What to Do With Extra Cucumbers: 10 Easy Ways to Use Them

Pinterest Hidden ImagePinterest Hidden ImagePinterest Hidden ImagePinterest Hidden Image

Not sure what to do with extra cucumbers? Whether your garden is overflowing or you picked up more than you needed at the store, it’s easy to end up with a surplus. Instead of letting them go to waste, why not get creative?

Cucumbers are incredibly versatile—perfect for fresh recipes, quick snacks, and even long-term preservation. With the right storage techniques, you can also extend their shelf life and enjoy them for longer.

This guide covers the best ways to use extra cucumbers, from delicious dishes to clever preservation methods, so you never have to throw one out again.


A pile of extra cucumbers.
Table of Contents

    Growing and Harvesting Cucumbers

    Before we get into how to use up too many cucumbers, let’s do a very quick review on growing cucumbers. They’re a very easy vegetable to grow, which makes them perfect for beginners.

    All they really need is sunlight, plenty of water, warm temperatures, and support as they grow (those cukes are heavy and can break your plant stems). Give them those things and they’ll do the “hard work”! And don’t forget to fertilize your cucumbers for giant yields!

    You’ll know it’s time to harvest cucumbers when they’re medium to dark green and firm when you touch them.

    Wondering how to harvest cucumbers? That’s easy – just use garden shears to cut your cucumbers off of the stem!


    Cucumber Storage Tips

    To keep cucumbers fresh for as long as possible, proper storage is key. Here are a few simple tips to extend their shelf life:

    • Store in the Crisper Drawer – Cucumbers do best in the high-humidity drawer of your refrigerator. Avoid placing them near ethylene-producing fruits like apples and bananas, which can cause them to spoil faster.
    • Wrap in a Paper Towel – If storing whole cucumbers, wrap them in a dry paper towel and place them in an unsealed plastic bag to prevent excess moisture buildup.
    • Keep Sliced Cucumbers Fresh – Store cut cucumbers in an airtight container with a damp paper towel. They will stay fresh for 1-2 days before becoming soft.
    • Room Temperature Storage – If you plan to use cucumbers within 1-2 days, you can store them at room temperature in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.

    What to do With Extra Cucumbers

    When you have an excess of cucumbers, you may find yourself at a loss on how to use them. After all, you know you have too many now but won’t have any in just a few weeks.

    I’ve gathered 13 different great ways to get the most out of those cukes. Check out these ideas for what to do with an abundance of cucumbers.


    Eat Them Raw

    If you like cucumbers, eat a bunch of them raw. They’re cool, refreshing, and have high water content to keep you hydrated. Here are a few ideas for eating them raw:

    • Slice them and eat them (plain or sprinkled with dill)
    • Cucumber sandwiches with toasted bread, cream cheese, cucumber slices, and dill
    • Cucumber salad (lots of varieties you can make)
    • Sliced cucumbers in a green salad

    Fresh sliced cucumber salad with dill.

    Pickles

    Who doesn’t love pickles? Ok, I do know a couple of people, but here in my house, we love them! You can enjoy them on sandwiches, as a side to sandwiches, on burgers, as a snack, and more.

    Sweet pickles, bread and butter chips, or dill pickles – there’s something for everyone! Plus, pickling them extends their shelf life – by months (or maybe years in some cases).

    If you love dill pickles, my crunchy dill pickle recipe can’t be beaten (seriously – it even converted my husband to loving dills). And, because it takes a lot of cucumbers to make a decent batch of pickles, you can definitely make a dent in your excess cucumber supply.

    Don’t forget to make these rustic stackable storage bins to hold all your jars of pickles and other delicious canned goods!


    Homemade pickles in a jar.

    Share Excess Cucumbers With Others

    When you have too many cucumbers, a quick and easy way to reduce the supply is to share them with others.

    Give some to:

    • Neighbors
    • Friends
    • Family
    • Local food bank

    Fresh cucumbers in a bowl.

    Infused Water

    Have you ever added sliced cucumbers to your water? It’s amazing, almost like being at a spa. Not only does it add just a little flavor, but the cucumbers somehow make a simple glass of water even more refreshing. Plus, they add a dose of vitamins and nutrients.

    You can even include some fruit with your cucumber for some fun flavor blends. Try making cucumber water with these additions:

    • Lemon
    • Fresh mint leaves
    • Orange slices
    • Strawberries, raspberries, or blackberries

    Cucumber and lime infused water.

