Why Is Cucumber Skin Waxy?

It wouldn’t be summer without fresh tomatoes, corn on the cob, and cucumbers! That’s right. Although you can find cucumbers year-round at the grocery store, their prime season runs from May to August, and there’s never been a better time of year to stock up on the refreshing vegetable. 

Cucumbers, whether English, kirby, or Persian (or any of the other dozen or so varieties in existence) are a wonderful addition to all manner of salads, but they can also shine on their own as in a creamy cucumber salad that’s a meal in and of itself if you add a hunk of crusty bread.

Slices for a cucumber and vidalia onion salad or mixed with tomatoes and herbs in a cucumber tomato salad, cucumbers are a produce staple. The only question is: Why do cucumbers have waxy skin? Do you need to peel the skin to remove any traces of wax? We talked to Lena Bakovic, a registered dietician and nutritionist for the skinny on that waxy cucumber skin.

Why Is Cucumber Skin Waxy? 

Bakovic, who works with Top Nutrition Coaching, a network of leading dietitians and nutritionists, points out that cucumbers naturally have a waxy skin. But when they’re plucked from the garden and washed, some of the wax washes away. This is often when cucumbers are treated with a special wax to enhance their shelf stability, explains Bakovic. This edible wax helps commercially-grown cucumbers stay fresh longer and keep up their shiny appearance too.

Is The Waxy Skin Safe To Eat?

Bakovic advises thoroughly washing or peeling cucumbers picked up from the grocery store as “the synthetic wax may contain pesticides and microorganisms/germs.” You’ll want to remove any potential contaminants in whatever way you prefer. Many people don’t like cucumber skin in general, so if this is you, there’s nothing wrong with peeling the vegetable. That said, you leave some of the vegetable’s nutritional value on the floor when you peel the skin off.

“A well-washed cucumber provides a good source of nutrients to include dietary fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, and phosphorus just to name a few,” points out Bakovic. Cucumbers also have a high water content, so they’re hydrating.

As for naturally occurring wax, well, Bakovic says this should be washed (or peeled) away too, since it’s possible pesticides were utilized in the growing process. “Despite this, however, the wax itself does not pose a hugely worrisome health risk,” says Bakovic.

Do All Cucumbers Have Waxy Skin? 

For the most part, all cucumbers have waxy skin, whether the naturally-occurring kind or synthetic. “The exception here is English cucumbers, which are usually shrink-wrapped and then consumed with the skin on,” says Bakovic. 

What Does Cucumber Wax Taste Like? 

For the most part, says Bakovic, cucumber wax doesn’t have a noticeable flavor and is generally mild tasting. “Like any other wax, it can leave a residue-type, smooth-in-texture aftertaste,” notes Bakovic. All the better reason to make produce washing a priority!