What It Means If Your Sliced Cucumbers Are Slimy

We've all been there. You reach blindly into your veggie drawer, trying to find that cucumber you bought about a week ago you promised yourself you'd use but ... Oh, there it is! But it feels odd. The skin is soft and when you put it on the cutting board to start slicing, you notice that to your dawning horror your cucumber has developed some sort of slime. Why, though? You kept it in the vegetable drawer, and it hasn't been that long. You think to yourself, "My other fruits and vegetables don't develop this weird goo." And you'd be right.

According to UnlockFood.ca, cucumbers can last up to one week in the fridge, while heartier vegetables like carrots can last up to a month. The reason why cucumbers spoil so quickly is due to their super high water content, 96% to be more exact (via Crate & Basket). This makes them excellent to eat for hydration purposes, but on the downside, this makes them super perishable. So, does a slimy cucumber mean that it's time to toss the veggie out?

A slimy cucumber is without a doubt a sign that the veggie is past its prime, according to Reader's Digest. Cucumbers, like all vegetables, are easily perishable. One day they can smell, look, and feel totally fine, but after twenty-four more hours, it may be too late to enjoy them. Gardening with Allie says that storing cucumbers in the refrigerator might seem like a good idea at first, but because of how tightly packed they are with moisture already, the fridge will overwhelm them. The excess moisture from the fridge will cause cucumbers to rot very quickly.

You can tell when a cucumber has gone bad when you cut it open to find slime, and before you try to sneak to the sink to rinse it off, know that the slime isn't the actual issue, it is a symptom of an irreversible rotting process that began before you even thought to pull the veggie out of the fridge (via Eating Well). To stay safe and healthy, it's best to throw out slimy cucumbers.