Fresh cucumbers are fantastic to snack on, seeds and all, but seeding a cucumber is sometimes a key step when cooking. If a recipe calls for a seeded cucumber, it’s aiming for a light, earthy, refreshing taste—for example, this cucumber melon smoothie.
Why? Like tomato and pepper seeds, cucumber seeds add excess moisture to recipes if they’re left intact. This can cause your crunchy cucumber salad boats or cheese-stuffed cuke snacks to get soggy.
2 Easy Ways to Seed a Cucumber
Here are two methods that will have your cucumbers seed-free in no time flat.
Method 1: Halves
Thoroughly rinse the cucumber in cool water. Lay the cucumber on a cutting board and cut the cucumber in half lengthwise with a sharp knife. Gently scoop out the seeds by gliding the tip of a spoon or a butter knife across the length of the flesh. Be careful to only remove the seeds and not too much of the flesh.
Method 2: Quarters
Just like in the above method, rinse the cucumber with cool water and cut it in half lengthwise with a sharp knife. Then, after the cucumber is cut in half, lay the halves flesh side down on the cutting board. Once more, cut the cucumber halves down the middle lengthwise, creating four quarters in total. Using the tip of a spoon or butter knife, carefully remove the seeds with a gliding motion.
Pro Tip: After removing the seeds, the cucumber can be sliced, diced, cut into straws or peeled. If a recipe calls for peeled cucumber, be sure to use a sturdy, ergonomic vegetable peeler to get the job done.
But Wait—Here’s a Reason to Keep the Seeds
After you remove a cucumber’s seeds, think before you ditch ’em! Cucumber seeds are packed with plenty of proteins, minerals and healthy fats. As a matter of fact, the seeds and skin of cucumbers are the most nutrient-rich parts of the cucumber. They offer all kinds of health and beauty benefits, including the power to hydrate thirsty skin, keep your digestive system moving and more.
So if you’re just snacking, keep the seeds in.
Seeds or No Seeds, Use Your Cucumbers to Make These Cool Recipes
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Crisp Cucumber Salsa
Here's a fantastic way to use cucumbers. You'll love the creamy and crunchy texture and super fresh flavors. —Charlene Skjerven, Hoolpe, North Dakota
Cucumber Party Sandwiches
This is one of my favorite appetizers. We have lots of pig roasts here in Kentucky, and these small sandwiches are perfect to serve while the pig is roasting. —Rebecca Rose, Mt. Washington, Kentucky
Kansas Cucumber Salad
Cucumbers are my very favorite garden vegetable, so I use this recipe often. I got it from a friend 8 years ago. I've heard this refreshing dish keeps very well in the refrigerator, but it goes so fast around our house, I've never found out for myself. -Karen Ann Bland, Gove, Kansas
Chicken Cucumber Pitas
I wanted a good recipe for pita stuffing. Seeing the large stack of garden-fresh cucumbers on my counter, I decided to improvise and create my own recipe. It was a huge hit. —Sheena Wellard, Nampa, Idaho
Mama's Warm German Potato Salad
My grandmother, Mama, made this potato salad for every family gathering at her home. The relatives would arrive with their specialties in hand. She never wrote the recipe down, so I had to re-create it from memory. Years later, it's just about right. —Charlene Chambers, Ormond Beach, Florida
Watermelon Cups
This lovely appetizer is almost too pretty to eat! Sweet watermelon cubes hold a refreshing topping that showcases cucumber, red onion and fresh herbs. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Fresh Veggie Pockets
One summer I worked at a health food store that sold sandwiches. We were close to a college campus, so I made lots of these fresh filled pitas for the students. Crunchy with crisp vegetables and nutty sunflower kernels, they're a fast-to-fix lunch when you're on the go. -Linda Reeves, Cloverdale, Indiana
Chicken with Mango-Cucumber Salsa
I put this dish together after looking for something quick and easy without too much indoor cooking. My husband prefers this moist grilled chicken a tad spicy. —Linda Tringali, Monroe Township, New Jersey
Sesame-Ginger Cucumber Salad
I love the marinated sides and salads that come with meals at Japanese restaurants and wanted to try some at home. After some research, I came up with this cool and crisp salad with a little Asian zing. We love it with meat hot off the grill! —Kimberly Ludvick, Newburgh, New York
Couscous Tabbouleh with Fresh Mint & Feta
Using couscous instead of bulgur for tabbouleh really speeds up the process of making this colorful salad. Other quick-cooking grains such as barley or quinoa work well too. —Elodie Rosinovsky, Brighton, Massachusetts
Greek Shrimp Canapes
I grew up by the ocean and then moved to a land-locked state. I wanted to show people in my area how to easily cook seafood, and this is the recipe I came up with. It's become a neighborhood favorite. —Amy Harris, Springville, Utah
Cheeseburger Bowl
This recipe is a unique and lighter way to enjoy an American summer staple. You can also make the dressing with ranch dressing, 1 tablespoon of yellow mustard and 1 tablespoon of ketchup. —Laurie Rogerson, Ellington, Connecticut
Dad's Greek Salad
The heart of a Greek salad recipe is in the olives, feta, cucumbers and tomatoes. Dress it with olive oil and vinegar, then add more olives and cheese. —Arge Salvatori, Little Ferry, New Jersey
