English cucumber is a slicing cucumber cultivar which is generally eaten raw and frequently used in salads. It has a thin skin and is often consumed without need to peel the skin. Also known for its non-bitterness and having very little to no seeds at all, the English cucumber is also considered a burpless cucumber. This is to say, it does not cause digestive issues that trigger burping in some individuals as occurs with regular cucumber. The cucumber is also known by its other names of seedless cucumber, European cucumber, burpless cucumber and hothouse cucumber.
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What is an English Cucumber?
English cucumber is a cucumber cultivar with diverse varieties. Although botanically a fruit, English cucumber is a type of vegetable in the context of its widespread culinary uses. Its distinguishing characteristics viewed as English cucumber vs regular cucumber, include thin and tender skin, few to no seeds and low level of cucurbitacin, a bio-chemical compound that causes bitterness in cucumbers. This cucumber has a general minimum length of 6 inches or 15cm and can grow as long as 12 inches or 30cm.
Whenever one comes across a call for burpless cucumber in recipes and culinary preparations, the English cucumber can be used. There are other burpless cucumber cultivars, however, the English cucumber is one of the most accessible and widely cultivated in North America and the UK. Other burpless cultivars include the Persian cucumber developed in Israel, Armenian cucumber, and the exotic looking lemon cucumber.
Slicing English Cucumber
According to University of Missouri Integrated Pest Management, of the two main cucumber categories of slicing and pickling, English cucumber falls into the slicing cucumber category. It can be picked fresh from the garden and consumed right away without concern for the skin. Furthermore, as a slicing cucumber, the English cucumber produces aesthetically pleasing slices especially when sliced using special kitchen equipment such as a mandoline (see section below).
As shall be clearly seen in the following sections, English cucumber is largely used raw in green salads alongside sweet peppers, for example, on burgers, sandwiches and in juices, for example. It is as such a universal ingredient applicable in different recipe preparations of distinct culinary cultures, examples being Mexican cuisine.
Botanically speaking, English cucumbers are of the species Cucumis sativus of the Cucurbitaceae family. This is the same species as the regular cucumbers which are bitter, have rough skin and are often in the pickling group.
Parthenocarpic Cucumber
Some English cucumber cultivars are parthenocarpic varieties. According to one source, parthenocarpic cucumbers are especially bred cucumbers that are capable of producing fruit without ever needing pollination.
In fact, these cucumbers are all gynoecious, meaning they produce only female flowers. Consequently, they have a highly desirable characteristic of having very little to no seed at all in their fruit. The lack of seeds and non-bitterness makes them ideal burpless cucumbers, which many people prefer. Parthenocarpic cucumber varieties are sometimes referred to as European or burpless cucumbers.
The interest in burpless, mild testing cucumbers has encouraged continued development of new parthenocarpic English cucumber varieties. An example is the Roxynante Organic English Cucumber which we discuss in better detail in the varieties section below. If looking for no seed English cucumbers, the best outcome in this regard is associated with intentionally growing parthenocarpic varieties such as the Roxynante.
English Cucumber Nutrition
According to Healthline, the cucumber, including the English cucumber, is low in calories but well endowed in vitamins and minerals. For example, 300g of cucumber has 45 calories. Furthermore, at this quantity, the cucumber supplies 62% of the daily recommended intake (RDI) of Vitamin K. According to WebMD, Vitamin K is important in preventing blood clots and excessive bleeding.
Furthermore, 300g of cucumber provides up to 14% of Vitamin C in RDI. Vitamin C is known for its role in pushing back on immune system deficiencies. It also provides positive benefits against eye disease, cardiovascular disease, skin wrinkling and prenatal health problems. The high water content of the English cucumber at 96% (same as lettuce) helps the human body stay hydrated. We recommend this expert report on the nutritional benefits of English cucumber and cucumber in general.
English Cucumber Varieties and Seeds
As earlier stated, English cucumber represents a certain cucumber cultivar which is not bitter to taste, whose skin is tender so as to be eaten together with the cucumber flesh and which also has few to no seeds at all. Different seed companies produce a range of English cucumber seeds which are differentiated by variety name. In addition, some English cucumbers are open-pollinated heirloom varieties while some others are hybrid varieties.
The following is a list of some of the common English cucumber varieties available on the market as fresh produce or seed for propagation.
Chelsea Prize Cucumber
Chelsea Prize is an English cucumber variety that is an F1 hybrid which grows in length up to 5 inches long. It is characteristically slander. The fruit can mature with a slight curve (when growing on the ground) but also can be as straight as a ruler when trellised. The skin is deep green, thin and tender without need for peeling before eating. This non-bitter cucumber contains few seeds surrounded by mild flavored flesh. It is applicable in salads or simply to enjoy as a snack off the vine with a sprinkle of salt. Chelsea Prize seeds are available online here.
English Long Telegraph Cucumber
As the name of this variety would hint, this variety produces a long slim slicing cucumber which can grow to 14 inches or 35 cm long. When trellised the fruit will grow straight. English long is an heirloom English cucumber which is close to 140 years old. Consistent with other English cukes, this cucumber also offers a mild flavor and has no bitterness. The flavor is at its peak when the fruit is young. English Long is ready to harvest within 70 days. Seeds germinate in about 10 days. Seeds for this variety can be purchased online here.
