Cucumbers are a common garden vegetable that require little maintenance. Once cut from their plant, they can be employed in a variety of ways. Some people choose to pickle and preserve the cucumbers either whole or in slices, while the vegetable is also used in salads, sandwiches and other simple recipes. Cucumbers can also be added in to sushi and are sometimes used as a palate-cleansing garnish with some foods. In any case, preparing cucumbers is an easy process.

Scrub and rinse the cucumber in running water to remove chemicals, dirt and other sediments from the skin of the vegetable.

Cut thin slices of a quarter-inch or less across the width of the cucumber. This is the preferred way to cut cucumber for salads or as a snack. For sushi, the cucumber should be cut lengthwise into long strips, then turned 90 degrees and sliced again to create thin sticks that can be placed in sushi rolls.

Sprinkle a small amount of sea salt onto the slices and let sit for 30 minutes in a refrigerator. This enhances the flavor in the slices when eaten later.