Watermelon with 92% water is a great refreshing fruit. This fruit also appears in many recipes such as salads and smoothies. However, not every season of the year has watermelon. The best way to store watermelon is to freeze it. Large watermelons that you cannot eat all at once can also be frozen. If frozen properly, you can help watermelon retain its flavor, color and nutrients for a long time. How to freeze watermelon properly? What’s your tip? Join us to learn the best watermelon freezing guide in this article!
How can you freeze watermelon?
To preserve watermelon for a longer time, freezing is the best method. Freezing watermelon properly does not take much time. You can freeze watermelon easily with our 6 easy steps.
Step 1: Choose a ripe watermelon
First, to have high quality frozen watermelon pieces you need to choose the best ripe watermelons. Watermelon must be fresh, ripe, not hollow and without any signs of bruising or rot. You need to choose ripe watermelon to ensure the taste and sweetness. Because once frozen, your watermelon can no longer ripen.
To choose a delicious watermelon you can tap and hear its cry. If the sound is sharp and resonant, the watermelon is ripe.
Step 2: Cut the watermelon
To better freeze watermelon you need to cut them into bite-sized cubes. Remove the peel and remove only the red flesh. You can remove the seeds if you like, but for me that is not necessary.
You can cut the watermelon into pieces or shapes you want.
Step 3: Place the watermelon cubes in the tray
Next prepare a tray of water with parchment or parchment paper on top. This liner helps prevent frozen watermelon from sticking to the baking tray. Then you place the watermelon pieces on the baking tray so that they do not touch each other. The distance between each piece can be 1cm.
Step 4: Freeze the watermelon pieces
After you have arranged the watermelon in the tray, place the tray in the freezer for a few hours to freeze. Depending on the operation level of your refrigerator, it can be 3 to 4 hours or more.
Step 5: Put the frozen watermelon in the bag
Check and see that the watermelon pieces are frozen, remove them from the baking tray, separate them into cut cubes. Then place the frozen blocks in the freezer bag and remove the air from the bag and seal the bags. You can use a vacuum to remove the air.
Step 6: Freeze Watermelon
Prepare a sticker with the date you froze the watermelon for identification. Then put the frozen watermelon bag back in the freezer. Whenever you need to use watermelon you can take it out to use.
With just 6 easy steps and a few minutes to prepare you can store fresh watermelons for months to come. Frozen watermelon drink recipes are not only delicious but also more convenient.
3 tips for freezing watermelon
You already have our detailed instructions on how to freeze watermelon, but to get the best results you need a few tips. These tips will not only help you increase the freezing time of your watermelon but will also help your watermelon taste fresher and tastier.
Should choose ripe watermelon
A ripe watermelon will have the best sweetness and water content. When you freeze ripe watermelon, the nutrients and flavor are preserved. However, overripe or underripe watermelon will not taste the best and can be frozen for a shorter time. Overripe watermelons are easily degraded during the freezing process, and the taste is also not preserved. Unripe watermelons cannot continue to ripen in the freezer, resulting in your watermelon with no flavor in the freezer.
Frozen in syrup
Freezing watermelon in a syrup like sugar or sugary juice will preserve more of the texture and flavor of the watermelon. Plus, frozen watermelon turns out to be sweet and savory, too.
However, this tip is not healthy. Consuming a lot of sugar can cause a number of problems that are not good for your health. On the contrary, this is a great choice if you want to use frozen watermelon as a topping for ice cream.
Leave room for expansion
When you freeze anything that contains liquid you need to leave some space for it to expand. Watermelon is 92% water, so when frozen you need to be careful. If you want to freeze watermelon juice, you also need to leave some space for it to expand when frozen.
What can I make with frozen watermelon?
Watermelons appear in many different recipes, and so do frozen watermelons. Even with some recipes like smoothies and ice cream, frozen watermelon saves a lot of processing time. Frozen watermelons don’t have much of an effect on the overall quality, but thawing will affect their texture and appearance. Suggested recipes for using frozen watermelon are usually recipes that do not require defrosting.
