What to Do With Extra Cucumbers (35 Ways to Use Surplus Cucumbers)

Last Updated on July 19, 2024

Got a giant harvest of cucumbers? Here are more than 35 ways to use them! Find out about all the unexpected ways you can use up those surplus cucumbers and dig into summer.

Even if you love cucumbers, sometimes cucumber vines produce waaaaay more than you can use, even if you’re a big cucumber fan. If you find yourself with extra cucumbers this season, try some of these creative uses for cucumbers so they don’t go to waste.

WHAT TO DO WITH EXTRA CUCUMBERS

When those first cukes start rolling in, enjoy as many as you can on their own. A little sprinkling of seasoned salt on top, and you’ve got a terrific low-calorie, hydrating snack.

Or use them in place of chips or crackers and enjoy your favorite dip. This easy Greek yogurt dip is packed with protein as well as another serving of veggies.

If you love sushi, you might enjoy dipping cucumber slices in soy sauce, or making simple handrolls filled with cucumber. We sometimes just place sliced cucumber and avocado in nori sheets and dip them to get a quick fix without the production of rolling our own sushi. It’s a great way to skip all the carbs in rice and get a big serving of veggies.

After you’ve snacked on cucumbers, tossed them in salads, and dipped them in hummus more than you might care to, it’s time to get creative with the rest of those cucumbers so these delicious seasonal veggies don’t go to waste!

Even if you’re pretty into preserving herbs and other fresh garden produce, like tomatoes or dried apples, most people don’t think about preserving cucumbers unless it’s making pickles.

But you have plenty of options beyond pickles when faced with a boatload of cucumbers, from crunchy chips to frozen cubes you can add to your favorite healthy smoothie recipes all year long.

Cucumbers can be used to make refreshing chilled soups, or you can cook cucumbers in a number of other ways.

Some things you can make with cucumbers:

• Salads: Cucumbers make a delicious base for crunchy salads
• Soups: Chilled cucumber soup on a hot day? Yes, please!
• Snacks: Cucumbers can be used as low-cal crackers and topped with cheese and herbs. They can also be used to make flavorful roll-ups
• Sandwiches: Whether a traditional cucumber sandwich with bread, or sliced cucumber used instead of bread, crunchy cukes are a terrific sandwich fixing.
• Stir fries: Yes, you can cook cucumbers!
• Drinks: From simple cucumber water to juice to fancy cocktails, cucumbers make wonderful cooling additionsl to beverages
• Desserts: Cucumber sorbet is a perfect dessert on a hot summer evening

There are so many delicious ways to use surplus cucumbers besides pickles! Check out these creative and tasty cucumber recipes and make the most of this terrific seasonal ingredient.

And if you have a sunburn, know that those extra cukes can come in handy as a natural sunburn remedy!

CREATIVE WAYS TO USE EXTRA CUCUMBERS

With so many possible uses for extra cucumbers, you’ll have no trouble finding some delicious ways to gobble up all those cukes. Check out the 35 cucumber recipes below for inspiration!

SALADS

Cucumbers can be much more than an afterthought atop a green salad! Make cucumbers the star and get creative with flavorful ingredients. Have fun experimenting with all the different ways you can use extra cucumbers with the mouthwatering cucumber salad recipes below.

This gorgeous spiralized Greek cucumber salad from Haute and Healthy Living is bursting with flavor.

Crunchy cucumber salad takes on Asian flavors with chopped peanuts, soy sauce, and sesame oil in this mouthwatering Asian cucumber salad from Nuts & Twigs

Or try this variation on Asian cucumber salad from Greedy Gourmet.

Add some spice to your cucumber salad with this oi muchim (Korean spicy cucumber salad) from Street Smart Nutrition.

Make your cucumber salad a meal by adding some protein, like this delicious tofu salad with cucumber from Delightful Plate.

Cucumber salad with miso dressing from The Forked Spoon is a light but satisfying salad with Japanese flavors.

This simple cucumber salad with lime vinaigrette from Live Simply has a wonderful mix of flavors and textures, plus protein from chickpeas and feta.

CUCUMBER SOUPS

Whether in a traditional gazpacho or a creamy cucumber soup, you can use up a good number of cucumbers to make plenty of delicious soup.

This simple chilled cucumber soup from 3 Boys and a Dog is like summertime in a bowl.

A traditional dish for hot nights, Tarator is an Albanian cucumber soup rich in protein and probiotics from its Greek yogurt base.

This unusual twist on gazpacho from Momcrieff includes pineapple for an extra-refreshing cold soup.

