Can You Freeze Cucumbers?

You’d be forgiven for thinking they don’t freeze well. As cucumbers have high water content (around 95% water), you’d think they’d turn all mushy, like me watching The Notebook after a couple of glasses of wine.

While that might be the case for frozen cucumbers that haven’t been prepared properly, if you freeze them the right way, cucumbers keep that wonderful bite and refreshing taste that we all know and love.

Best of all, there are a few different methods you can use to freeze cucumbers. They might not be as delicious as a fresh cucumber, but they will come pretty close!

Freeze them whole

The easiest way to freeze cucumbers is to freeze them whole. Only freeze cucumber whole if you plan to use the whole thing, as you won’t be able to refreeze it at a later date.

Cut them into thin slices and freeze them

Another way to freeze cucumbers is to freeze them thinly sliced. You can then flash freeze them on a baking sheet and then place them in a container before you freeze them. See below for full instructions.

Pickle them before freezing

Probably the most effective way to freeze cucumbers is to pickle them first. You’ll be able to preserve the amazing flavor that comes from pickling the cucumber and they’ll last even longer.

Check out my pickled cucumber recipe, then follow the steps in the instructions section below.

Puree the cucumber before freezing

This is a great option for when you want to use small portions at a time. It’s a very simple process that involves blending the cucumber and placing the puree in ice cube trays. Again, see below for a step-by-step guide on freezing cucumbers that have been pureed. 

Shred the cucumber, then freeze

Another option when freezing cucumbers is to shred them first. You can either use a hand grater or a food processor with the shredding attachment. Check the instructions below.

Cucumbers thrive in the summer months, from May through to August. So, freezing them in summer to use in the winter months makes perfect sense.

If you find yourself more cucumbers than you can use, there are plenty of ways to preserve them. Here are a few techniques you can use to store your cucumbers for longer: 

Pickling

You might have already seen my pickled cucumber recipe above. Pickling is a great way to preserve many different vegetables, including cucumbers. The vinegar acts as the preservative, while the other ingredients – including spices – impart deep flavour.

Fermenting

You can also ferment cucumbers and other vegetables using a salt water brine. Similar to pickling, fermenting involves preserving the cucumber without the acidic content. Instead, the sour flavour is produced by a chemical reaction. Fermenting foods has been proven to be very beneficial for digestion and gut health.

Dehydrating

Dehydrated cucumbers can last from 4 months to a year. You can dry them out in the oven at 135°F for 12 hours. 

Freezing

How can we forget?! One of the best and easiest ways to preserve cucumbers is to freeze them. Skip to the bottom to find out how!

One of the best uses for frozen cucumbers is to make smoothies. Freezing them in ice cube trays makes it really easy to add them into your smoothie maker or blender, along with the other ingredients. 

See ‘How do you eat frozen cucumbers’ below for a few ideas on how to use your frozen cucumbers in smoothies, as well as other ways.

Yes, you can! Cucumber juice needs to be stored soon after juicing, to keep it as fresh as possible. 

The best way to store cucumber juice is to pour it into ice block trays. You could also use a freezer safe container. See below for instructions on how to freeze them using either method.

For many uses, you won’t need to defrost frozen cucumber. For example, if you’re making a delicious green smoothie, you can use frozen cucumbers without thawing them.

In fact, I would recommend using frozen cucumber this way. When you defrost it, you run the risk of losing that taste and texture.

If you do want to thaw cucumber, simply transfer from the freezer to the fridge, placing them in a large bowl as you do so. Leave to defrost for around 8 hours. You can also leave it on the kitchen counter to thaw at room temperature.

Make sure you reuse the delicious cucumber liquid that collects in the large bowl as the cucumbers defrost. You can add this to soups, sauces or smoothies.

Frozen cucumber will last up to 12 months. Still, I would recommend that you keep them no longer than 6 months, to best maintain the taste and texture of the cucumber.

Yes, they are! Cucumbers contain antioxidants, are high in vitamin C, potassium and vitamin K, promotes hydration and can help lower blood sugar levels.

Cucumber peel contains high amounts of fiber, as well as essential vitamins and minerals. So, it’s best to not peel them, otherwise you’re going to lose out on all the health benefits.

The simplest way is to just munch on the frozen cucumbers! They make a deliciously refreshing snack, particularly on a hot summer day.

You can also thaw them and use them as you would fresh cucumbers. Add them to a sandwich, a smoothie, a dip or even a sorbet. Alternatively, you could make a cucumber soup, or add them to a stew or casserole.

You could add sliced cucumbers to water for a tasty infusion.

Here are a few specific recipes you could use:

Super green smoothie – you can simply throw your frozen cucumber into a delicious green smoothie. You could also add them to your favourite fruit smoothie… try this pineapple and avocado smoothie on for size.

Chilli and lime yoghurt dip – blend the cucumber slices with chilli and yogurt for a refreshing zesty dip. You could also add some cucumber slices to this avocado dip or this roasted beetroot and pistachio dip.

Lamb sandwich – cucumbers would make a great addition to this delicious sandwich.

You could also add them to an egg and cress sandwich or a hummus sandwich