    Gazpacho

    If you’ve never made gazpacho before, you are seriously missing out. It’s a cold soup made from blended vegetables, and it’s a perfect way to use up excess cucumbers and cool down on a hot summer day. 

    Note: While gazpacho is most commonly known as a soup that’s served cold, you can also use it as a cold pasta sauce.


    A fresh bowl of gazpacho.

    Make Tzatziki

    This Greek yogurt-based dip (or sauce) contains shredded cucumbers and is a Mediterranean staple. It’s delicious!

    Use it as a dip for veggies and pita bread or add it to your burgers, sandwiches, pita wraps, or homemade gyros.


    Tzatziki in a bowl garnished with sliced cucumber.

    Make Fresh Salsa

    Salsa is a delicious side dish or addition to almost any meal (don’t forget taco night!), and there are lots of different ways to make it. That said, if you make salsa with tomatoes and cucumbers, it’s a great way to use up some of your excesses.

    Tortilla chips and salsa.

    Add Them to Frozen Treats

    Believe it or not, cucumbers work really well in homemade popsicles and fruit sorbets. They’re natural crunch and juiciness blends in really well without adding a lot of flavor. This is also a great way to get your kids to eat cucumbers if they don’t like them!


    Mojito popsicles surrounded by sliced cucumber.

    Cucumber Smoothies

    Definitely a must! Their cool and refreshing texture as well as their mild taste makes them perfect for adding to your summertime smoothies! Plus, they’ll add that extra bit of water and nutrients to make your smoothies just that much more satisfying and good for you.

    A tall cucumber smoothie with fresh vegetables.

    Ferment Them

    Fermented foods sometimes scare people off, but they’re easy to make and really good for your digestive system. Plus, fermenting extra cucumbers will not only a dent in your supply of too many cucumbers but also will extend the shelf life of those delicious fresh cukes.


    Fermented cucumber pickles in a jar.

    Add Extra Cucumbers to a Stir Fry

    Did you just do a double-take to make sure you read that right? Yep, many people only think of cucumbers as a food that can only be eaten cold and fresh. It turns out that cucumbers are delicious when cooked too! Make a stir fry and add them to see for yourself!

    A stir fry in a pan with added cucumbers.

    Roast Your Extra Cucumbers

    Just like adding cukes to your stir fry is delicious, so is roasting them. They almost become a different vegetable with a tender, juicy texture that keeps the perfect amount of crunch. 

    To roast cucumbers: 

    • Slice them and toss with butter or olive oil, salt, and pepper.
    • season them with parmesan cheese and any other seasonings you want (dill, parsley, scallions, basil, scallions, to name a few).
    • Spread out on a baking sheet and roast at 375 degrees for 30-60 minutes or until soft, making sure to flip them at least once. 

    So easy – and so yummy!

    Ways to Preserve Cucumbers

    If you have more cucumbers than you can eat fresh, preserving them is a great way to enjoy them later. Here are a few simple methods:

    • Pickling – The most popular way to preserve cucumbers! You can make quick refrigerator pickles or traditional fermented pickles for long-term storage.
    • Freezing – While cucumbers have high water content, they can be frozen for use in smoothies or cold soups. Slice them, flash freeze on a baking sheet, then store in a freezer bag.
    • Dehydrating – Thinly sliced cucumbers can be dried in a dehydrator or low-temperature oven and used as a crispy, healthy snack.
    • Fermentation – Similar to pickling but without vinegar, lacto-fermented cucumbers develop a tangy, probiotic-rich flavor that lasts for months in cold storage.

    Final Thoughts

    Have you tried enjoying cucumbers in all these different ways? If not, which new way will you try first?

    If you find your garden and your home becoming overrun with too many cucumbers when it’s harvest time, try these 13 ideas for using them without letting them spoil or having to throw them away and waste them.

    More Garden Inspiration:

    Closeup of Laura.

    Author: Laura Kennedy

    Writer & Owner of Little Yellow Wheelbarrow

    Laura is a highly skilled gardener and fervent flower enthusiast. Despite her playful battle with plant spacing guidelines, Laura’s work inspires gardeners to create thriving, beautiful spaces that reflect both creativity and sustainability.

    Editorial Note: This post was originally published on February 2, 2021. It was updated on January 2, 2025, to include more information and improve the reader experience.