How to cut cucumber for salad?

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There are four main types of cucumbers that you're likely to see in stores: slicing cucumbers, English cucumbers, Persian cucumbers (typically used for slicing) and Kirby cucumbers (typically used for pickling). This easy step-by-step guide will teach you how to cut a cucumber, whichever variety you have on hand.

Before you start slicing, you may want to peel the cucumber. Cucumber skin is edible, but some people prefer to remove it for textural or visual reasons. If the cucumber skin is waxy, you'll want to peel the cucumber. A vegetable peeler will quickly remove the skin with ease.

Whether you're slicing or dicing, start by cutting off the stem and root ends of the cucumber.

Close up of cutting a cucumber

Step 1: Slice the cucumber widthwise into rounds, adjusting the thickness of the cut depending on the desired size.

Close up of cutting a cucumber

Step 2 (optional): Cut the cucumber slices in half to make a half-moon shape. To speed this up, you can cut through a stack of three to four slices.

Close up of cutting a cucumber

Step 1: Slice the cucumber in half lengthwise.

Close up of cutting a cucumber

Step 2 (optional): Use the tip of a spoon to scrape out the seeds.

close up of scooping out the inside of half a cucumber

Step 3: Cut the halves in half lengthwise, so you have four total spears. You can cut the spears widthwise, depending on the desired length, to make smaller spears.

Close up of hands cutting a cucumber on a wood cutting board

If you wish, you can cut the cucumber spears again in half lengthwise, depending on the desired size. Following these steps, you can also dice a cucumber.

Step 1: After following Steps 1 through 3 above, line up the cucumber spears on a cutting board. Chop into bite-size pieces, adjusting the thickness of the cut depending on the desired size.

Close up of cutting cucumbers

1. 1

   Pick and wash the cucumbers. When selecting cucumbers, always choose firm darker colored cucumbers with no wrinkles or spongy spots. Some cucumbers at the store are waxed to prevent them from spoiling when they are out of season. The skins contain vitamin A, so try to buy unwaxed cucumbers, whose skin you can eat. Run unwaxed cucumbers under cold water and lightly scrub them.

   • If you have purchased waxed cucumbers, make sure to peel them and discard the skin.

2. 2

   Peel the cucumbers (optional). The skin of cucumbers is slightly tough and a little bitter, but it's perfectly fine to eat. If you prefer not to eat the skin, use a vegetable peeler to slice the skin off in shallow strips long ways all over the cucumber.

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1. 1

   Lay the cucumber horizontally onto your cutting board. There are many different ways to slice your cucumber for basic everyday slicing. Create cucumber medallions by slicing through the length of the cucumber to create cucumber medallions.

2. 2

   Hold your knife properly. Grip your knife handle with your middle, ring, and pinkie finger on the knife handle and your thumb and forefinger on the sides of the blade to steady your cut.[1] X Research source Go to source

   • Hold on to the cucumber with your opposite hand. Grip it lightly with your fingertips curled into it.

3. 3

   Make careful cuts. Start with the knife handle up and the knife point resting on the cucumber in the place where you want to make your first cut. Push the knife forward and down into each cut.

4. 4

   Slice your cucumber into whatever size and shape you desire. You can make cucumber sticks for a vegetable platter or chop up small pieces and toss them in a salad.

1. 1

   Hold your knife properly. Grip your knife handle with your middle, ring, and pinkie finger on the handle and your thumb and forefinger on the sides of the blade to steady your cut.[2] X Research source Go to source

   • Hold on to the cucumber with your opposite hand. Grip it lightly with your fingertips curled into it.

2. 2

   Take one of your squared off pieces and slice it length-wise. Try to slice each piece evenly and aim for a thickness of 1-2mm (1/16in). This will leave you with thin rectangular cuts. Begin each cut with the knife handle up and the tip down into the cucumber. Push the blade forward as you push it down to create your cuts.

   • Your hand position should allow the side of the knife blade to gently rest against the knuckles of your other hand as you hold the cucumber. Making this cut with confidence takes practice. If you are nervous, grip your cucumber further back from your knife blade.

3. 3

   Slice again. Take each thin slice and repeat the same technique.[3] X Research source Go to source Aim for dimensions of about 2mm X 2mm X 4cm (1/16in X 1/16in X 2in).

4. 4

   Slice using the Batonnet method (optional). The Batonnet method is a variation of the Julienne cut which produces thicker pieces.

   • Simply cut your pieces into 6 cm (2.5 inch) long pieces, then cut each of those pieces into 6mm (1/4th) thick slices. Stack those slices, then cut them lengthwise into 6mm (1/4th) wide sticks.[4] X Research source Go to source

5. 5

   Enjoy! Julienne cut cucumbers work great in a salad, on a vegetable platter, or rolled into a sushi roll.

1. 1

   Dice your cucumbers. Instead of slicing cucumber medallions, you can dice your cucumber by cutting it in half longways, and then cutting it in half longways again. Line the halves up horizontally on your cutting board and slice through the length of your cucumber to dice it.

2. 2

   Dice cucumbers with the Brunoise Dice. Dicing your cucumbers adds just one step to the Julienne cut you have already done. Take your julienne cuts and bunch them up with your hand. Then cut the julienne into equally shaped dice. That's it!

   • Aim for dimensions of about 2mm X 2mm X 2mm (1/16 in X 1/16 in X 1/16 in).
   • You can also dice your cucumbers into thicker pieces if you prefer.

3. 3

   Dice the Batonnet cut. If you'd like to produce cubes, you can use what’s called the Medium dice to cut your Batonnet pieces.[5] X Research source Go to source Hold each piece and cut cubes of about 6mm X 6mm X 6mm (1/4 in X 1/4 in X 1/4 in)

   • Aim to get your pieces as even as possible.

4. 4

   Slice and dice with the paysanne cut. If you would like smaller thinner cubes, slice each cube into about 12mm X 12mm X 3mm (1/2 in X 1/2 in X 1/8 in) squares from one side of the cube to the other.[6] X Research source Go to source

5. 5

   Spiral cut your cucumbers. Use a sharp knife or vegetable peeler (recommended if you don't have experience in spiral cutting cucumbers) and begin peeling at one side in a circular motion. You should be creating a very thin peel. Continue until you have reached the end of your cucumber.

   • Be careful with the knife or vegetable peeler, always cut away from your hands and fingers.
   • Try to keep the shaving intact, but it's okay if it breaks off too.
   • If you'd like, you can use a knife or apple corer to take the seeds out before you begin peeling.
   • Spiral cut cucumbers are a fun way to garnish a salad. You can even dress spiral cut cucumbers with a light dressing and a little bit of pepper for a creative salad. Put spiral cut cucumbers on a sandwich or burger for a twist.

6. 6

   Enjoy! Sliced and diced cucumbers make a great addition to salads or sprinkled on top of dishes. Bring a professional look to your dishes with these slicing and dicing methods.

• Question

  If I'm making a recipe that asks me to cut the cucumber into "cuts" for a drink, would I just chop it up?

  If you're blending the drink, I would chop the cucumber up into small pieces. If you're using it as a garnish, then I would cut it into slices.

• Question

  How do I know if a cucumber is rotten?

  It's slimy, blackened, or has visible mold.

• Question

  How do I cut cucumbers into shapes?

  You can cut foods into shapes with cookie cutters or by free-handing it with a knife.

This article was co-authored by wikiHow Staff. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. This article has been viewed 203,459 times.

Co-authors: 12

Updated: November 5, 2021

Views: 203,459

Article Rating: 83% - 6 votes

Categories: Fruits and Vegetables

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