Does anyone else rub the opposite cut ends of a cucumber

[boston bean]

to make it taste less bitter?

I do and I think it works.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

1. yes i do.

[boston bean]

8. have you ever tried not doing it and notice a difference?

I really think it does make a big difference.

[Maddy McCall]

2. I do, too.

To make it warmer.

:P

(This is NOT a sex post!)

[boston bean]

3. I was right, I knew it wouldn't take too long!!

:rofl:

[NMDemDist2]

4. huh?

i've heard of scoring the skin with a fork but i'm having trouble visualizing what the heck you are talking about.........

[boston bean]

5. cut both ends off and rub the opposite end with the opposite cut off part.

get it....

B-)

[NMDemDist2]

19. ok, i got it

:eyes:

[boston bean]

20. beats sticking the thing with a fork! don't you think

}(

[NMDemDist2]

21. ya don't 'stick' it with a fork

you lovingly and lightly 'tickle' it with a fork

:evilgrin:

[boston bean]

22. That sounds much better and alot better than cutting off its ends. I shall try it!

[SacredCow]

6. I saw a friend's Mom do it once...

When she saw my puzzled look, she replied, "It takes the fever out of the cucumber."

[boston bean]

9. The fever in a cucumber?? I didn't know cukes ran fevers, but it works i guess.

:o

[SacredCow]

14. Yeah, I didn't know that either.....

I decided to just nod my head and slowly back out of the room....

[Deja Q]

7. Oh dear Lord, the number of comments and copycats every DULounger might attempt...

:wow:

[crim son]

10. Before there were lots of hybrids, cucumbers used to be bitter.

Now they aren't supposed to be so the rubbing is unnecessary (if it ever worked... I can't see how it would but don't dispute you folks who say it does). :)

[boston bean]

12. are cuke hybrids anything like animal human hybrids, like I saw in GD today? nt

[crim son]

26. Unlikely!

But I'd have to check GD. :P

[boston bean]

27. Look for the goat 25% human organs. And no, I'm not joking!! nt

[crim son]

28. Oh crap.

I'll check it out.

[malta blue]

11. yes. nt

[boston bean]

16. have you ever not done it and notice later when eating them that you didn't?? nt

[malta blue]

29. Don't know - it is almost second nature to me, and I

instinctively stay away from the ends if I can.

[boston bean]

30. me too, I almost cut off half the cuke to stay away from them. nt

[KitchenWitch]

13. Never have

Never thought cukes were that bitter.

[boston bean]

15. Give it a whirl, you only live once you know.. nt

;)

[Gormy Cuss]

23. Cukes can become bitter if they grow in unfavorably hot , dry conditions.

As mentioned upthread, newer hybrids are less prone to this because they have been selectively bred to reduce the presence of the compound that causes it. Commercially grown ones are rarely bitter. It's the home garden ones where it may happen these days.

In my climate I grow Armenian cukes which are naturally happy in hot dry conditions and don't get bitter.
(they're not true cukes, but a relative.)

[undeterred]

17. Oh, and here I was doing it because I thought

it would make my boobs bigger. :shrug:

[boston bean]

18. Well don't give up yet, the circular motion may help! nt

:rofl:

[Pacifist Patriot]

24. Never heard of it. I'll try it some time.

[boston bean]

25. You will be pleasantly suprised, i promise. and it takes very little effort. nt

[rug]

31. I prefer to let someone else rub the end of my cucumber.