Are cucumber microgreens edible? I had a question regarding this vegetable recently. It struck me that as we’ve grown accustomed to them, we seem to crave for more. The crisp, sweet taste of these vegetables has kept us hooked to them, and we can’t imagine life without them. If they are cucumber, are they edible?
Cucumbers have been a part of our lives since ancient times. Some cultures even consider it as their basic food. Centuries ago in Egypt, people used cucumbers as an important part of their diet. In Rome, there was a famous doctor by the name of Hippocrates who had written about microgreens. These vegetables were seen as a remedy for various illnesses and were prescribed by the doctors for the use of the patients.
In today’s world, we have come to see microgreens as ordinary vegetables but, actually, they are not. They are still regarded as staples by a lot of people. Even if you have the tendency of eating junk foods, microgreens can do you good. These veggies are rich in vitamin A and potassium, which can help regulate your blood pressure and minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium and phosphorus.
On the other hand, eating lettuce, peppers, tomatoes, radishes and spinach is highly recommended for our body’s overall health. It is also essential for the proper functioning of the different systems of our body. Not to mention, it provides us with plenty of nutrients such as iron, zinc and folic acid. All these and more are readily available from fresh vegetables.
So, are cucumber microgreens edible? The answer is “maybe”. There are certainly other ways of answering this question without having to resort to eating them. For example, you can mash them up. Puree them.
You can slice them and serve them cold. You can steam them or roast them. You can even slice them into wedges and make a salad out of them. You can make vegetable sandwiches and eat them cold.
However, when it comes to chewing them, it would be a challenge. At the very least, it will give you a strong stomachache. So, are cucumber microgreens edible? Unless your stomach can take on the taste, it will not. Cucumbers are astringents after all, so you will want to chew them carefully.
To answer the question are they edible, let us say in favor of yes, they are. If you have them fresh, you can simply chew them. If you put them in a glass of water with some salad, it might be refreshing for your tastebuds. But if you have the bottled variety that you pick up at the supermarket, you might as well just stick with the lettuce and tomatoes that you have. Cucumbers are not meant to go in with a big dinner – unless, of course, it’s an informal barbeque.
Still, if you do decide to indulge in eating them, make sure that you know how to eat them properly. The first thing you need to know is that they are not real food. True, they do have a lot of nutrients in them, especially Vitamin C and potassium. But like any other vegetable or fruit, they might lose a little bit of their crunchiness if you overcook them. So if you want to retain the crunch, try cutting them into quarters or slices and keep them refrigerated until you are ready to dig into them.
When it comes to the taste, you will notice that there are two kinds: the ones that are picked, and the microgreens that are tossed away. The microgreens that are picked are typically sweeter, and their flavor is more crisp than the ones that are just thrown away. This may mean you have to pay a little bit more for them, but in the end, you will probably enjoy the taste more – you won’t be replacing them as often.
Cucumbers are naturally sweet, so you might want to consider cutting back on the sugar. You can soften them with a touch of milk, and you might even find that you enjoy consuming them without the sweetness. Cucumbers also have water content, so it isn’t recommended that you drain the juice as soon as you get it out of the cucumber. Allow it to soften some more before drinking.
Overall, while yes, cucumbers are delicious and refreshing, they are not really considered to be a full meal. If you are looking for something that provides crunch on the surface but holds other healthy foods as well, then you should give a cucumber a try! They are relatively cheap and easy to find, and the flavor combinations are endless. So are cucumber microgreens edible? Probably not… but it is possible to eat the fruit by itself without adding any sugar or calories.