Is there anything nicer in summer than holding and biting into a piece of sweet, juicy watermelon? The fresh taste, watery texture and beautiful red color characterize this summer fruit. In the heat, it is the perfect thirst quencher for young and old and can satisfy even the most demanding tastes. The delicious summer fruit is rich in vitamins but low in calories and can also be consumed during a diet. The watermelon consists of up to 97% water and can be used to prepare refreshing smoothies and summer cocktails. You can also grill melon slices or add individual pieces to savory dishes. Their fruity sweet taste is always preserved. Usually one buys a watermelon to consume in the next few days. But do you know how to keep watermelons fresh longer? We reveal the secret below and show you some methods to keep this summer fruit longer.
Instead of keeping the watermelons fresh longer, you can slice them up and eat them right away!
The slices of watermelon immediately quench your thirst in summer!
Watermelons are one of our favorite summer fruits
Not all watermelons are the same! The fruits differ in their size, weight, shape, color and taste. We usually import them from southern growing countries, because the melons like a warm climate. There are round and oval watermelons, their green skin can be solid, slightly striped or marbled, and a little rough to the touch. The inside is more important though, because underneath the skin is the flesh. It has a typical red colour, which is due to the carotenoid lycopene it contains. However, you can also find yellow, light green, orange and white watermelons on the market. The low-seeded and seedless varieties are in demand, i.e. they have no brown or black seeds in the pulp. But important ingredients are hidden in it, such as vitamins C, A and those from the B group, magnesium, calcium, potassium, beta-carotene and many more. These make any watermelon a favorite healthy summertime refreshment!
How to keep watermelons fresh longer? This is the best healthy summer refreshment you can imagine!
3 clever tips on how to keep watermelons fresher for longer
Follow our tips for storing those delicious summer fruits properly to keep your watermelons fresh and juicy for longer.
- Find a ripe watermelon in the market
The first step is always when shopping: choose a ripe, but not overripe, watermelon. How are you supposed to determine the perfect degree of ripeness if you only see the green skin? First of all, pay attention to the shape of the fruit, it should be firm and not have any soft or damaged spots. If your watermelon weighs quite a bit on the scale, that’s a good sign too! This means that the fruit contains enough water and is juicy inside. The tried and tested trick is the knock test, everyone knows it! When you tap the watermelon rind, you should hear a deep and hollow sound. This is the decisive criterion that the watermelon is really ripe!
Ripe watermelons make a hollow sound when tapped, like a drum!
2) Storing watermelons – in the kitchen at room temperature or in the fridge?
You have two options for storing one or a few watermelons properly. On the one hand, you can keep a whole melon at room temperature on a tray or right on the kitchen counter for 3 to 4 days. There the watermelon stays fresh, nutrients and taste are well preserved. This storage method is applicable just before you cut open the fruit. However, fruits that have already been sliced must be kept in the fridge! There they stay fresh and juicy for two to three days if you wrap them well in cling film. Whole watermelons can even be stored in the fridge for longer, for example up to 3 weeks. However, they take up a lot of space there. In addition, their taste changes a little when the temperatures drop below zero. They no longer taste as delicious and juicy as fresh fruit.
Keep watermelons fresh for longer: they can be stored in cling film in the fridge for a few days.
3) Freeze watermelons? Yes, individual cubes or the fruit juice
Watermelons are the best summer refreshment because they taste delicious and juicy. Many people cut the fruit first and put the slices or pieces in the fridge for an hour. People like to nibble on cool watermelons! But can you freeze the summer fruit? Our answer to that is yes! But under no circumstances should you freeze the whole fruit, because it can burst in the freezer and make everything dirty. Cut the watermelon into cubes and freeze them in a sealed container. The pieces remain there for about a year and retain their freshness and juiciness. However, you should remove the seeds before freezing! If you take the balls or cubes out of the freezer, you can use them straight away to prepare various cold drinks. For example, frozen watermelon cubes add the finishing touch to a cold lemonade, a smoothie or a cocktail!
Sliced watermelons can be kept fresh longer.
Hopefully our 3 tips for keeping watermelons fresher for longer will help you. For more ideas and recipes using the juicy red fruit, you can browse our website. Have lots of fun with it!
Keeping watermelons fresh for longer: fewer calories, more taste!
The most popular summer fruit par excellence!
What do you prefer to eat – watermelon or cantaloupe?
Enjoy the natural sweetness of summer fruits!
