Viral TikTok Cucumber Salad Recipes Spark Massive Cucumber Shortage in Iceland
Trends are fleeting, but the latest one seems to be gaining momentum as the flavor combinations seem endless. Meet the Cucumber Community, a viral sensation brought to life by popular TikToker, Logan Moffitt, who encourages viewers to take the good old green cucumber and turn it into umami flavor bombs with weird and wonderful combination creations.
Crazy about cucumbers? Apparently, most of the world is too! The latest cucumber salad trend, which has taken over social media by storm (particularly TikTok), revolves around a simple but versatile cucumber salad made popular by TikToker, Logan Moffitt.
Logan Moffitt in his home | Source: TikTok via tiktok.com/@logagm
Now dubbed as the “cucumber guy,” Moffitt has amassed millions of views with his unique take on different cucumber salads.
Moffitt’s original recipe was as easy as they come:
He sliced cucumbers thinly using a mandoline while throwing in a variety of other simple ingredients like soy sauce, fish sauce, sesame oil, grated garlic, green onions, sesame seeds, and a sprinkle of MSG.
Easy, right?
Logan Moffitt using a mandolin | Source: TikTok via tiktok.com/@logagm
But it gets even more interesting!
Since this trend took off, there have been some major impacts on cucumber sales, even causing shortages in places, such as Iceland.
Let’s dig a little deeper.
Logan Moffitt is a 23-year-old TikTok creator who has truly created a cucumber phenomenon with his endless cucumber recipes.
Logan Moffitt eating his salad | Source: TikTok via tiktok.com/@logagm
His TikTok videos often begin with “Sometimes you need to eat an entire cucumber,” and result in drawing nearly 27 million views on a single post. Most viewers are simply amazed at Moffitt’s ability to transform the humble cucumber into flavor bombs with countless flavor combinations which has inspired people to delve into their kitchens and get exploring and experimenting.
Moffitt has stated that cucumbers have been a personal favorite of his for years:
“I’ve been eating them like candy since I was a kid!”
Logan Moffitt eating his salad | Source: TikTok via tiktok.com/@logagm
What about life before becoming a viral sensation?
According to an article, Moffitt indicates that he began cooking at the young age of 14, using his TikTok account to express his laid-back cooking videos where he drew inspiration from Jamie Oliver and other television hosts.
The appeal of these videos is not just found in the seasonality of cucumbers but in the joy of turning something mundane into a moment of fresh magic.
Containers of cucumber salad | Source: Midjourney
Amanda Brennan, a trends strategist, pointed out that cucumbers are:
“…now being presented as something that you should enjoy.”
Which ultimately turns a bland and boring salad ingredient into something exciting and savored.
What is Moffitt’s approach?
Using a mandoline, he slices cucumbers paper-thin, and tosses them into a container with an array of ingredients such as jalapeños, smoked salmon, or even the everything-bagel seasoning. A few vigorous (really, take out your anger and frustration) shakes later, he dives in with a pair of chopsticks.
“…riff in [your] own kitchens” he encourages.
A young woman cutting cucumbers | Source: Midjourney
Okay, but there’s more!
Since this trend has taken off there has been an unexpected surge in cucumber demand. There have been reports all over the world of doubling cucumber sales, causing farmers to struggle with maintaining demand and supply as the sensation continues to grow.
While social media advocates believe that this surge is due to Moffitt’s viral videos, experts argue other facts, like seasonal plant replacements and schools reopening.
“Everything is happening at the same time,” noted Kristín Linda Sveinsdóttir, a member of Iceland’s farmers association.
Crates of cucumbers | Source: Midjourney
But with over 5.5 million followers, Moffitt has been a significant driver of the craze, increasing interest in cucumber despite schools reopening and other factors that experts have hinted at. Luckily for cucumber fans, despite this shortage, Icelandic farmers remain hopeful that supply will soon stabilize… provided that there are no further disruptions.
What do you think?
