Watermelon leftovers don’t have to go bad. For a summary treat during winter, store the extra in the freezer. We’ll demonstrate how.
Since watermelons contain 92 percent water, freezing is a certainty. What kind of product will you have once they thaw the question?
The flesh won’t have the same toothsome bite it did before frozen. Therefore, the texture does change. There is a slight reduction in sweetness.
You should enjoy the frozen variety unless you have a sweet tooth and need the luscious richness that fresh watermelon provides for a picnic.
While some may associate watermelon with summer, you can enjoy its luscious sweetness all year long with a bit of forethought, preparation, and assistance from your freezer. Yes, may store watermelon in the freezer.
Can You Freeze Watermelon?
The short answer is yes, it can freeze watermelon, but it will be mushy when it thaws. You don’t have to discard your remaining watermelon, though.
This delectable fruit can still be frozen and used after thawing. Enjoy whole watermelon pieces while fresh because frozen watermelon won’t taste the same.
When lightly knocked, fruit suitable for freezing should have lovely, hollow-sounding centers and solid rinds. Firm, completely pigmented, and luscious flesh is ideal. Melons with rotted or dark stains should be avoided.
Frozen watermelon adds a taste of summer to drinks like margaritas and smoothies, allowing you to enjoy them throughout the coldest months of the year. Additionally, watermelon produces a delectable sorbet or granita.
Is It Safe To Freeze Watermelon?
Fresh watermelon juice dripping down your chin is the epitome of summer. By storing some watermelon in your freezer, you may recreate the experience of long summer days.
Are you sure it is safe to freeze watermelon? You may be wondering. Without a doubt, the answer is yes.
Always make sure you first take the fruit’s seeds out. Trust us when we say it’s much tougher to remove the seeds from the fruit when it’s frozen; the seeds will turn into irritating pebbles.
The good news is that freezing fresh fruit doesn’t dramatically impair its nutritional value and might even help some water-soluble vitamins last longer.
How To Freeze Watermelon?
Fresh watermelon freezes quickly because it contains a lot of water. Observe these steps to freeze fresh watermelon:
- Cut the watermelon in half. Remove the watermelon seeds and watermelon rind before cutting the watermelon into smaller pieces. Slices, cubes, chunks, and balls made from watermelon that have been melon-balled can all be frozen.
- Arrange the chunks of watermelon on a baking sheet. On a baking sheet, spread out some wax or parchment paper. Make sure the watermelon chunks are not touching each other when you distribute them in a single layer on the baking sheet.
- The watermelon was quickly frozen. For about two hours, freeze the baking sheet with the watermelon. When you put the watermelon in a freezer bag for convenient storage, ensure they don’t cling together by flash-freezing them first.
- Place the watermelon in a bag for storage. Put the watermelon in an airtight container or a freezer bag. In the freezer, you can store watermelon for up to a year.
What Is The Best Way To Freeze Watermelon?
Since it will be watermelon season by the time you run out, frozen watermelon will keep for eight to twelve months.
You can prepare watermelon quickly for freezing in less than ten minutes. Simply remove four or five pieces and reclose the container when ready for a smoothie.
Fruit chunks are frozen individually using this flash-freezing technique, making them simple to store and use as needed. Follow these easy steps to freeze your watermelon:
- Melons are chopped into small cubes or balls.
- Get rid of all the seeds.
- Place the pieces on a baking sheet so that they don’t touch.
- Flash-freeze the pieces for some time or until they are firm by placing the tray in the freezer.
- You should store the watermelon chunks in a freezer-safe container or storage bag.
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How To Thaw Frozen Watermelon?
When defrosting, there are a few options, as usual. Nothing new here, but I thought I’d add them anyway:
- Within the fridge: The size of your pieces will determine how long it takes for the fruit to defrost thoroughly. My chunks (the ones you can see in the video and pictures) thawed in roughly five hours when they were spread out in a single layer.
- At room temperature: The only frozen items that can be defrosted are tiny and will thaw in less than an hour (mine took exactly an hour to melt). Please be advised that if you choose this method, the melon must be consumed immediately after thawing. Most people, including me, don’t advocate going this route.
- Do not thaw: In many circumstances, the fruit doesn’t need to be thawed before use.
How Long Does Frozen Watermelon Last?
Despite their thick rinds and rugged appearance, they are highly perishable. They are only suitable for one to two days if kept on the counter.
Because it is a large, oval-shaped fruit, refrigerating an uncut one requires a lot of space. Whole fruit should not be stored in the refrigerator, but doing so can extend its shelf life by up to five days.
The lifespan decreases to three to four days once cut and chilled. Fortunately, freezing watermelons significantly extends their shelf life to 10 to 12 months. You should be able to freeze enough to last until the following season.
Do Watermelon Freeze Well?
An entire watermelon stays on the counter for 7 to 10 days or up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator. You should eat the watermelon within three days of being cut, but you can freeze it to extend its shelf life!
There are several ways to store watermelon in the freezer, including flash freezing, sugar coating, and syrup packing.
However, the flavor and texture will deteriorate (10-12 months). Watermelon that has yet to be frozen can be made into various goods if you don’t feel like eating the limp slices.
What To Do With Frozen Watermelon?
Smoothies: You can use the frozen fruit pieces instead of ice cubes if you leave the fruit frozen. Less water, more flavor.
Flavors for water. On a hot day, watermelon-flavored water is a great beverage. Cocktails and alcoholic beverages can also use it.
Salads of fruits: Make sure fresh fruits make up most of the salad. Any day of the week, fresh fruit is superior to frozen and thawed fruit, although most people will only notice the difference if only a little piece is from the latter category. But first, taste your watermelon.
Any recipe using watermelon purée. Melon that has been thawed resembles a pureed fruit. You probably won’t need a blender to purée it; a fork will do. However, you might have to strain some of the water.
Final Verdict:
A single watermelon requires some time to consume due to its size. It is worthwhile to attempt freezing watermelon, whether to preserve your harvest or to use up leftovers.
This season’s fruit can be frozen raw or in a syrup pack. It can survive up to a year with proper planning and a chilly freezer! So never again throw away this healthy fruit!
Generally, most fruits should be consumed within nine to fourteen months, while the optimal window varies based on the fruit and the freezing technique utilized. In recipes, you’ll typically find precise advice.
