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Japanese Cucumbers Delivery or Pickup
The Instacart guide to Japanese cucumbers
About Japanese cucumbers
Japanese cucumbers are similar to English cucumbers but have a few important differences. They are long with a slender cylindrical shape, and can grow up to 18 inches in length, but the cucumbers you'll find in the store are usually between 8 and 10 inches. Japanese cucumbers are also burpless, which means they have little or no cucurbitacin and are less bitter than cucumbers that are not burpless.
They have a thin skin with a dark, forest green color, and the outside is prickly when first picked. Inside, there are very few seeds, and the flesh is crisp with melon-like flavors. Japanese cucumbers contain 96% water, and the inside can be up to 20 degrees cooler than the skin on the outside. They are loaded with important nutrients such as vitamins K, C, and A and have folic acid and potassium.
Ready to try shiozuke yourself, or do you have simpler ideas? No matter what you need Japanese cucumbers for, use Instacart to shop for exactly what you need and enjoy the ease and convenience of having them delivered right to your door!
How to pick out Japanese cucumbers
When you pick out Japanese cucumbers, look for firm ones with dark green skin. Check the skin to make sure it doesn't have any blemishes or soft spots. If they have soft spots, it could mean they have started to rot. Stay away from large cucumbers, which will have more seeds and a slightly different flavor from the smaller ones.
Preparing Japanese cucumbers
The Japanese cucumber is a popular ingredient in Japanese cooking. It's often sliced and used in salads or served with bento, sushi, gazpacho, and sashimi. These also make wonderful pickling cucumbers and are sometimes served as a palate cleanser.
The best easy way to serve Japanese cucumbers is sliced and raw in salads or on a sandwich. They are known as a cooling ingredient and are used to contrast spicy foods. Along with spicy dishes, these cucumbers pair well with citrus, tomatoes, raw seafood, rice, and a variety of cured and smoked fish.
A traditional Japanese pickling method for these cucumbers is called shiozuke, or salt pickling. The cucumbers are sliced, layered, covered in salt, and then pressed overnight to remove the water. The salt works to collapse the cell walls of the cucumber, which helps to concentrate the flavor. Since there is no vinegar in this preparation, you won't get the tang of a traditional pickle, but it has a fresh and salty flavor that pairs well with umami-rich Japanese foods.
Sunomono is another type of Japanese cucumber salad that uses this delicious variety. Sunomono is a vinegar-based dish and is often served as a side to the main meal. It uses a simple combination of rice vinegar, sugar, kosher salt, and soy sauce. For added texture, you can layer some dried wakame seaweed and toasted white sesame seeds. Serve it with grilled fish or meat or as a start to any meal.
If you don't want to take the time to make a salad, just slice these cucumbers up into large sticks and dip them in a miso-based dip. The miso adds a saltiness to the cool cucumber, and the two make a perfect combination.
Japanese Cucumbers Near Me
Buy your favorite Japanese Cucumbers online with Instacart. Order Japanese Cucumbers from local and national retailers near you and enjoy on-demand, contactless delivery or pickup within 2 hours.
FAQs about Japanese cucumbers
If you can't find Japanese cucumbers, look for a variety that has a firm texture and few seeds. A good choice is the Persian cucumber, but English cucumbers are also usable. These look similar to Japanese cucumbers and often come wrapped tightly in thin plastic. English cucumbers have more seeds than the Japanese version, and they work well in cucumber salads and sliced in tossed salads. The seeds are edible, but depending on the dish, you might want to remove them with a spoon.
Japanese cucumbers will last for several days in the refrigerator as long as they are wrapped in a paper towel and then put in a plastic bag. Make sure to keep them away from other fruits such as melon or bananas. Japanese cucumbers, just like other cucumbers, are highly sensitive to the ethylene in these fruits, which speeds up the deterioration and causes them to turn yellow and lose their flavor.
Make sure to dry your Japanese cucumbers thoroughly before storing them. If there is excess water on the skin, it will encourage spoiling. If stored properly, they will last for about a week without being cut. Once cut, make sure to wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and use it within a couple of days.
Shop using the Instacart app to fill your cart with Japanese cucumbers and all the other ingredients you need to make cucumber salad and the rest of your meal. Have it all delivered right to your door in as little as 2 hours!