Why You Should Leave The Skin On Your Cucumbers

Whether they're pickled, stir-fried, raw, or juiced, cucumbers are a delicious and nutritious vegetable. They brighten up salads, cool down hot foods, and, when pickled, add massive flavor to anything they're paired with. Some fruits and vegetables are necessary to peel, like hard winter squash, pineapple, banana, and mangoes, per The Spruce Eats, but what about cucumbers? Should we unwrap them like we do bananas or slice the skin off, similar to squash?

Fortunately, cucumber skin is safe to eat, according to WebMD. The site explains that while pesticides can be found on cucumber skin, it easily comes off when washed; cucumbers also have a natural wax on their skin. Purchasing organic cucumbers and washing them before consumption are two good ways to make sure you're getting only the good stuff and none of the bad. So next time you're considering peeling a cuke before use, you may want to reconsider.

Prevention explains that skin is nutritious and edible, and where most of the nutrients are! According to Healthline, cucumber skin has many great benefits, like antioxidants, boosting hydration, helping with digestion, and, of course, containing many nutrients. It also might lower blood sugar, and it's easy to prepare.

Livestrong goes further, pointing out that cucumber skin holds vitamins A, C, K, multiple types of B, and plenty of mineral content. Cucumbers are also low in calories, void of cholesterol, and contain essential minerals like potassium, magnesium, calcium, iron, zinc, and selenium. Furthermore, cucumber peel contains a ton of fiber, which helps with digestion.

So, it would seem that cucumber skin is, in fact, very good for you. If you still don't like the flavor or texture of the skin, try a recipe that brings in other powerful flavors like a Thai-smashed cucumber salad or some kimchi salad.