German Cucumber Salad Recipe - Gurkensalat (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep cucumber salad from getting soggy? ›

Salt: The secret to the best cucumber salad is to salt your cucumbers. The salt makes the cucumbers taste better and removes excess water, diluting the dressing. I use sea salt, but any salt will do. Vinegar: I love apple cider vinegar in this dressing, but distilled or white wine vinegar also works nicely.

Emergence of Gurkensalat: The specific dish known as Gurkensalat, or cucumber salad, likely developed in Germany and other parts of Central Europe. Cucumber salads gained popularity in the 18th and 19th centuries as a refreshing Side Dish, particularly during the warm summer months.

Persian Cucumbers

They have a mild flavor and thin skins, so they're great sliced or chopped for salads and snacking, or even tossed in the blender to make a Spicy Cucumber Margarita. And because they're available year-round, Persian cukes are another good choice for pickling.

As the cucumbers release their moisture, you may find that there are a few bubbles in your salad as well. Don't worry, that is totally normal.

One of the best ways to prevent spoilage is with proper storage. Ideally, store cucumbers in the crisper drawer in the fridge. They should be kept between 50°F to 54°F and about 90% to 95% humidity.

I put the sliced cucumbers into a bowl filled with heavily salted ice water and let it stand for about 1/2 hour. Then I rinse the slices in a colander with cold water, making sure all the salt is rinsed off. Then I pat all the slices dry with paper towels (plain white ones).

It may be an old wives' tale, but rubbing pieces of cucumber together is said to pull some of the cucurbitacin to the surface. You can also salt your cucumbers to help even out the taste. Salted cucumbers have been my favorite snack since I was a little girl.

Striped Armenian is one of the sweetest cucumbers. It has small seeds and thin skin. Though it looks like a cucumber, it is actually a melon—a species of Cucumis.

1 consists of cucumbers which are fairly well colored, fairly well formed, not overgrown, and which are fresh, firm, and free from decay, sunscald and from damage caused by scars, yellowing, sunburn, dirt or other foreign materials, freezing, mosaic or other disease, insects, cuts, bruises, mechanical or other means.

Taste Test: Fresh cucumber salad will taste fresh and delightful. A sour or unpleasant taste is a red flag. Check the Storage Duration: Cucumber salad is at its optimum within 3-4 days of being stored in the refrigerator. After four days, it is best to toss the cucumber salad.

Why are my cucumbers slimy in my salad? ›

Why Are My Cucumbers Slimy? The light-white or clear coating of slime you may find on your cucumbers is a sign that the rotting process has begun, and it's just matter of time before they totally spoil.

Simply put, that slimy white film is a sign of spoilage. When cucumbers become mushy or slimy on the outside, it's an indicator that they're starting to go bad — which can happen sooner than later when not stored properly.

While it's safe to store cucumbers on the counter in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, this method cuts the cucumber's lifespan to two days. "It's best to place them in a breathable bag or wrap them loosely in a paper towel to absorb any excess moisture," says Carla L. Schwan, Ph.

Avoid soggy salads by assembling them the right way.

The fix: Try prepping salads in a mason jar. Put the wet ingredients on the bottom and the dryer ingredients on the top to keep them separated.