The supermarket can be confusing, with some fresh produce wrapped in plastic and some not.
But have you ever stopped to wonder why cucumbers are wrapped in plastic and courgettes are not, despite being really similar?
One woman took to Mumsnet to write: “Am I unreasonable to wonder why single cucumbers from the supermarket come wrapped in plastic…but single courgettes don’t?”
She then added her opinion about the lack of wrapping, saying: “If you ask me, courgettes have a slightly more fragile skin than cucumber…so why the lack of protection?”
According to chef and author Jessica Gavin, the plastic wrap around cucumbers serves many purposes.
She wrote in the caption of a video posted to social media: “It helps protect the delicate cucumbers from bruises and damage during transit”. It also helps “extend the shelf life” by “maintaining optimal moisture levels”. The plastic wrap is also a “hygiene barrier, safeguarding the cucumbers from external contaminants”.
In the Mumsnet comments, someone penned: “I think it’s because people use the whole courgette at once and often buy more than one.
“Whereas you might want to keep the cucumber for longer and just eat a bit at a time.”
Another agreed, writing: “The plastic wrapping on the cucumber is specifically there to help preserve it in a decent condition for longer because I would suggest most people don’t use a whole cucumber in one go. On the other hand, courgettes tend to be bought for immediate use.”
Somebody else shared: “If you have a cut cucumber with no wrapper, then they tend to shrivel up rather quickly. I’ve never had that happen with a courgette.”
A Mumsnetter added: “I think when I take the cucumber from the plastic it discolours faster. It lasts okay still, though; it just doesn’t look as green and appetising.”
Some took a harsh stance with regard to plastic-wrapped produce, however, asserting that it should be “banned”.
They fumed: “The first thing I do with a cucumber is take the plastic off and get rid. It gets stored in the fridge “open” even after I’ve cut it.
“If the end is a bit dry/shrivelled when I next use it, I cut a slice off and either eat it or throw it away.
“I think plastic packaging on fruit and vegetables should be banned, and I refuse to buy it if I can avoid it, but some things only come pre-packed now.”
Another asked: “Does the plastic make them last longer in the fridge? I thought it was for supermarket shelf life. I find mine seem to rot in the plastic, so I have started taking the plastic off before putting them in the fridge. Am I wrong?”
