Continental (or telegraph) cucumbers are the bane of my existence. Every time I pass them in a grocery store, I see red. It’s not the cucumber itself, but rather what it’s wrapped in: a skin of plastic.
I loathe any fruits and vegies that are packaged in plastic. Of course, I do understand the need to group vegies together for easier selling, such as a bag of potatoes, but I will always try to opt for plastic-free wherever I can.
And because of the plastic wrap on continental cucumbers, I tend to always choose the more expensive Lebanese cucumbers (although I could argue that they also taste superior).
Since I’d love to cut down on my grocery bill, I delved into the world of Aussie cucumbers, hoping to get some insight into why, why, why this vegetable should need more protection than any other.
And, after speaking to grocery expert Thanh the Fruit Nerd, I’ve got a little more sympathy for the humble continental cucumber. According to Thanh, continental cucumbers are just a little more sensitive than other vegies.
The purpose of plastic wrapping on continental cucumbers
Thanh explains that the wrapping on telegraph cucumbers is “due to ‘transpiration’ or weight loss of water over time from the produce.”
You know when you cut a continental cucumber in half and leave the exposed end in the fridge, it gets all wrinkly, dry and floppy? That’s transpiration.
The plastic wrap on these long cucs is necessary to protect their very thin skin, especially when being transported and placed in high air-conditioned environments, like supermarkets.
Thanh explains the maths behind why shrink-wrapping is necessary for telegraph cucumbers:
“Given they need to be transported between 1-3 days to get from farm to shop, then on the shelf for another 1-2 days, then go to someone’s fridge for anywhere from 1-4 days. You’re looking at 3-12 days before someone consumes the cucumber.
After 1 day, a cucumber could lose 3% of its weight. After 3 days, it can lose 10% of its weight. And basically, beyond 5 days it starts to “generally speaking” be very floppy and undesirable to eat.”
TDLR; Continental cucumbers are delicate little vegies, and need extra protection so they don’t get bruised or go floppy from water weight loss.
For homegrown telegraph cucumbers
If you’re a cuc gardener, then there’s a golden rule that you should always follow, according to The Fruit Nerd.
Thanh’s tip is to only pick the day you want to eat your cucumber. This will cut down on any possible transpiration that may occur.
What is the difference between telegraph cucumbers and Lebanese cucumbers?
Continental cucumbers are longer and typically sweeter than Lebanese cucumbers. Lebanese cucumbers usually have a darker green skin and a more crisp texture. If anything, you’ll always be able to tell them apart at the supermarket, one will be all wrapped up in plastic!
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