4.9 from 39 votes
How to Drain Cucumbers
This summer, stay cool as a cucumber with this easy technique for salting and draining cucumbers. All you need is a healthy pinch of salt and a little time, and you’re well on your way to the crunchiest, tastiest salad ever.
Prep Time
5 mins
Additional Time
1 hr
Total Time
1 hr 5 mins
Servings:
2
servings (1/2 cup each)
Calories:
18 kcal
Course:
Side Dish, Salad
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
- 1 cucumber sliced (see note 1)
- 1 teaspoon salt (see note 2)
Instructions
- Layer cucumber slices in the bottom of a colander, and sprinkle a generous pinch of salt over them.
- Place another layer of cucumbers over the first layer, and salt again. Continue layers until all cucumbers are salted.
- Let cucumbers sit for one hour with the colander over a bowl to catch liquid, or set the colander in your kitchen sink.
- Rinse the cucumbers well with cold water. Spread out on a clean kitchen towel or layers of paper towels and pat dry.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Store drained cucumbers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days (ideally in paper towels to keep the process going).
- Cucumbers: This recipe works for any cucumbers (standard, hothouse, Persian). Peel and/or seed cucumbers (if you plan to) before slicing and salting. Cucumbers can be sliced, halved and sliced, or cut into chunks before salting, depending on what your recipe calls for.
- Salt: Some recipes call for a blend of salt and sugar, and that works well too. Just rinse the cucumbers before patting dry.
- Yield: Your true yield will depend on the size and weight of whatever cucumbers you use. On average, 1 8-inch, 8-ounce cucumber will yield about 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 cups of sliced or diced cucumbers.
- Storage: Store drained cucumbers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days (ideally in paper towels to keep the process going).
Nutrition Information
Serving
0.5cup
Calories
18kcal
(1%)
Carbohydrates
3g
(1%)
Protein
1g
(2%)
Fat
1g
(2%)
Saturated Fat
1g
(5%)
Sodium
1166mg
(49%)
Potassium
204mg
(4%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
2g
(4%)
Vitamin A
108IU
(2%)
Vitamin C
5mg
(6%)
Calcium
21mg
(2%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 2 servings (1/2 cup each)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 18
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 0.5cup | |
| Calories | 18kcal | 1% |
| Carbohydrates | 3g | 1% |
| Protein | 1g | 2% |
| Fat | 1g | 2% |
| Saturated Fat | 1g | 5% |
| Sodium | 1166mg | 49% |
| Potassium | 204mg | 4% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 2g | 4% |
| Vitamin A | 108IU | 2% |
| Vitamin C | 5mg | 6% |
| Calcium | 21mg | 2% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.