Nothing is better than the crisp taste of cucumbers in a salad or sandwich, but it can be frustrating how quickly they tend to spoil. Cucumbers are so refreshing because they are mostly made up of water, which means they are also prone to becoming soft, wrinkly or even mouldy if not stored properly in the fridge. 

Many people make the big mistake of storing cucumbers right next to other salad vegetables like tomatoes, which produce a high amount of ethylene gas. Ethylene is a natural substance that encourages ripening to enhance the flavour, but if too much of it builds up in the air, it will cause all produce nearby to spoil quickly. 

Cucumbers are very sensitive and will only last around three days in the fridge if you store them uncovered, as they will not be protected from condensation or ethylene. 

However, Melanie Mendelson, a cook and the founder of Melanie Cooks, has shared that the best way to keep cucumbers safe and fresher for longer is to store them with a paper towel. 

Melanie said: “What is my secret for keeping cucumbers fresh longer? Here it is: wrap each cucumber individually in a paper towel, then put all cucumbers wrapped in paper towels inside the plastic bag.

“Put the plastic bag with the cucumbers in a refrigerator. That’s it!  It works like magic — the cucumbers will stay perfectly fresh for the whole week!”

Paper towels will absorb any water cucumbers naturally release, keeping the storage space dry and preventing mould or rotting. 

It also gives the cucumbers enough humidity to stop them drying out and can also act as a cushion to stop them becoming bruised. 

Storing them in a plastic bag will protect them from any ethylene gas in the fridge, but you can store them in a container if you wish. 

Simply wrap whole cucumbers loosely in a paper towel, and for sliced ones, layer paper towels between the slices to keep them fresh and absorb excess moisture.

Then store cucumbers in the crisper drawer of your fridge, but try to keep them away from tomatoes or other ethylene-producing foods like avocados, bell peppers and apples. 

Cucumbers will stay cool, crisp, and hydrated up to a week longer than usual, so you can enjoy the warm weather without worrying about wasting freshly bought salad ingredients.