The plastic wrap around cucumbers serves a number of purposes
Cucumbers are a popular addition to numerous salads and sandwiches. When purchased from the supermarket, they arrive wrapped in plastic.
The plastic covering around the cucumber is frequently assumed to be there for hygiene purposes. As many of us try to reduce our plastic consumption, I approached experts to understand why cucumbers are sold in plastic and what their true purpose is.
Ann Cooper from Southampton bakery Wonderberrys incorporates cucumber into their afternoon tea sandwiches. She explained: “People often assume the plastic wrap on cucumbers is just about cleanliness, but we’ve seen first-hand at Wonderberrys why it’s really there.
“While we mostly focus on cakes and sweet treats, our takeaway afternoon tea offerings rely heavily on fresh cucumber sandwiches. The wrap helps to retain optimum quality by stopping the cucumber from drying out.”
Content creator and Slow Cooker Meals founder Ryan Allen concurred that the plastic covering is entirely about preserving freshness. He stated: “Unlike regular field cucumbers, English cucumbers have thin, tender skin.”, reports the Mirror.
“Rapid dehydration no doubt comes from the fact that [it has] thin skin. With the plastic wrap, though, moisture loss is cut to almost nothing, and freshness is retained for up to a week.”
Ryan suggested the plastic wrapping can help prevent cucumbers from bruising and even reduce food waste. He noted: “Thin-skinned cucumbers mark easily during transport.
“But the plastic, by serving as a thin protective barrier, still blocks much of the wear, keeping the products looking better, cleaner, newer on the shelf.”
He explained: “If wrapping keeps food from spoiling, then the net environmental impact can be lower than selling items unwrapped and throwing more away.”
Cucumbers wrapped in plastic do remain fresh for longer than those without wrapping. Consumer website Which? has been reported that cucumbers in plastic stay fresh for approximately 14 days, whilst unwrapped ones last just five.
Cucumbers should be stored in the fridge, preferably in the crisper drawer.
They require the plastic wrap to maintain their moisture levels and stop them from drying out.
The plastic is said to function as a second skin, preventing dehydration. Whilst in shops, the plastic wrap helps shield the cucumber’s skin from damage.