Bitter cucumbers.... Does anyone have a suggestion on what to do with bitter cucumbers? I was going to use a batch of new cucumbers to make another sour cream/miracle whip cucumber salad, but I learned from the last batch that I had to taste test a slice from each cucumber before adding it to the salad mix. The last batch I had at least one cucumber that was bitter, and that detracted from all the good cucumbers. So this time I would take a slice from each cucumber and taste it before adding that cucumber to the mix. I ended with 2 cucumbers that were bitter and I set them aside. So now I wonder if they can be treated in a way to get the bitterness out, or if I have a bunch of cucumber slices for chicken treats sitting the fridge?
Trying to find out why some cucumbers are bitter, I have seen on YouTube that cucumbers will turn bitter if the plant is stressed - low water, excessive heat, etc... I though maybe I had picked them either too early or too late, but what videos I have watched seem to indicate that the bitterness is not related to the maturity of the cucumber, but only if the plant is stressed. Unfortunately, we have gone 2+ months with essentially no rain and excessive heat. It is a drought year here. So I am expecting more and more cucumbers to be bitter if stress if the cause.
Finally, I am wondering if a cucumber on the vine can be saved if I leave it on the vine long enough, water it enough, and wait for cooler weather to pick them. Or is once a bitter cucumber always a bitter cucumber? Thanks for any thoughts.