Want to try one of these salads? Here are three of Moffitt’s recipes for you:
A whole cucumber
1 1/2 tablespoons of soy sauce
A drizzle of fish sauce
A drizzle of sugar
A dash of MSG
“A lot” of sesame oil
1 garlic clove grated (but if chopping, use two)
2 whole green onions – chop with scissors
Toasted sesame seeds
Optional: red pepper flakes
Recipe 2: The jalapeño-popper
A whole cucumber
A large spoonful of cream cheese
Diced jalapeños
Diced red onion
A drizzle of ranch
Toss in some bacon bits
Throw in a lot of shredded cheddar
A dash of MSG
Recipe 3: Tuna-Mayo
A whole cucumber
An entire tin of tuna
A drizzle of kewpie mayo
A drizzle of sesame oil
Salt
A dash of MSG
This viral trend is more than a fleeting fascination. In fact, it’s a reflection of our collective desire for simplicity, creativity, and a bit of joy in the everyday. As Logan Moffitt continues to share his cucumber creations, he invites us all to take a moment to savor the small things, one crunchy bite at a time.
Would you try any of these recipes? Let us know!
People eating cucumber salad with chopsticks | Source: Midjourney
Here’s another article for you:
Interrogation Footage Reveals How Killer Slips up Unexpectedly after Being Asked, ‘What Do You Think Happened?’
It is not unheard of for killers to insert themselves into an investigation and even give the officers clues. Perhaps, some simply can’t keep themselves from walking on edge and getting the adrenaline rush, or maybe, they are trying to appear as simple bystanders. However, this man couldn’t fool the police when he came in for questioning.
Not much is known about Linda Riley’s life before her disappearance on February 27th, 2012, and what we do know comes mainly from the interviews with Jay Rothe.
Linda Riley | Source: youtube.com/@mindofacriminal
A photo of Linda Riley | Source: youtube.com/@mindofacriminal
The man came to the police station Springfield Police Department in Missouri supposedly to find out about the disappearance of his friend. According to Youtuber “Mind of A Criminal,” when the man appeared at the police station, he seemed to be a genuinely concerned friend of Riley’s.
A day before, Riley was reported missing by her neighbor, who was disturbed by the unanswered calls in her house. Upon going to check on her, the neighbor found her house unlocked with her nowhere to be found.
Riley’s house | Source: youtube.com/@mindofacriminal
A photo of the crime scene | Source: youtube.com/@mindofacriminal
After finding her phone and purse to still be in the house, the police immediately suspected foul play. A missing endangered person alert was issued, stating that Riley disappeared from her home “under suspicious circumstances.”
According to the “Mind of A Criminal,” Rothe requested a voluntary interview and was not initially a person of interest. However, the police did know the man was in contact with Riley two days before her disappearance.
Jay Rothe | Source: youtube.com/@mindofacriminal
Rothe at the interview | Source: youtube.com/@mindofacriminal
In the snippet of the interview footage, Rothe said he left around 3:10 a.m. with the woman’s garbage to throw it out and texted her he made it home safely upon arrival. Apparently, he didn’t suspect anything when she didn’t answer his call in the morning, because she “did it all the time.”
Rothe’s worried behavior was attributed to his wish to find Riley quickly. The first 24 hours after a victim’s disappearance are crucial, so it was natural for a friend to assist in the search. However, the police’s attitude changed when the man started giving his side of the story.
Rothe’s van | Source: youtube.com/@mindofacriminal
Rothe informed the police about Riley being “stressed out a little bit” about men who had been coming over, especially about “Floyd.” This claim was supported by the scribbles of his name found at the crime scene. The man mentioned seeing “Floyd” one time. He didn’t know his last name.
“I don’t know what happened, anything could happen with that neighborhood…”
The photo of the crime scene | Source: youtube.com/@mindofacriminal
Rothe slipped when the officer implied that the concerns over Riley’s disappearance could be exaggerated.
Read the full story here.