Why cucumbers are bitter

While you do this, a white foam-like substance will emerge from the inside of the cucumber. This is the cucuritacin, which causes bitterness in it. Repeat the process on the other end by cutting the edge of the stem.

Once you are done, wash the cucumber with water. You can definitely feel the difference. The salting technique is not very popular; however, it is believed that it works wonders. Cut the cucumber into two halves lengthwise. Sprinkle some salt on both the halves from where they were cut open and rub them against each other. You will see the white foamy substance appearing on both the halves.

Repeat the procedure two-three times before washing it off with water. Cucumbers are members of the cucurbit Cucurbitaceae along with marrows, courgettes squash and pumpkins. To protect the plant from being eaten this family produce a very bitter tasting chemical called cucurbitacin which is usually limited to stems and leaves.

Oddly and unusually, I have a cat that loves the taste of cucurbitacin and eats the leaves given a chance. Sometimes the cucurbitacin gets into the fruit making the cucumber inedible. It can be limited to the ends or one end of the cucumber or the whole of the fruit may be affected. Older greenhouse cucumbers often produced bitter cucumbers because the plants had both male and female flowers. Pollinated female flowers produced the bitter cucumber fruits so with those old varieties the male flowers had to be removed.

Just missing one or two male flowers could be enough to spoil a flush of fruit. To identify which sex the flowers are look for a tiny fruit behind the flower. This shows the flower is female as the males lack this immature cucumber. And as soon as you notice a bitter cucumber, take the precautions above to ensure the rest of your harvest doesn't suffer the same fate. Slicing off the stem end and peeling from the blossom end of a cucumber can curtail the bitter taste.

Cucumber Bitterness Explained. Oregon State University Extension. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content.

Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. My thoughts are to cut it down and remove it, spray it with something, cut back the affected areas or just wait it out.

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