Commercially-grown cucumbers might be coated in wax to protect them from spoiling and bruising. In addition, the peel on some cucumbers can be tough and bitter, prompting you to peel them before serving. Peeling cucumbers affects the nutritional value slightly, reducing the concentration of some vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
Calories and Macronutrients
A cucumber measuring about 8 1/4 inches long contains 45 calories with the peel and 34 calories without. Peeling the cucumber reduces a cucumber’s carbohydrate content from 10.9 grams to 6 grams. Peeling a cucumber barely affects its minimal fat and protein content.
Vitamins
A peeled cucumber has 2 percent less vitamin A and 37 percent less vitamin K. Peeling also reduces the amount of riboflavin and pantothenic acid in the vegetable. A peeled cucumber has a slightly higher concentration of thiamine, folate and vitamin B-6. A peeled cucumber also has less of the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin, which support healthy eyesight.
Minerals
Peeling your cucumber reduces calcium content by 9 mg, but cucumbers are not a major source of this mineral. It also slightly reduces iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc and manganese content.
Considerations
If you want to retain all the nutrients that the peel provides, use European cucumbers that feature a thinner, more palatable skin. European cucumbers are longer and thinner than garden cucumbers. They do not have a wax coating, but are wrapped in plastic to protect them from bruising. European cucumbers might have less flavor than the fatter garden cucumbers, however.
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