Are mini cucumbers the same as pickling cucumbers?

Gardeners who desire a mini-cucumber for pickling should plant pickling cucumbers, then harvest them when they have reached the desired size. The main difference between pickling and regular cucumbers is in the skin. Pickling cucumbers have thinner skin than that of standard cukes, and it tends to be less bitter.

Can I use Mini Cucumbers for pickling?

The summer baby cucumbers are out; but with summer heat will turn them to giant cukes almost right before your eyes. These tiny cucumbers, about 2 to 4 inches long and very narrow, are the best for the simple method of cold pickling.

What type of cucumbers are Mini Cucumbers?

While you may think that Mini Cucumbers are the smallest variety of Cucumber, the smallest is actually the Cocktail Cucumber! Mini Cucumbers typically grow to be 4-6 inches long, while Cocktail Cucumbers are half that size, measuring in at around 2 ½ inches long.

Are Mini Cucumbers just baby cucumbers?

What Makes These Cucumbers Miniature? So, you might wonder, what exactly miniature cucumber varieties are. Well, these particular varieties are not just large cucumber varieties picked early in their development. Instead, they're varieties whose fruits maintain a miniature stature, even when the fruits are mature.

What cucumbers to use for pickling?

What kind of cucumbers to use? Kirby cucumbers, which are small with bumpy skin, are the more popular choice for pickling. I prefer Persian cucumbers, which are smaller and have thin skin. If those are not available, I use English cucumbers (again, thin skin that is not waxy).

A Few Key Things to Know About Pickles

How do you tell a pickling cucumber from a regular cucumber?

Pickling cucumbers are shorter and bigger around than slicing cucumbers. They are bred to have thinner skins and black spines so the pickled product will look better. Pickling varieties can be eaten fresh and slicing varieties can be pickled, but the differences can be discerned by the average consumer.

What do pickling cucumbers look like?

Pickling cucumbers are short with graduating hues of dark green at the stem to light green at the blossom end.

What is the difference between mini cucumbers and regular cucumbers?

These varieties exist within two categories – Long English Cucumbers and Mini Cucumbers. Long English Cucumbers are considered the classic Cucumber, whereas Mini Cucumbers look the same as Long English – just in a miniature, snackable form!

Can you eat mini cucumbers?

Of course, mini cucumbers have their place in the kitchen as well. Try a green salad with lettuce, cucumbers, and avocado tossed with a sesame vinaigrette. Or cut them into a chicken, shrimp, or tuna salad (instant crunch). Or slice them into sticks and eat with hummus or yogurt dip.

Can you eat mini cucumbers raw?

Eat them as an on-the-go snack, chop them up for a light salad, or slice up and dip them in your favorite spreads – it's hard to beat the refreshing crunch of a raw Cucumber.

Do grocery stores carry pickling cucumbers?

Pickling cucumbers are found in the condiment, spice & bake aisle. Yes, these mini cucumbers are ripe and ready for peruse. Yes, you can order them online from the comfort of your couch.

Why are mini cucumbers so good?

Did you know cucumbers are approximately 95% water, which makes you wonder: are they good for you? The short answer: Yes! Although nutrient levels are lower due to the high water percentage, mini cucumbers offer potassium, beta carotene, and vitamin K, and several phytochemicals with promising health benefits.

How do you clean mini cucumbers?

Use your hands on delicate items like strawberries and grapes and a brush on firmer produce like melons and cucumbers. You don't even need to buy a fancy brush; I just keep a second dishwashing brush that's used only for scrubbing produce.

Should you refrigerate mini cucumbers?

Even though cucumbers are prone to chilling injury, the fridge is still the best place to store them. At room temperature, cucumbers will only last for about two days. So, what's the solution? Store cucumbers in the warmest part of the fridge — towards the front, furthest from the cooling elements.

What is the best cucumber for dill pickles?

Kirby cucumbers are the classic pickling cucumber — they hold up better than English cucumbers during pickling, remaining firm and crunchy instead of becoming overly soft.

How big should pickling cucumbers be?

Pickling cucumbers are a short, blocky fruit with firm flesh. Most varieties make crispy, firm dill pickles when picked at approximately four inches in length (Figure 1).

Can you eat pickling cucumbers without pickling?

Kirby (or Pickling) Cucumbers: Short, oftentimes bumpy, these vary in color from yellow to dark green. They are good to eat raw, but they're especially ideal for pickling. Persian Cucumbers: Similar to English Cucumbers, these are mild in taste. Sometimes bumpy, and with thin skins, they are ideal for eating raw.

Are salad cucumbers pickling cucumbers?

All varieties of cucumbers can theoretically be used as salad cucumbers, also known as slicing cucumbers, or as pickling cucumbers. However, some varieties are much better suited for one type of preparation than the other.

What's the difference between salad cucumbers and pickling cucumbers?

So if slicing cucumbers are the long, thick-skinned cucumbers, what are pickling cucumbers? Those are the shorter, stouter types with more spines, as well as drier flesh that allows them to soak up more of the brine they're pickled in.

Can I use salad cucumbers to make pickles?

They are cucumbers especially suited to making pickles as their skins are especially tender. Grow them or buy them as they will give you the best results for your pickling efforts. Salad cukes are very much darker than pickling cukes.

Is the wax on cucumbers safe to eat?

Wax is most often applied to apples, cucumbers, lemons, limes, oranges, other citrus fruit, bell peppers, eggplant and potatoes, although other types of produce also could be coated. Since the coating is perfectly edible, there's no need to worry about removing it before eating.

Why would you milk a cucumber?

“Milking the cucumber actually brings out the bitterness leaving the cucumber with a fresh, clean taste,” Perkins explained to TODAY via email. But be prepared to see varying degrees of “milk” coming out of your cucumber, depending on what type it is.

Why do they put wax on cucumbers?

The waxes sometimes contain fungicides to prevent spoilage, so add another layer of chemicals to the mix. Plus, the later they add them the more you get to eat them because they won't have time to dissipate before you consume them.

Are mini cucumbers gherkins?

A gherkin is a pickled baby cucumber. The name “gherkin” comes from the Dutch word “gurken,” which means small pickled cucumber. Gherkins, also known as baby pickles or miniature cucumbers, are usually one to two inches long.

Are pickling cucumbers still available?

Seasons/Availability

Pickling cucumbers are available year-round with peak season in the summer.