Melons like cucumbers and honeydew are a fruit grown on vines and belong to the same family of fruits as squash. Melons, though similar to squash have a much sweeter flavor than most squash varieties. In culinary terms squash is used more like a vegetable. Melons on the other are consumed more like a fruit and our often eaten raw, with skin removed.
Cucumber – Characteristics, Nutritional Values and Storage
Whether cucumber is a melon or a squash is a good question. In culinary terms it seems that a cucumber is treated more like a melon because it’s usually eaten raw. Raw cucumber is popular sliced or diced in salads. Cucumbers come in several varieties and colors, with the most common having a green smooth skin. The majority of cucumbers produced are seedless. Cucumbers have a mild watery melon type flavor that can have a slight bitter taste.
Cucumber Nutritional Values – peeled, raw 100 grams
- Cucumbers are very low in calories with 12, zero total fat and 1 gram of dietary fiber. The only negative is most of the calories comes from sugar.
- Cucumber is not a good source of protein with less than 1 gram.
- Noticeable vitamins in cucumber are vitamin C with 5% of the daily value (DV) of a 2,000-calorie diet, vitamin K with 9% and vitamin B6 with 3%. Eating cucumber with the peel will increase vitamin K to 21% of the DV.
- Cucumber is not a good source for minerals.
Cucumber Storage
Cucumber are best stored a temperatures around 52 degrees Fahrenheit with high humidity. A vegetable crisper is ideal for optimum storage. At these settings cucumbers should stay good for up to 2 weeks. Pickling cucumbers for longer storage is another option.
Honeydew Melon - Characteristics, Nutritional Values and Storage
The skin on a honeydew melon has a smooth skin and a greenish flesh. Honeydew is usually eaten raw and is common as part of a well balanced breakfast. Honeydew is one the sweetest of all melons, has a sugary sweet taste and is also common as a desert. The surface or skin of a honeydew melon should have a waxy feel and the fruit should feel heavy for its size.
Honeydew Melon Nutritional Values – raw, 100 grams
- Honeydew is low in calories with 53, zero total fat and 1 gram of dietary fiber. The only negative is most of the calories comes from sugar with 8 grams of sugar.
- Honeydew is not a good source of protein with 1 gram.
- Honeydew is an excellent source of vitamin C with 30% of the daily value of a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Honeydew is not a good source for minerals with the exception of potassium with 7% of the daily value.
Honeydew Melon Storage
Ripe uncut honeydew melon can be stored for up to 4 days at room temperature. Honeydew also like high humidity so storing honeydew in a vegetable crisper is the best option around 42 degrees Fahrenheit. Once honeydew melons are cut, they should be refrigerated and tightly wrapped. Like most melons, freezing honeydews is not advisable.
Besides honeydew melon and cucumbers, watermelon and cantaloupe are also a popular variety of melons. Honeydew melon and cucumbers are a good choice as part of a healthy balanced diet. Choosing between honeydew melon and cucumbers is a difficult choice for a nutritional diet. Clearly both are low in calories. Honeydew melons are rich in vitamin C, but have higher sugar content than cucumbers.
Source:
nutritiondata.com
James Clausen - Clausen received a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration in Automotive Management and Marketing at Northwood University, graduating ...
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