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Turn plain water into a refreshing drink in 5 minutes with this cucumber water recipe! Here are my tips for the perfect spa-like infused water, plus creative variations with herbs and citrus.
Want to make your hydrating more fun? Try cucumber water! You may have seen it at resorts or spas, and the botanical flavor tastes like poolside relaxation in a sip.
I love making a pitcher of this tasty infused water for parties, or simply when I want to make my daily water intake more enjoyable. Do you simply combine cucumber and water? Well, kind of. Here’s what you need to know about how to make this tasty drink!
Cucumber water, step-by-step
Cucumber water requires two ingredients: cucumbers and water. But to make it, you do need one extra thing: time! It takes 1 hour for the flavor to infuse into the water. Here’s what to do:
- Slice ½ cucumber into thin rounds.
- Muddle for maximum flavor. Here’s my secret: I gently mash the cucumber slices at the bottom of the pitcher with a wooden spoon before adding water. This releases those refreshing juices, creating a more flavorful drink.
- Add 8 cups of cold water.
- Refrigerate for 1 hour.
Cheater tip: This infused water actually tastes pretty good after about 10 minutes. So if you’re in a rush, you can serve immediately. Just use very cold water.
Choosing your cucumber
You can use any type of cucumber for this cucumber water! Often, you’ll see it with the standard variety, but an English cucumber works, too:
- English cucumbers are long and straight, with a thin skin with ridges and very small seeds. Because the thin skin is so fragile, it’s sold with a plastic covering in the grocery store. This is my favorite type to use in cucumber recipes like cucumber salad or tzatziki sauce, because the flavor is so mild and it doesn’t need to be peeled.
- Standard slicing cucumbers are shorter, with thick, dark green skin and very large seeds. The thick skin and seeds can be bitter, so they’re often removed when cooking.
Possible add-ins
On the regular, I just drink it straight up, but there are a few optional ingredients you can add before and after serving to make it really pop. These are perfect for entertaining:
- Fresh herbs like mint or basil: Add herbs when you add the cucumber; allow to infuse for 1 hour.
- Lemon or lime: I like serving this water with a few lemon wedges or slices, or you can let the citrus infuse.
Storage tips
Cucumber water lasts even longer than most infused water recipes. Plan to store it for up to 3 days in the refrigerator. (Other fruits and veggies like strawberries tend to fall apart over time!) That all said, this cucumber water tastes best within 1 day.
Try it with sparkling water
Revive your cucumber water with some bubbles! You can add sparkling water or club soda to get a flavored bubbly water. I use a SodaStream, or you can use your favorite brand of sparkling water.
Frequently asked questions
Cucumber water is a refreshing and hydrating drink. Cucumbers are high in water content and contain vitamins and minerals like vitamin K and potassium. Staying hydrated is important for overall health, and cucumber water can be a tasty way to increase your water intake.
Yes, you can use any type of cucumber you prefer. English cucumbers or Persian cucumbers are often preferred for their thinner skin and fewer seeds, but regular slicing cucumbers work well too. Just make sure to wash them thoroughly before using.
Yes, you can enjoy cucumber water daily as part of a healthy lifestyle. It’s a great way to stay hydrated and enjoy the refreshing flavor of cucumbers.
Cucumber Water
What makes hydrating easier? Cucumber water! Add spa-like tranquility to your day with this infused water.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 8 cups 1x
- Category: Drink
- Method: Infused
- Cuisine: Water
- Diet: Vegan
Ingredients
- 1/2 medium cucumber
- 8 cups (64 ounces) cold water
- Lemon slices, for serving (if desired)
- Fresh mint (optional)
Instructions
- Wash and thinly slice the cucumber.
- Add the cucumber slices to bottom of a pitcher. Use a wooden spoon to lightly muddle (mash) them several times to release the juices.
- Add the cold water. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. (You can add fresh mint sprigs if desired.)
- Flavor is best within 1 day, but you can store up to 3 days refrigerated. Serve with lemon slices if desired, or add a splash of sparkling water.
More refreshing beverages
If you love this cucumber water, you’ll definitely want to try my other infused water recipes, with some bonus smoothies:
- Fruit Infused Water
- Green Detox Smoothie
- Lemon Water
- Lime Water With Mint
- Perfect Strawberry Smoothie
good work
What if you are been asked not to drink cold water
Cucumbers contain ASCORBINASE. Which breaks down, vitamin C. You should avoid radishes, tomatoes, lemons, anything containing vitamin C, with cucumbers, because it prevents our body from absorbing them.
Thank you for making the recipe so easy to understand.
I was drinking some and thought it would be great in winter also. I have lots of cucumbers. Might it be something I might be able to freeze. (Lots of freezer space and cucumbers!)
Hmm great question! We have not tried freezing cucumber water but it should work! Just defrost at room temp or in the refrigerator (we wouldn’t try microwaving). Let us know how it goes!
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Better call Saul!
Cucumber water is very refreshing and can help in losing weight
I harvested so many cucumbers from my garden that I didn’t know what to do with them until I came across the cucumber water recipe. Its quick, easy and deliciously refreshing. It also makes drinking water more enjoyable.
Let us know if you have any questions!