels

If you like to drink a smoothie in the morning or in between, you can also mix the remaining cucumber peel into the drink. They give the smoothie a fresh taste and also enrich it with an extra portion of vitamins.

Salad with cucumber peels

In addition to sunflower or pumpkin seeds, cucumber peels are also suitable as an extra topping in the salad. Because these also make the meal particularly crunchy and add vitamins to it. In addition, with a bit of skill, the bowls also provide a visual highlight.

Recipes for cucumber salad – peeled or unpeeled

Especially in summer, a cucumber salad is a delicious side dish when grilling. You are welcome to use the cucumbers unpeeled so as not to lose the fiber and vitamins.
The shake cucumber salad is particularly suitable for an invitation to a barbecue or picnic, as it is prepared in a practical container for on the go.

Fight dark circles with cucumber peels

Cucumber peels also help against stress and fatigue, which can be seen in the eyes. Place strips of the bowl under your eyes for ten minutes while relaxing. Lie down and close your eyes. Afterwards you will not only look fresher, but also feel fresher.

Removing stains with cucumber peels

Cucumber peels as a stain remover? It’s actually possible. Above all, they are suitable for stains on walls, for example from pens. To do this, simply rub the peel over the appropriate area. However, the trick should first be tested on an inconspicuous area.

Although the brew from gherkins contains a lot of vitamins and nutrients, it is usually thrown away carelessly. We present seven healthy benefits from the all-round talent that you probably don’t know yet.

All-round talent cucumber water: seven interesting and healthy benefits

The preserving classic is rich in vitamins and nutrients. In addition, the cucumber water contains many spices and herbs, such as dill and mustard seeds, which are also healthy.
vitamin C
vitamin E
calcium
zinc
iron
magnesium
potassium
phosphorus
We present seven interesting health facts about cucumber water that you probably haven’t heard of:

#1 cucumber water as a weight loss aid

Summer is just around the corner and you still need to lose a few pounds*: Cucumber water is ideal for this thanks to its ingredients. It is very easy to incorporate into a healthy diet. The absolute calorie killer in cucumber water is the vinegar it contains – this supports digestion and ensures that the pounds break down quickly. This works particularly well with apple cider vinegar*. You should be careful which cucumber water you want to use as a weight loss aid: In general, it is advisable to buy a glass of organic cucumbers and always pay attention to the amount of sugar they contain.

#2 After exercise: A glass of cucumber water

Cucumber water is also highly recommended as a drink after exercise. Since you lose a lot of electrolytes through sweating, you can easily get them back through the cucumber water. Among other things, cucumber water contains potassium and sodium, which the body urgently needs after exercise.

#3 A plus for the immune system

The water from the gherkins is generally suitable for strengthening the immune system*. This is due to the vitamins it contains, including vitamin C and vitamin E. The special thing about it: since the water has a high acid content, it even makes it easier to absorb the vitamins and nutrients.

#4 Inside cleaning

The enzymes contained in cucumbers, the peptidases, are able to split proteins. This is good for digestion when eating meat, for example. They also ensure that the intestines are cleaned because they have a bactericidal effect. Cucumber water also contains probiotic bacteria that are good for gut health. These arise during the fermentation process of the pickled cucumbers.

#5 Healthy for the alkaline household

The consumption of cucumber water also ensures that the acid-base balance is kept in balance. This is due to the base-rich nature of cucumbers. For example, you can counteract gout or rheumatism.

#6 Heartburn? cucumber water!

If you suffer from heartburn*, you should try cucumber water. The vinegar in the water is shown to be beneficial for the stomach. It is particularly effective if you take a sip of cucumber water before you eat.

#7 Cucumber water as an anti-hangover remedy

Those who have overdone it with alcohol often suffer from an unpleasant hangover the next day. But here, too, the cucumber water can help: As after sport, we lack electrolytes when we have a hangover, which can be brought back into balance by consuming the cucumber water. This ensures that you feel fitter again quickly.

Conclusion: Cucumber water as an insider tip for healthy eating

Cucumber water really is a great by-product of pickles and is easy to incorporate into a health-conscious diet. If you can’t bring yourself to drink the water pure, you can also use it as a dressing, marinade or for dips. Because it’s really a shame to throw it away!

If the cucumber tastes bitter, caution is advised. We explain to you how long the vegetables can be kept, where the bitter taste can come from and when you should stop eating cucumbers.