CUCUMBER DIPS & CONDIMENTS

Cucumbers are fantastic for making dips for chips or bread. Check out the flavorful options below:

Cucumber pico de gallo from Plant Based on a Budget bursts with flavor!

This fresh cucumber salsa features loads of crunchy cucumbers, making it a fantastic way to get in a big serving of healthy summer produce!

Use up a ton of extra cucumbers in a sweet pickle relish from Binky’s Culinary Carnival.

Persian cucumber yogurt dip (mast-o khiar) from Urban Farm and Kitchen has an intriguing mix of flavors and works as filling dip for bread or as a side dish.

Dosakaya pachadi is a spicy cucumber chutney from My Good Food World.

This delicious tzatziki dip from Rich and Delish is packed with protein, flavor, and of course cucumbers!

COOL CUCUMBER BEVERAGES

Like mint water, cucumber water is such a refreshing way to stay hydrated in summer’s heat. Ideal for hot summer days, this easy cucumber water from Two Healthy Kitchens is a great way to hydrate any time of year!

You can mix up your cucumber with other ingredients as well. Try this cucumber lemon ginger water from We Eat At Last.

Cucumber juice is a refreshing drink you can make with just two ingredients in this easy recipe from Clean Eating Kitchen.

All Natural Vegan adds apples, ginger, mint and lemon to make this gorgeous cucumber mint juice.

Cucumber lemonade from Plant Based on a Budget adds a cucumber twist to plain ol’ lemonade.

First Watch kale tonic from Healy Eats Real packs a lot of nutrition into a tasty green drink with cucumbers, kale, apples, and lemon.

Good Grief Cook makes a sparkling emerald Palmer, a refreshing mocktail with cucumber, mint, citrus, and matcha.

This spicy green springtime smoothie from Refresh My Health is packed with veggies and antioxidant-rich spices.

CUCUMBER SNACKS & APPS

Sliced cucumbers work beautifully in place of crackers. Check out these adorable Mediterranean cucumber bites from Naturallie Plant Based.

If you slice cucumbers the long way, you can make these cool cucumber roll ups from Picnic Lifestyle

Cucumbers add wonderful crunch to any sandwich, or you can make cucumbers the star of the sandwich in tasty cucumber sandwiches.

These feta cucumber crostini from Mediterranean Latin Love Affair make an easy appetizer or snack.

Low-carb cukes replace bread in flavorful banh mi cucumber subs from Get Inspired Everyday.

CUCUMBER ENTREES

Cucumbers are delicious in sushi rolls on their own, or with other favorite sushi ingredients like avocado or shrimp. Asparagus and cooked snow peas work well, too. Learn how to roll your own with this tutorial on making cucumber and avocado sushi recipe from Nut Free Wok.

Most people don’t realize you can cook cucumbers. Here’s a yummy vegan cucumber stirfry to try from My Quiet Kitchen.

CUCUMBER DESSERTS

While cucumbers aren’t the first thing that spring to mind when most people think of dessert, in fact cucumbers can be used to make ice cream, cake, and more.

Try a refreshing cucumber sorbet from Binky’s Culinary Carnival.

Veggie Desserts uses cucumbers in this delectable lemon cucumber cake.

CUCUMBER PICKLE RECIPES

And of course, there’s always that cucumber standby, pickles! Whether lacto-fermented or pickled in vinegar, cucumber pickles are always a winner.

Lacto fermented half sour pickles from Crave the Good are brimming with probiotics, awesome for supporting gut health.

Or make a traditional refrigerator dill pickle from Know Your Produce.

Spice up your pickles with this recipe for delicious spicy cucumber pickles from It’s Not Complicated.

PRESERVING CUCUMBERS

When you have too many cucumbers to eat, preserving them can help you keep from wasting them. The dehydrator and the freezer are your best friends when it comes to quickly and easily preserving food.

Cucumbers can be frozen and enjoyed long after their season ends. Greedy Gourmet explains what you need to know about freezing cucumbers.

Like summer squash, cucumbers can be dehydrated and made into crunchy chips seasoned with different spice blends. Check out how to make dehydrated cucumber chips from Recipe This and learn more about using dehydrated cucumbers from Dogwoods & Dandelions

What’s your favorite way to use extra cucumbers? Please leave suggestions in the comments!

Looking for more creative ways to use seasonal produce? Be sure to check out these recipe collections:

• 25+ Kale recipes
• 30 Healthy sweet potato recipes
• 25 Wild violet recipes
• 30 Lambs quarter recipes
• 15 Delicious Mulberry recipes
• 25+ Serviceberry recipes
• 75 Healthy Pumpkin recipes

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