Cucumber Juice Recipe: Cool, Hydrating & Easy to Make

Cool, crisp and lightly sweet, cucumber juice tastes like a spa day in a glass. It is one of the easiest and most hydrating juices you can make, and this cucumber juice recipe takes only five minutes.

Cucumbers are about 95% water, so they turn into juice quickly and pair well with almost anything. This post covers how to make cucumber juice in a juicer or blender, five tasty variations, the real benefits, how to pick and store cucumbers and how to make the juice taste even better.

Quick answer: To make cucumber juice, wash two large cucumbers, cut them into spears and run them through a juicer with half a peeled lemon. No juicer? Blend the chopped cucumbers with 1/4 cup of cold water and the lemon juice, then strain the mix through a nut milk bag. Serve it over ice with fresh mint. English and Persian cucumbers make the sweetest juice, and you can leave the skin on if you wash them well.

Why Make Cucumber Juice?

• Very hydrating: Cucumbers are mostly water.
• Low in calories and sugar: A great base for low-sugar juices.
• Mild flavor: Mixes well with fruit, herbs and greens.
• Cheap: Cucumbers are affordable all year.
• Easy: No peeling needed if you wash them well.

Classic Cucumber Juice Recipe

Get this right and your cucumber juice recipe turns out great every time.

Ingredients (Makes About 16 oz)

• 2 large cucumbers (or 1 large English cucumber plus 1 small)
• 1/2 lemon, peeled (or juice of 1/2 lemon)
• Ice and fresh mint for serving
• Optional: 1 small green apple for sweetness

Juicer Method

1. Wash the cucumbers well under running water. Scrub off any wax.
2. Cut them into spears that fit your juicer chute.
3. Juice the cucumbers, then the lemon (and apple, if using).
4. Stir and taste. Add more lemon for brightness.
5. Serve over ice with mint.

Blender Method (No Juicer Needed)

1. Chop the cucumbers into chunks.
2. Add to a blender with 1/4 cup cold water and the lemon juice.
3. Blend on high for 30 to 45 seconds until smooth.
4. Pour through a nut milk bag or fine mesh strainer.
5. Squeeze or press to get all the juice out.
6. Serve over ice.

One large cucumber gives roughly 6 to 8 ounces of juice, so two make a generous glass.

Best Cucumbers for Juicing

Most people get this part of a cucumber juice recipe wrong at first.

Type	Skin	Seeds	Juice notes
English (hothouse)	Thin, often wrapped in plastic	Few	Mild, sweet, no peeling needed
Persian (mini)	Thin	Few	Sweet, crunchy, great for small batches
Slicing (standard)	Thicker, often waxed	More	Scrub or peel waxed skin
Kirby (pickling)	Bumpy	Medium	Crisp, can be slightly bitter

English and Persian cucumbers are the top choices for juicing because they are sweet and have thin, unwaxed skins.

5 Cucumber Juice Variations

1. Cucumber Lemon Juice

The classic. 2 cucumbers and 1/2 lemon. Bright and clean.

2. Cucumber Mint Lime Cooler

• 2 cucumbers
• 1 lime, peeled
• Handful of fresh mint

Refreshing and perfect after a workout.

3. Cucumber Apple Spinach Juice

• 1 large cucumber
• 1 green apple
• 1 cup spinach
• 1/2 lemon

A mild green juice. See our full green juice recipe for more.

4. Cucumber Ginger Juice

• 2 cucumbers
• 1/2-inch fresh ginger
• 1/2 lemon

Warm, spicy and refreshing at the same time.

5. Cucumber Pineapple Juice

• 1 cucumber
• 1 cup pineapple chunks
• Few mint leaves

Sweet and tropical. We also have a pineapple cucumber juice recipe and a celery cucumber juice you will love.

Cucumber Juice Benefits

Cucumber juice is light, but it still offers some nutrients. You can explore full nutrition data in USDA FoodData Central.