That’s why cucumbers sometimes taste bitter

Originally, cucumbers were rich in harmful bitter substances, the cucurbitacins, which are typical of the pumpkin family. Modern breeds now contain very few of these bitter substances. That’s a good thing, because according to the Federal Center for Nutrition (BZfE) they can be toxic to humans in higher concentrations.

Cucumbers from the supermarket are usually not bitter. If you grow cucumbers in your own garden, they may develop bitter substances, for example due to incorrect fertilization. The cucumbers then taste bitter.
This can also be the case if you buy home-grown cucumbers that have been incorrectly fertilized at an organic farmer’s market or in an organic store.
If a cucumber tastes bitter, you should stop eating it. Symptoms such as stomach cramps or diarrhea can occur if you consume too many of the harmful bitter substances.

Shelf life and storage of cucumbers

Cucumbers are sensitive to cold. It is therefore best not to store them below ten degrees Celsius, otherwise they can become watery and soft.

If you want to store cucumbers in the fridge, use the crisper drawers. It is usually not as cold there as in the rest of the refrigerator. Otherwise, store the cucumbers in a cool room with high humidity.
It is best to eat the cucumbers fresh. If you can’t use them fresh, you should only store them for a few days before using them.
Cucumbers are not suitable for freezing. They lose their structure in the process and become mushy when they thaw again.
Cucumbers are sensitive to ethylene. Therefore, do not keep them with fruits like apples that emit ethylene or they will spoil faster.
When buying cucumbers, make sure they aren’t bruised or damaged if you don’t want to use them right away.
In principle, as long as the cucumbers don’t taste bitter, are too mushy or moldy, you shouldn’t throw them away. You can also roast or stew slightly older cucumbers as a side dish or use them in a cucumber salad.

Cucumbers belong to the gourd family and originally come from northern India. They have about 97 percent water content and are very low in calories at twelve kilocalories per 100 grams.
Healthy ingredients such as provitamin A and various minerals are located directly under the skin of the cucumber.
You should therefore not peel cucumbers, just wash them thoroughly. When buying cucumbers, also pay attention to organic quality so that no synthetic pesticides and other pollutants get into your body.

To peel cucumbers or not? Many people face these questions when they want to prepare a cucumber. We’ll show you the pros and cons and whether it’s really necessary to peel the cucumber

Many consumers are unsure whether they should peel the cucumber. There are several reasons to peel the cucumber:

There are a number of vegetables such as carrots or beetroot that are usually peeled off before eating.
Another reason is that consumers bought the cucumber without plastic packaging in the supermarket and are afraid that there are microorganisms on the skin.
The cucumber is damaged on the peel.

peel cucumber? That speaks against it

There are good reasons not to peel the cucumber:
The skin of the cucumber contains a relatively large number of vitamins and minerals. They are very important for the body and you should therefore eat them. However, one cucumber is not enough to cover your daily requirement: 100 grams of cucumber, for example, contain an average of 160 milligrams of potassium – you need 4000 per day. In addition, the cucumber also contains vitamin K (16 of 60 µg per day).
Dietary fiber, which is important for digestion, is also mainly found in the peel. 100 grams contain about 0.5 grams of fiber – you need about 30 per day.
By scrubbing and rinsing the cucumber under running water, you can easily remove any bacteria that might be on the cucumber. However, detergents or sprays are superfluous.
If you buy organic cucumbers, you can avoid many pesticides. Because synthetic sprays are forbidden in organic farming. The organic seal provides orientation.

cucumber is healthy

The cucumber is a summer vegetable: its main season  is between July and September. Whether peeled or not: Cucumbers are tasty and also help to improve the fluid balance on hot days. Because they consist mainly of water.

The nutrients of 100 g of cucumber:

12 calories of energy
0.2 grams of fat
0.6 g proteins
1.8 grams of carbohydrates
0.5 g fiber

Tip: Sliced ​​cucumbers taste good with a dip or in a salad, for example.

The special thing about Chinese cucumber salad is the crushed cucumbers. The squeezing makes the light dish particularly crisp, refreshing and aromatic. We’ll show you a recipe for the healthy side dish.

Chinese cucumber salad is a popular side dish in Asian cuisine. Unlike the traditional cucumber salad, the cucumbers for this recipe are first squashed or smashed. Crushing creates small gaps that allow liquid to drain away. That’s why the Chinese cucumber salad will be particularly crisp later. In addition, the dressing can be better distributed in the small gaps and contributes to the aromatic, fresh taste.

