4 Sure shot ways to reduce bitterness of cucumbers | The Times of India (2024)

Cucumbers are undeniably one of the most nutritious yet hydrating vegetables. The subtle taste and crunchy texture of this vegetable can instantly amp up the taste and experience of salads, smoothies, juices and what not! But how you cut this vegetable can make or break the taste of cucumber. This is because of compounds like Cucurbitacin in cucumber, which may turn bitter and ruin the taste. Here are some smart ways to reduce bitterness by following these simple steps given below.

Right after washing the cucumbers properly remove the outer skin using a peeler and wash it again to remove stickiness. Eating cucumber with its peel can often turn the vegetable bitter.

Adding salt and rubbing the ends of cucumber can also help in removing the bitterness and revive the subtle taste and texture.

In some cases, even after removing the peel of cucumber it tastes bitter. Well, it is important to scoop out the seeds as they may also contain compounds that can turn cucumber bitter and spoil the taste.

Another traditional way of dealing with this bitterness is by salting cucumber slices or chunks and letting them sit for about 10-15 minutes, this helps in absorbing the bitter compounds. Then rinse the cucumbers thoroughly under cold running water to remove the salt and enjoy.