• Hydration: With so much water, cucumber juice is a tasty way to drink more fluids.
• Low in calories: A glass has very few calories and very little sugar.
• Vitamin K: Cucumbers, especially the skin, provide some vitamin K.
• Potassium: Cucumbers contain potassium, a mineral that helps your body balance fluids.
• Plant compounds: Cucumbers contain antioxidants like flavonoids.

Keep expectations realistic. Cucumber juice will not “detox” your body, which is your liver’s and kidneys’ job. Still, it is a refreshing, low-sugar drink that can replace soda or sweet drinks. The Mayo Clinic reminds us that whole vegetables give fiber that juice lacks.

How to Make Cucumber Juice Taste Better

• Add acid. Lemon or lime makes cucumber juice taste brighter.
• Use fresh herbs. Mint, basil or cilantro add a fresh twist.
• Add a sweet fruit. A green apple, pear or a little pineapple balances the flavor.
• Chill your cucumbers. Cold cucumbers make cold, crisp juice.
• Add a pinch of salt. It brings out the flavor.
• Remove bitter ends. Cut off the stem end, which can taste bitter.

How to Store Cucumber Juice

• Fridge: Store in a sealed glass jar, filled to the top, for up to 24 to 48 hours.
• Freezer: Freeze in ice cube trays and use in smoothies or water.
• Stir before drinking, since it may separate.

Fresh juice is not pasteurized, so keep it cold. The FDA suggests extra care for children, older adults and anyone with a weak immune system.

How to Pick and Store Cucumbers

• Choose firm cucumbers with no soft spots.
• Look for bright green skin. Yellowing can mean the cucumber is old.
• Pick slimmer cucumbers. They usually have fewer seeds.
• Store in the fridge, wrapped in a towel or loose plastic, in the crisper drawer. Use within about a week.

Cucumber Juice vs Cucumber Water

Factor	Cucumber juice	Cucumber water
How it is made	Juiced or blended and strained	Slices soaked in water
Flavor	Strong cucumber flavor	Light hint of cucumber
Nutrients	More	Very little
Calories	Low	Almost none
Best for	Juice blends, green juice base	All-day sipping

Both are refreshing. Cucumber water is great to keep in the fridge, while cucumber juice is better for a nutrient-rich drink.

Best Juicer for Cucumber Juice

Cucumbers are soft and watery, so almost any juicer works. Centrifugal juicers make it quickly, while slow juicers give smoother juice with less foam. Learn the difference in our masticating vs centrifugal juicer guide, or see the best juicers for greens if you want to add spinach and kale.

Cucumber Juice Ideas for Every Day

• Morning: Cucumber lemon juice with breakfast.
• Pre-workout: Cucumber, apple and ginger.
• Post-workout: Cucumber mint lime with a pinch of sea salt and coconut water.
• Afternoon refresh: Cucumber pineapple over ice.
• Mocktail hour: Cucumber juice with lime and sparkling water.

Using the Leftover Cucumber Pulp

Cucumber pulp is moist and mild. Try these ideas:

• Stir into tzatziki or yogurt dips.
• Add to cold soups like gazpacho.
• Mix into veggie burgers.
• Freeze into ice cubes for smoothies.
• Add to compost.

Read more ideas in our guide on what to do with juice pulp.

Cucumber Juice for Summer Parties

Cucumber juice makes a great base for refreshing party drinks.

Cucumber Lime Spritzer Pitcher (Serves 6)

• 6 cucumbers, juiced (about 4 cups juice)
• Juice of 4 limes
• 1/4 cup honey or simple syrup
• 2 cups sparkling water
• Mint and lime slices

Mix the juice, lime and sweetener in a pitcher. Chill. Add sparkling water right before serving.

Cucumber Watermelon Cooler

Mix equal parts cucumber juice and watermelon juice. Pour over ice with a squeeze of lime.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Using waxed cucumbers without scrubbing. Wax can affect taste and texture.
2. Skipping the acid. Plain cucumber juice can taste flat.
3. Juicing old, soft cucumbers. They can taste bitter.
4. Adding too much fruit. It can overpower the cucumber and add sugar.
5. Making it too far ahead. Fresh juice tastes best within a day.

