Cucumbers are a favorite summer vegetable for freshness and coolness. However, it often happens that cucumbers are bitter. Unfortunately, there are no radical methods to help get rid of bitterness, but still do not rush to throw away bitter cucumbers.
Why cucumbers are bitter
Cucumbers belong to the pumpkin family, like melons and watermelons. These plants produce a substance called cucurbitacin, which tastes very bitter and can harm humans in large quantities. In most cases, this substance is distributed in the leaves, but sometimes it also enters the fruit, causing a characteristic bitterness. There are several reasons for this.
European breeders have developed varieties of cucumbers that will never be bitter: a special gene interferes with the production of cucurbitacin.
One of the most common reasons is high air temperature. If the plants suffer from the heat, then the fruits become bitter.
The second reason is irregular watering. If cucumbers go through a prolonged drought, followed by abundant watering, then such stress causes the formation of bitterness in the fruits.
The third reason is independent of the person. These are temperature changes over a short period of time.
And finally, heredity. Unfortunately, for some inexplicable reason, some plants carry a gene for the bitter taste of cucumbers. The gene is already embedded in the seeds, so no amount of care and regular watering can rid the fruit of bitterness. Such plants are doomed.
Cucurbitacin is afraid of water. Try soaking bitter cucumbers for a few hours. Perhaps the bitterness will go away.
What to do if the cucumbers are bitter
If you are growing your own cucumbers, learn to identify the cause from those listed earlier. It is recommended that you water your cucumbers with warm water and avoid watering in cool weather. During cold periods it is necessary to cover the plants. Cucumbers need feeding. It is also necessary to adjust the light and thermal conditions. Provide your plants with regular care and protection from the heat. If, despite your best efforts, the cucumbers still taste bitter, get rid of the plant.
When it comes to eating, even bitter cucumbers can be put to good use. Firstly, sometimes only the peel is bitter, which can be cut off, and the pulp can be used in salads. In addition, cucurbitacin is neutralized by heat treatment. Therefore, even from bitter cucumbers, you can cook twists for the winter by boiling them a little and pouring them with hot marinade. And although it is impossible to eat bitter cucumbers, cucurbitacin does not harm health, but on the contrary is useful, as it promotes good digestion and even prevents the development of cancer.