Trimax F1 Hybrid Cucumber
The Trimax English Cucumber is designed for organic growers who appreciate disease resistant varieties. This variety can thrive without overreliance on chemicals to fight known cucumber diseases. The Trimax grows to a maximum length of 15inches or 38cm which makes it one of the longest English cucumber varieties. It is also a high yielding kind producing 50 to 100 fruits per plant. This means just 10 plants can give you a yield in excess of 1000 fruits, for example. Seeds for this variety are sold with fungicide coating and are available here.
Roxynante Organic Cucumber
The Roxynante is an organic parthenocarpic cucumber. It requires no pollination to produce fruit and its fruit has little to no seed. It is thus a special English Cucumber breed which produces burpless cucumber fruit. Similar to the Trimax earlier discussed, the Roxynante fruit is also very long. Furthermore, it has one of the shortest days to maturity at only 45 days. This variety is also developed to offer resistance to certain winter conditions. For aesthetically pleasing fruit, the vine should be supported by a trellis so fruits can hang down. Fruits grown hanging downwards acquire a straight shape. Seeds for this new hybrid variety are sold by West Coast Seeds out of Canada.
English Cucumber Recipes
If you were wondering what to do with English cucumbers, the following are our suggested cucumber recipes from general recipes to sandwich specific recipes using the English cuke.
| Tomato English Cucumber Salad Recipe – this recipe comes in two parts. The salad and then the salad dressing. The salad will require one English cucumber which is sliced, grape or Roma tomatoes and red onion. These ingredients are cut up and set aside in a bowl. The salad dressing will be made using olive oil, Italian seasoning and balsamic vinegar among other ingredients. It is a very simple cucumber salad recipe to make. The final product has great flavor owing to the mix of herbs that goes into the dressing. View Recipe. |
| Chilled Cucumber, Dill and Yogurt Soup Recipe – this is a refreshingly different cucumber recipe. You can make this recipe using two fresh English cucumbers. The recipe takes a total of 20 minutes to make excluding some chilling time required for the soup. The dill brings to the table an aromatic effect that is inviting. Admittedly, this recipe pulls in a good list of ingredients which is all justified by the scrumptious final product. Other ingredients include greek yogurt, garlic, fresh mint, feta cheese, and white wine vinegar among others. The soup is served with thinly sliced rye bread. View Recipe. |
| Sour Cream Cucumbers Recipe – ever considered using sour milk on cucumber? This is a popular recipe worth giving a try especially if you have lots of English cucumbers and know not what else to do with them. This recipe calls for 4 medium size cucumbers. Since we are using English cucumbers there will be no need to peel them. They have thin and tender skin which is easily digestible. Other ingredients will be sour cream, white vinegar and pepper to taste among others. View Recipe. |
English Cucumber Sandwiches
Apart from the foregoing set of recipes, English cucumbers can also be used to prepare delicious sandwiches. The following is our suggested list of cucumber sandwiches made using English cucumber.
| English Tea Cucumber Sandwiches Recipe – this recipe takes 25 minutes to make and produces 12 sandwiches which can be used as appetizers or lunchbox sandwiches. The recipe calls for one English cucumber which is thinly sliced. To achieve thin enough slices that are also appealing, we suggest using a mandoline to slice the cucumber (see below). Other ingredients which go into this recipe include cream cheese, mayonnaise, a loaf of sliced bread and Worcestershire sauce among other ingredient items. The sliced cucumbers are first let to sit in between paper towels to allow the liquid to drain before next steps in the recipe are followed. View Recipe. |
| Mini English Cucumber Sandwich Recipe – recommended for this recipe is a seedless English cucumber. Also required for this recipe is rye bread, cream cheese and some powdered ranch dressing mix. Although optional, dill can be sprinkled on top for garnish before serving. These mini sandwiches can be served at parties or other events. They are so easy to make and feed many people as appetizers. View Recipe. |
| Cream Cheese Cucumber Sandwich Recipe – this recipe produces very light English cucumber sandwiches suitable for work lunchbox, parties, picnics and to serve as appetizers. The recipe uses thinly sliced cucumber. Paper thin slices are required so, again, we suggest using a mandolin (see below). Other ingredients in the recipe are fresh bread, cream cheese, mayonnaise, dill, salt and pepper. These are combined nicely together to form a well incorporated filling before moving on to the next steps. By the time the sandwiches are served what you have are scrumptious pillow soft sandwiches nicely trimmed into appetizing blocks. View Recipe. |
| Pan-Grilled Tuna and English Cucumber Sandwich Recipe – this is a super simple recipe to make that takes 5 minutes to get ready. The sandwiches can be served as a light lunch, for breakfast or as a lunchbox idea. To give the sandwiches the nice looks, a griddle pan is used although this is optional. Other ingredients in this recipe include fresh bread slices, butter, tuna, red and green peppers, and mayonnaise among other items. View Recipe. |
Cucumber Mandolin
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| A number of the forgoing suggested recipes call for thinly sliced cucumber. While a knife may achieve this assuming one has the skills, for best results a mandolin is highly recommended for cutting the finest cucumber slices. This will also entail a perfectly looking and appetizing recipe outcome. Pictured above is a mandolin device which we suggest. This equipment goes beyond just cutting cucumber but a whole range of most common kitchen fruits and vegetables. See it on Amazon. |
Conclusion
English cucumber is a burpless cucumber cultivar with a thin and tender skin that is used in a variety of raw recipe preparations such as salads. Some of these varieties have little to no seeds in them which makes them suitable for use in a variety of culinary applications. The English cucumber is also attractive because it has no bitterness which is common in regular cucumbers. For the home grower, while many English cucumber seeds are hybrid varieties, there are also heirloom varieties which are many decades old.
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