Fresh Cucumber Salad
Crisp, garden-fresh cukes are always in season when we hold our family reunion, and they really shine in this simple cucumber salad. The recipe can easily be expanded to make large quantities, too. —Betsy Carlson, Rockford, Illinois
Turkey Gyros
Greek seasoning, feta cheese and dill-cucumber sauce give this gyro an authentic taste. It was my family's introduction to how really good pita bread can be. Instead of feta cheese, we'll sprinkle on cheddar or Monterey Jack if we have it. —Donna Garvin, Glens Falls, New York
Kohlrabi, Cucumber and Tomato Salad
This chilled, refreshing salad is wonderful on hot days. It has a nice crunch and a delicious balance of sweet and spicy flavors. —Kristina Segarra, Yonkers, New York
Sour Cream Cucumbers
It’s been a tradition at our house to serve this cucumber onion salad with the other Hungarian specialties my mom learned to make from the women at church. It’s especially good during the summer when the cucumbers are fresh-picked from the garden. Cucumber salad with sour cream is the perfect summer dish. —Pamela Eaton, Monclova, Ohio
Cucumber-Stuffed Cherry Tomatoes
Besides being tasty, these little tomato poppers are extra awesome because you can make them ahead of time. At parties, I often triple the recipe because they disappear fast. —Christi Martin, Elko, Nevada
Favorite Cucumber Salad
Add a fresh-tasting touch to your menu with this favorite salad. The crunchy cucumbers are tossed with onion, green pepper and a sweet-tart dressing seasoned with celery seed.—Mary Lou Boyce,Wilmington, Delaware
Minty Watermelon-Cucumber Salad
Capturing the fantastic flavors of summer, this refreshing, beautiful watermelon-cucumber salad will be the talk of any picnic or potluck. —Roblynn Hunnisett, Guelph, Ontario
Ginger Salmon with Cucumber Lime Sauce
Lime and ginger is a favorite flavor combo for me, especially with grilled salmon. So good. Even with the cucumber sauce, this recipe is easy, too. —Noelle Myers, Grand Forks, North Dakota
Creamy Dilled Cucumber Salad
This creamy cucumber salad, a Norwegian favorite, was a staple at all of our family holidays. —Patty LaNoue Stearns, Traverse City, Michigan
Cucumber Canapes
I always get requests for the recipe for these canapes whenever I serve them. They're delicate finger sandwiches with a creamy herb spread and festive red and green garnishes. —Nadine Whittaker, South Plymouth, Massachusetts
Crisp & Spicy Cucumber Salad
Rice vinegar, sesame oil and cayenne create a sweet-hot Asian flavor that will light up your taste buds! —Alivia Dockery, Jensen Beach, Florida
Garden Tomato Salad
For as long as I can remember, Mom made a salad of tomatoes and cucumbers. Now I make it whenever beautiful tomatoes are in reach. —Shannon Arthur, Upper Arlington, Ohio
Shrimp & Cucumber Rounds
I always make these appetizers for our get-togethers. They're easy to prepare and a snappy addition to any party. —Kelly Alaniz, Eureka, California
Cucumber and Red Onion Salad
This cucumber and onion salad is one of the first recipes I came up with myself. It's a great salad for picnics or potlucks. I always come home with an empty bowl! —Brynn Steckman, Westerville, Ohio
Chunky Veggie Slaw
The classic coleslaw with cabbage gets a fresh approach when you add broccoli, cucumbers, snap peas and crunchy walnuts. —Nicholas King, Duluth, Minnesota
Inside-Out Veggie Dip
Kids have fun eating these bite-sized veggie snacks. Change up the seasonings in the dip to fit your family's tastes. —Judie Thurstenson, Colcord, Oklahoma
Balsamic Cucumber Salad
Cucumber salad recipes are my absolute favorite! This fast, fresh salad is a winner at every get together. It's an easygoing, healthy side dish for kabobs, chicken or anything hot off the grill. —Blair Lonergan, Rochelle, Virginia
Chicken with Peach-Cucumber Salsa
To keep our kitchen cool, we grill chicken outdoors and serve it with a minty peach salsa that can easily be made ahead. —Janie Colle, Hutchinson, Kansas
Strawberry, Cucumber & Honeydew Salad
Strawberries and cucumbers together—I just love this combination! We used to eat a lot of cucumbers growing up in upstate New York. We'd get them, along with strawberries and melons, from fruit and veggie stands to make this sweet and tangy salad. —Melissa Mccabe, Long Beach, California
Mint-Cucumber Tomato Sandwiches
I jazzed up the quintessential tea-time cucumber sandwich to suit my family's tastes. This was my absolute go-to sandwich last summer when I was pregnant and it hit all the right spots! —Namrata Telugu, Terre Haute, Indiana
Chopped Garden Salad
This recipe is always requested by my children for their birthday meal or any other get-together. The flavor combination is so yummy.—Anna Sutherland, Camp, Arkansas
Dill Garden Salad
I love to cut up whatever fresh vegetables I have on hand and toss them with this delicious dressing and fresh dill. This salad shows up on our table regularly during the summer. —Bethany Martin, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania
Cucumber-Melon Smoothies
My cool honeydew and cucumber smoothie has only five ingredients. I sometimes add a small avocado to make it extra creamy.—Crystal Schlueter, Babbitt, Minnesota
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Ceara Milligan