How do you keep cucumber sandwiches from getting soggy?

20 minutes is all it takes to avoid soggy cucumber sandwiches. To avoid soggy cucumber sandwiches with little added prep time or effort, all you need to do is give them a quick salt . The reason this simple method works is due to osmosis, which draws out the veggie's excess water.

Can you make cucumber sandwiches the night before?

Cucumber sandwiches are best made just 1 to 3 hours ahead of time, but they can be made up to a day in advance . But if you decide to make them ahead, you run the risk of them turning mushy.

What is a cucumber sandwich made of?

Spread the cream cheese blend onto slices of French bread. Top with a cucumber slice, and sprinkle with dill. You can make as many or few as you like. the cream cheese mixture keeps for about a week in the refrigerator so you can make them over and over again!

How to make a sandwich in 7 steps?

How to Make the Perfect Sandwich: The 7 Steps To Follow Choose the Right Bread. Spreading the Base. Quality Protein is Key. Add Vegetables for Freshness. Choose the Right Order for Your Ingredients. Cheese Choices. Season and Grill your Sandwich.

Where did the cucumber and cream cheese sandwich come from?

The crop arrived in England in the late 14th century for the first time. However, they weren't put in sandwiches until the Victorian era, when they were served during afternoon tea. Cucumber, cream cheese and dill really is the quintessential English tea sandwich and makes a lovely fresh crispy sandwich.

Cucumber Cream Cheese Tea Sandwiches Recipe (2024)

Lindsey Goodwin

Lindsey Goodwin is a food writer and tea consultant with more than 12 years of experience exploring tea production and culture.

Learn about The Spruce Eats'Editorial Process

Updated on 02/6/24

Tested by

Diana Andrews

Tested byDiana Andrews

Diana earned her B.A. in Fine Art at Queens College and her culinary certification from the Institute of Culinary Education. Diana has served as head recipe developer and editor for Emmy-nominated PBS series Moveable Feast, food editor and test kitchen manager at Fine Cooking Magazine, and recipe developer, and product tester at Food Network.

Learn about The Spruce Eats'Editorial Process

Tips for Making Cucumber Cream Cheese Tea Sandwiches

It's best to serve these sandwiches soon after you prepare them, so the bread doesn't dry out or become soggy from the cucumbers.
To peel or not to peel? If you bought waxed cucumbers, it is best to peel them before using. But if they are unwaxed, you won't need to peel them. Another variation is to peel them only partially, leaving vertical stripes. This makes them a little more attractive. It is preferable to use organic cucumbers if you are not peeling them, as there can be pesticide residue in the peels.
Don't toss the trimmed bread crusts. You can use them to make croutons or breadcrumbs.

What You'll Need To Make This Tea Sandwich Recipe

A Cutting Board

A Nice Sharp Knife

Ingredients

20 slices store-bought soft white bread, such as buttermilk bread
1 1/4 cups cream cheese, about 10 ounces
1 English cucumber, very thinly sliced
Lemon juice, to taste
Salt, to taste
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Chopped fresh chives, to taste, optional

Steps to Make It

Gather the ingredients.
Lay 2 slices of bread on a work surface and spread each slice evenly with 1 tablespoon cream cheese.
Cover 1 side of the sandwich with sliced cucumber.
Season with a squeeze of lemon juice, salt and pepper, and chives, if using.
Cover the cucumbers with the other slice of bread, cream cheese side down.
Cut off the crusts and slice the sandwich diagonally 2 times to create 4 triangular finger sandwiches. Repeat with the remaining ingredients. Serve.

How to Store

Although it's best to serve these sandwiches immediately, if you want to refrigerate them to serve later, drain the cucumber slices for 15 minutes in a colander and pat them dry before using. This will remove the excess liquid. Cover them with plastic wrap to keep the bread soft while refrigerated.

Recipe Variations

While this recipe uses white bread, you can consider using wheat bread or gluten-free bread.
You can add any herbs you like instead of the chives. Dill and watercress or arugula are especially nice.
Instead of using cream cheese, try slathering on a generous layer of salted butter. Use European-style butter for the best flavor.
Try making half of the sandwiches with white bread and half with wheat bread, then alternate them on the serving tray.
Instead of triangles, you can cut these sandwiches into "fingers," or long, thin rectangles.

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Nutrition Facts (per serving)
270	Calories
12g	Fat
33g	Carbs
7g	Protein

Show Full Nutrition Label

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 10
Amount per serving
Calories	270
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 12g	15%
Saturated Fat 6g	32%
Cholesterol 29mg	10%
Sodium 455mg	20%
Total Carbohydrate 33g	12%
Dietary Fiber 2g	6%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 7g
Vitamin C 1mg	5%
Calcium 121mg	9%
Iron 2mg	13%
Potassium 150mg	3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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