What can I do with overgrown yellow cucumbers?

Question

My cucumbers in my garden got too big and are a light yellow. Are they still good? What can I do with them--eating wise?

Answer 1

When a cucumber gets too large and turns yellow, it is actually ripening.  The green cukes we normally eat are not truly ripe.  The point here is that you can save the seeds from your big yellow ripe cucumbers and grow them for next year's crop.

Scoop out the seeds and place them in a jar with some water.  After a couple of days, the remaining pulp will begin separating from the seeds.  Strain the seeds and spread them on a newspaper until they have completely dried.  Store the dry seeds in a tightly sealed jar until you're ready to plant them in the spring.

If your cucumbers are a hybrid variety you'll end up with cukes next year that aren't exactly identical to the parent plant, but they'll still be good for eating.

Answer 2

eat them raw with a little amount of salt

Answer 3

They won't be as sweet and crunchy as if you had picked them sooner but may still be edible.  Try using one just as you usually would and if you don't like it, off to the compost pile.  

Answer 4

Cut away the seeds and it should still be alright to eat .If bitter or soft throw away. The seeds in a ripe cucumber can be dried and replanted next year

Answer 5

When they get that big, the seeds are large and they don't taste good.  If you have animals (chickens or pigs, etc) feed them to the animals.  Otherwise I would throw them away.