From an easy snack to the superstar of salads and side dishes, cucumbers are a versatile vegetable for cooking, especially in the summer. They add crunch, color, and a cooling bite to so many dishes. But there’s one problem. Cucumbers tend to have a high moisture content, which means that they can quickly become soggy and water down other ingredients that they’re tossed with.
Some of Ree’s favorite cucumber recipes like Cucumber Tomato Salad with Creamy Herb Dressing, Tomato Cucumber Feta Salad, and Cucumber Salad would suffer from water-logged cukes. But don’t fret! There are a few easy things you can do to keep cucumbers from getting watery in salad. Ahead, learn how to drain cucumbers to keep them for salad and more.
How to Drain Cucumbers for Salad
Because cucumbers have a high water content, they can quickly become soggy and cause all of the other vegetables that they’re mixed with to turn watery too. Watery cucumbers not only have an unappealing texture, but they can also dilute the flavor of other ingredients—including salad dressing. The solution? Salting the cucumbers before you cook with them!
If you’ve ever made eggplant parmesan before, then you know that the first—and arguably most important step—is salting the eggplant. This draws the moisture out so that the eggplant gets tender and crispy once fried or baked rather than soggy. The salt helps to draw out the moisture from the vegetable through a process known as osmosis. The same method can be applied to cucumbers so that they stay crunchy in salads and other cold side dishes.
Thinly slice or dice a cucumber or two and lay out the pieces in a single layer on a wire rack or a paper towel-lined plate. Sprinkle with salt and allow them to rest for about 30 minutes. Rinse briefly with cold water and pat dry. Once you've drained the cucumbers, you can use them to make this Greek pasta salad, toss them for tabbouleh, or layer them on a sandwich.
How to Drain Cucumbers for Tzatziki
It's not tzatziki without grated cucumbers! This Greek dip is made with Greek yogurt, olive oil, the zest and juice of a lemon, tons of fresh herbs, salt, and pepper. Its creamy, dreamy texture is perfect for dipping pita or crudité, or drizzling over a rice bowl.
Tzatziki is typically made with grated cucumbers, which add a brightness and sweetness to the sauce—but if you don't drain them properly, they may cause the dip to become too watery. If you're in a pinch, you can simply squeeze the grated cucumbers through a piece of cheesecloth or a paper towel to remove the excess water. Otherwise, you'll have even better results if you salt the grated cucumbers, allow it to sit for 15 to 30 minutes, then rinse and squeeze.
How to Remove Water from Cucumbers Without Salt
If you don’t want to salt the cucumbers, there’s another solution—removing the seeds! The small seeds at the center of a cucumber hold most of the water, so by cutting them out and discarding, you’ll also help prevent them from turning soggy. Use a small spoon, melon baller, or paring knife to deseed the cucumbers, discard (or compost!) the seeds, then proceed with your recipe.
