FOOD FACTS

Buying and Storing

Ripe Ontario greenhouse cucumbers should be long, thin and firm. They are individually sealed in plastic to protect their delicate dark green exterior and help retain their natural moisture. Their exterior color should be a deep vivid green and they should feel heavy for their size. Greenhouse cucumbers can be stored in their original plastic at cool room temperature, or in the refrigerator crisper.

Preparation

Greenhouse cucumbers need not be peeled, and there are no seeds to remove. The skin contains most of the nutrients. Cucumbers are almost always eaten raw, by themselves, in salads or as a sandwich vegetable. They can be gently steeped in butter, stock or even cream, or cut in half, lengthwise, poached and filled with a savory mixture of rice and herbs. Greenhouse cucumbers can be salted if desired.