<![CDATA[Getting a watermelon is not uncommon in the summer months. It’s a great snack and it keeps you hydrated too. But if you don’t store it properly, it can go bad. Luckily, it’s effortless to store it.
What’s the Best Way to Store Watermelon?
There are three ways to store watermelon properly and safely. Let’s take a look.
Method 1: Large Pieces
A whole watermelon can be kept for storage by either putting it in the refrigerator or letting it sit out at room temperature. That’s accurate. Keep in mind that storing fruit in the refrigerator reduces its nutritional value. The fruit may be left on a counter, but make sure it’s out of the sun.
It must be divided into two pieces and each must be carefully wrapped in plastic if you plan to preserve it in the refrigerator. As a result, it won’t pick up the aroma of other foods in the refrigerator. Large slices of watermelon can also be prepared in the same manner.
Method 2: Chopped Watermelon
The best way to do this is to chop only the part you want to eat. Cut out the rind from the fruit and chop it into small cubes or rectangles. Do this horizontally along the curve of the watermelon.
Once they are in cubes, keep the pieces in an airtight box. If you don’t, the fruit will lose its flavor and freshness in 3-4 days. That’s also the time frame within which you should eat it.
The third way to store a watermelon is to freeze it and that’s the next part.
Is It Possible to Freeze Watermelon?
It is totally possible to freeze a watermelon so that you can have it around for a longer period of time. For this, here’s what you need to do.
- Step 1: First, you must cut it open. Use a spoon or melon baller to cut the fruit into cubes or balls.
- Step 2: Remove the seeds. Line a (baking) tray with wax paper and place the fruit pieces on it.
- Step 3: Place the tray into the freezer and don’t disturb it till the pieces are frozen.
- Step 4: Keep the frozen pieces in a container or an airtight bag and seal them. Make sure you remove any air in the bag with a vacuum sealer or a straw.
If you want to use them all simultaneously, place them in one big bag. Otherwise, consider placing them in multiple small bags.
How Long Does Watermelon Last?
From the time it is picked, watermelon is good for about three or four weeks which is excellent shelf life. There are many ways to store it and one of them is to keep it on the counter as long as it is not too hot.
Since keeping it in the fridge brings its nutritional value down while also getting rid of its juice and texture, this is great news.
But you must remember that you’re not buying it a day after the fruit is picked. So, if you keep it on the counter, it is likely to be good for just about one week. When that is the worry, you can keep the fruit in the fridge without chopping it. If you have already chopped it, you should not leave it on the kitchen counter.
Watermelon’s shelf life comes down drastically once you open it up. Once the fruit is sliced open, experts say you have about 3-5 days to finish it. So, put it in the fridge and make sure to wrap the pieces with a food-grade plastic cover.
You also know that if you are chopping them into cubes, you should keep them in an airtight container but consume them as soon as you can.
In that case, you might lose nutrition, but at least it won’t go bad.
Related: Best Watermelon Slicer Reviews 2022: Top 5+ Recommended
What Are the Signs That a Watermelon Has Gone Bad?
Now, you want to get a melon that is ripe but not too ripe. This is especially true for people who want to store the fruit for a few days. If it is overripe, you will see that the watermelon has white mold or greenish-blue or black patches.
Even if it looks okay from the outside, the fruit may have gone bad on the inside. How do you check this? Well, you can’t tell from the outside, but once you cut it open, the flesh should not have dark spots or a slimy texture. You can also check the smell and if it seems off, you should throw it out.
In Conclusion
Watermelon is a summer favorite in many places in the world. That’s not just because it tastes good, but it also has a lot of water content that hydrates you when the mercury is dangerously high and it can make you feel fresh. To that end, many people love to get themselves a whole fruit. And now you know how to store it well too.
Further Reading: How Long Do Oranges Last? Storage, Shelf Life, Expiration