I’m a chef and I swear by my ‘sleeping bag’ storage hack to keep your cucumbers fresh and crunchy for WEEKS
CALLING all cucumber fans – we’ve found a super simple hack that will keep your beloved salad topper fresh for longer.
Although the summer salad season may be over, if you’re a fan of cucumber and want to keep eating your greens, then you’ve come to the right place.
With this tasty staple being the perfect addition to many lunches, including sandwiches and salads, we’ve found a quick and easy trick that will keep it fresh for weeks – yes, you heard that correctly.
So if you’re fed up with buying cucumber, only for it to go soft and mushy before you’ve had a chance to use it all up, then this ‘sleeping bag’ storage hack is one you’ll need to try.
It turns out that keeping cucumbers fresh for longer is all about how you store it.
And luckily for you, a chef and recipe developer took to social media to share her quick and easy trick to keep your cucumber fresh, leaving many open-mouthed.
Kat shared her now-viral clip with the caption ‘money saving cucumber storage tip’ and said: “These cucumbers are 10 days old. I’m going to show you how to store cucumbers so that they stay nice and fresh and crunchy and they don’t get soft in like, three days.”
The food fan, who confessed she can’t stand throwing food away, stressed the importance of removing all packaging from cucumbers.
She claimed: “The way that produce is transported is often not the way that produce should be stored, so get it out of jail.”
After giving her cucumbers a rinse, Kat then gave them a pat dry with a paper towel and confirmed: “Produce really has two enemies – oxygen and water – too little or too much of either one is going to make them turn on you.”
Kat stressed that cucumbers are full of water, so it’s key that you do what you can to soak up the moisture.
As a result, Kat revealed that to store your cucumbers correctly, you’ll need two things – a silicone bag and some kitchen roll.
She continued: “The first thing I’m gonna do is take a silicone bag, you could use a Ziploc bag if that’s what you have, we’re gonna make my little paper towel sleeping bag.”
After adding in a piece of kitchen roll, she then advised: “Put in your rinsed and dried cucumbers, seal it, and put it into the refrigerator.”
Hacks for Keeping Food Fresh in Your Fridge
IF you want your food to stay fresh, you'll need to try out this useful hacks...
- Herbs in Water: Store fresh herbs like parsley and coriander in a glass of water, then cover with a plastic bag to keep them fresh for weeks.
- Wrap Greens in Paper Towels: Wrap leafy greens in paper towels before placing them in a plastic bag. The towels absorb excess moisture, preventing wilting.
- Use Mason Jars: Store salads, chopped vegetables, and even leftovers in mason jars. They are airtight and keep food fresher for longer.
- Revive Stale Bread: Sprinkle a bit of water on stale bread and pop it in the oven for a few minutes to make it fresh again.
- Baking Soda for Odours: Place an open box of baking soda in your fridge to absorb odours and keep food tasting fresh.
- Freeze Herbs in Olive Oil: Chop herbs and freeze them in olive oil using an ice cube tray. This preserves their flavour and makes them easy to use.
- Keep Cheese Fresh: Wrap cheese in wax paper instead of plastic wrap. Wax paper allows the cheese to breathe, preventing it from becoming slimy.
- Store Avocados with Onions: Place a cut avocado in an airtight container with a slice of onion. The sulphur compounds in the onion slow down oxidation, keeping the avocado fresh.
- Use Vinegar Wash for Berries: Rinse berries in a mixture of water and vinegar (one cup of vinegar to three cups of water) before storing. This kills bacteria and mould spores, extending their shelf life.
- Egg Freshness Test: To check if eggs are still fresh, place them in a bowl of water. Fresh eggs will sink, while old ones will float.
Implement these clever hacks to maximise the freshness of your food and make the most of your groceries.
Using a piece of kitchen roll in this storage hack will help soak up excess moisture, which in turn, will keep your cucumbers fresh.
FOOD FANS BEAM
The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @katcancook, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly amassed a jaw-dropping 4.4 million views.
Thank you! I literally needed this tip
TikTok user
Social media users were thankful for Kat’s advice and many flocked to the comments to express this.
One person said: “This is so helpful.”
Another added: “I needed you in my life, thank you for the info.”
A third commented: “Thank you! I literally needed this tip.”