Cucumber Juice Nutrition at a Glance

Here is roughly what you get in one cup (8 oz) of fresh cucumber juice. Values vary, so check USDA FoodData Central for exact data.

Nutrient	Approximate amount per cup
Calories	About 30 to 40
Natural sugar	About 3 to 5 g
Vitamin K	A good amount, especially with the skin
Potassium	A moderate amount
Fat	Almost none

Cucumber juice is one of the lowest-sugar juices you can make, which makes it a smart base for green juices.

A 3-Day Cucumber Juice Plan

Want to build a habit? Try this simple plan:

Day	Morning	Afternoon
Day 1	Cucumber Lemon Juice	Cucumber water with mint
Day 2	Cucumber Apple Spinach Juice	Cucumber Lime Spritzer
Day 3	Cucumber Ginger Juice	Cucumber Pineapple Juice

Keep eating regular meals with plenty of whole vegetables, fruits, protein and whole grains. Juice works best as an addition, not a replacement.

How Many Cucumbers for Cucumber Juice?

Juice amount	Large cucumbers	English cucumbers
1 glass (8 oz)	1 to 1 1/2	1
2 glasses (16 oz)	2 to 3	2
1 quart (32 oz)	5 to 6	4

Cucumbers are very juicy, so they give a lot of juice for their weight compared with carrots or greens.

Cucumber Juice Flavor Pairing Chart

Pairs well with	Flavor it adds
Lemon or lime	Bright, tangy
Mint or basil	Fresh, cooling
Green apple or pear	Gentle sweetness
Ginger	Warm spice
Pineapple or kiwi	Tropical sweetness
Celery	Light, savory, salty
Spinach or kale	Earthy green notes
Jalapeño (tiny slice)	A spicy kick

How to Grow Cucumbers for Juicing

If you have a garden or patio, cucumbers are easy to grow:

• Pick a sunny spot with at least 6 to 8 hours of sun.
• Plant after the last frost, when the soil is warm.
• Give vines something to climb, like a trellis or fence.
• Water often. Cucumbers need steady moisture to stay crisp and sweet.
• Harvest young. Smaller cucumbers taste sweeter and have fewer seeds.

A few healthy plants can give you enough cucumbers for juice all summer.

Quick Cucumber Juice Tips

• Choose firm, bright green cucumbers with no soft spots.
• Cut off the stem end, which can taste bitter.
• Add citrus to brighten the flavor.
• Serve over ice with mint for a spa-style drink.
• Use cucumber juice as a low-sugar base for any green juice.

People Also Ask

How do you make cucumber juice?

Wash 2 cucumbers, cut them to fit your juicer and juice them with half a lemon. If you do not have a juicer, blend the cucumbers with a little water and strain the mixture.

Do I need to peel cucumbers before juicing?

No. Wash them well and leave the skin on for more nutrients. Peel waxed cucumbers if you prefer, or scrub the wax off.

Is it good to drink cucumber juice every day?

Many people enjoy cucumber juice daily as a hydrating, low-sugar drink. Keep eating whole vegetables too for fiber.

Can I make cucumber juice without a juicer?

Yes. Blend chopped cucumbers with a little water, then strain through a nut milk bag or fine mesh strainer.

How long does cucumber juice last?

Fresh cucumber juice is best within 24 to 48 hours in a sealed jar in the fridge.

Final Word

This cucumber juice recipe is quick, cheap and incredibly refreshing. Use English or Persian cucumbers, add a splash of lemon or lime and try our five variations to find your favorite. It is a perfect low-sugar base for green juices and summer mocktails.

Make a glass today and see how good it feels to sip something so fresh. For more ideas, explore our juicer recipes or try our popular green juice recipe.