How to store a ripe watermelon properly

How to store a ripe watermelon properly

Recognize ripe melons and store them correctly

In this country, watermelons usually come from the following countries during the main season:

  • Spain
  • Hungary
  • Turkey
  • Israel

also read

  • Can you freeze a watermelon?
  • Can a watermelon be fed to rabbits?
  • When is a watermelon ready for harvest?

Due to the weight of watermelons and their relative shelf life, the fruits are usually harvested ripe and then transported to us by land. This time, however, reduces the remaining time that a watermelon can be kept at home. You can tell that a watermelon is fully ripe by a yellow-colored contact point and by a muffled sound when you knock on it. From this point on, you shouldn't store the fruits for longer than one to two weeks at room temperature, if possible.

Keep watermelons in the refrigerator

Whole watermelons with intact skin can also be placed in a cool cellar for short-term storage. However, they not only keep much longer in the refrigerator, but their valuable nutrients and taste nuances are also better preserved at cooler storage temperatures. You should definitely put watermelons that have already been cut in the refrigerator. This is all the more true for halved fruit that has already been stored in the shop at room temperature for a while. Before storing in the refrigerator, put some cling film over the open interface so that the watermelon takes on fewer foreign odors from the refrigerator. Depending on how ripe the melon is, it can be kept in the refrigerator for between one and three weeks.

Preserving watermelons for a long time

If you harvest larger quantities of watermelons from your own garden or if you have the rest of a watermelon left over from fresh consumption, you can also pickle the pulp. To do this, the watermelon is cut into small cubes and the seeds are carefully removed. After boiling in a salty brew with spices, the watermelon can then be pickled in a mixture of vinegar and lime juice, so that it can later be eaten like a spicy vegetable side dish.

Tips & Tricks

When chopping a watermelon, make sure you have a clean surface and a hygienically cleaned knife if you want to keep the rest of it longer. Otherwise, accidentally applied germs can multiply in the refrigerator and lead to the melon spoiling more quickly.

The garden journal freshness-ABC

How can fruit and vegetables be stored correctly so that they stay fresh as long as possible?

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