When buying your ingredients, make sure they are organic. In this way you ensure that the food is free of chemical-synthetic pesticides. The organic seals from Demeter, Naturland or Bioland stand for high standards.

Cucumbers and other vegetables are usually available from regional cultivation during the season. This saves long transport routes and thus also CO2 emissions. In addition, by the way, it is very easy to grow cucumbers yourself.

Chinese cucumber salad: how to prepare it

Ingredients:

1 cucumber
1 tsp salt
2 cloves)garlic spring onion
1 tbsp sesame oil
1 tbsp rice vinegar
1 teaspoon nectar
1 tsp soy sauce
0.5 tsp coriander, ground 1 red chilli (optional)

Directions:

Place the cucumber on a board and squash it until it’s split open on both sides. For example, use a rolling pin or another hard object.
Tip: You can cover the cucumber with a kitchen towel beforehand to prevent the cucumber juice from splashing around when you crush it.
Cut the mashed cucumber into small cubes, one to two centimeters in size.
Put the cucumber cubes in a fine sieve. Place a bowl underneath to drain excess liquid.
Mix the cucumber cubes with the salt and set them aside for 30 minutes.
Caution: If you skip this step, the Chinese cucumber salad will be too watery.
Meanwhile, finely chop the onions and garlic.
Mix together the sesame oil, rice vinegar, agave syrup, soy sauce and the ground coriander.
After resting, place the cucumbers in a salad bowl and mix with the dressing, onions, and garlic.
Optional: Chop the chilli very finely and garnish the Chinese cucumber salad with it.

Chinese cucumber salad goes well with these dishes

Chinese cucumber salad is a light dish. Eat it as a light lunch or as a snack between meals. If you’re having the cucumber salad as a main meal, serve it with some flatbread or fresh focaccia.

As a side dish, the Chinese cucumber salad goes particularly well with fresh vegetables. Cook the vegetables the Asian way, like in this vegetable curry with local ingredients or the Thai dish Pad See Ew. Serve cooked rice or rice noodles with salad and vegetables.

Spices and herbs such as coriander, mint, parsley and various types of chili also go well with the Chinese cucumber salad.

If you peel cucumbers before eating, don’t throw away the cucumber peel. We introduce you to a delicious drink with cucumber peel and other uses.

It’s not strictly necessary that you peel cucumbers, especially if you’re using organic cucumbers. If you still prefer peeled cucumbers, you can use the peel separately. After all, the cucumber peel contains a particularly large number of vitamins, as well as dietary fibers that can support your digestion. So it would be a shame if you just threw away the cucumber peel.

We will show you how you can reuse the cucumber peel. It is important that you use the peel of organic cucumbers. Because according to organic guidelines, chemical-synthetic pesticides that can occur as residues in conventional cucumbers are prohibited. Also wash the cucumbers carefully.

You can make a refreshing drink from cucumber peels

You can easily prepare a refreshing drink from cucumber peel, mint and lemon. This leaves lemon zest. But don’t worry, you can also use the peel of the lemons.

Ingredients:

1 organic cucumber (peel)

4 sprigs of mint lemon
400 ml water ice cubes

Directions:

Cut the cucumber peel into rough pieces.
Wash the mint and lemon.
Halve the lemon and squeeze out the juice.
Place the cucumber peel, mint, and lemon juice in a blender, puree, and divide into two glasses.
Fill the glasses with water and add ice cubes if you like.

More ideas with cucumber peel

Instead of throwing away the cucumber peel, you can use it in other recipes.

  • You can cut the cucumber skin into pieces and add it to a salad.
  • You can give a herb quark more freshness with some finely chopped cucumber peel.
  • You can also prepare a smoothie with cucumber peel and other vegetables or fruit. Then less water may be needed because the cucumber skin contains a lot of moisture. For example, you can also use other leftover vegetables in a smoothie. For example, try it with a few radish leaves or the core of a salad or broccoli.
  • Mix (vegan) cream cheese with finely chopped cucumber peel and some salt and pepper. This makes a delicious spread.

If you don’t want to eat the cucumber peel, you can use it very well as a refreshment and relaxation for tired eyes. Simply place pieces of bowl under your eyes or on your closed lids and relax for ten minutes.