Here are some easy and delicious recipes with frozen watermelon:
Watermelon smoothie
Watermelon smoothie is an extremely popular summertime refreshment. With frozen watermelon you can make this recipe faster and more delicious.
Ingredients
- Frozen watermelon
- Banana or strawberry or your favorite fruit
- Fresh milk
- Ice cubes
- Sugar or sweetener
Instructions
- Put frozen watermelon, favorite fruit, milk and sugar in blender
- Blend until you get a smooth mixture
- Add ice cubes and continue to blend until smooth
- Pour into glasses and serve with your favorite topping
Mini watermelon ice pops
Ice pops are a favorite dish of many people in the summer, especially watermelon ice pops can help you quench your thirst better. The recipe is extremely simple and attractive below:
Ingredients
- Frozen watermelon
Instructions
There are many ways to prepare watermelon ice pops. In this article, we will guide you with the two simplest and most special recipes.
Original Watermelon ice pops
- Take out the frozen watermelon and divide it into small cubes to your liking. (you can divide the cubes before freezing to make it easier to cut)
- Use an ice cream stick to poke each frozen watermelon block
- Line the tray with parchment paper, then place the frozen watermelon cubes on top and place in the fridge for about 2 hours
- Check that the stick and watermelon are firm, then take out and serve
Watermelon ice pops ice cream pops
- Blend frozen watermelon with half a cup of water until smooth. You can blend with milk or add sugar to get a delicious mixture
- Pour the mixture into the popsicle molds and place them in the freezer for about 2 to 3 hours
- Check that the ice cream is frozen, then remove from the mold and enjoy
Watermelon sorbet
Watermelon side dishes are varied and watermelon sorbet is a great choice. If you want to enjoy this dish at home then this simple guide will help you.
Ingredients
- Frozen watermelon
- Lemonade
- Sweet syrup (optional)
Instructions
- Place frozen watermelon and lemon juice in a blender and blend thoroughly until a smooth texture is obtained
- Add a teaspoon of your favorite syrup to the mixture and mix well. You should add the syrup slowly and taste it at the same time to achieve the desired sweetness
- Pour the mixture into a bowl or cup and serve immediately
Iced watermelon juices
Watermelon juice is not only delicious but also nutritious. You can make a great watermelon juice with frozen watermelon by following these instructions:
Ingredients
- Frozen watermelon
- Ice mold/tray
- Water
Instructions
- Cut the frozen watermelon into small pieces, place them in the ice tray and leave about 1/3 of the mold
- Pour water into the ice molds until the molds are full, then put them in the fridge until they harden
- Blend one more portion of frozen watermelon with maple syrup or sugar until smooth. Season to taste sweet enough
- Pour the blended watermelon mixture into a cup and then drop the frozen watermelon ice cubes into it. Serve immediately
On-the-go watermelon bites
This is a great dessert made from frozen watermelon. You can take it with you on trips or on the go.
Ingredients
- Frozen watermelon
- Melted Gelatin
Instructions
- Prepare a bowl of molten gelatin
- Get chunks of frozen watermelon cut to taste
- Dip the frozen watermelon cubes in the bowl one at a time, dipping well so that the gelatin covers the watermelon cubes
- Place the gelatin-coated blocks on a tray lined with parchment
- Poke a toothpick into each frozen watermelon block that has been coated with gelatin
- Put the tray in the freezer for 2 hours until the blocks harden
- Take the blocks out a few minutes before serving
What happens if you freeze a whole watermelon?
Freezing a whole watermelon causes its texture to change when thawed. Watermelon has high air and water content. When freezing, the amount of water inside will expand and the air will be compressed. The large size of the watermelon prevents it from being completely frozen.
Also, freezing whole watermelons is not as easy as freezing chopped watermelons. You will spend more time and space on a large watermelon. The expansion of watermelon when frozen also brings many problems when changing the texture. Chopping frozen watermelons to remove the rind and process has also become a lot more difficult
You can freeze a whole watermelon if you have enough time and space to freeze it. It is not harmful however we do not recommend it.
How long does frozen watermelon last?
If you freeze watermelons properly, they can last for 10 to 12 months. However, you shouldn’t keep watermelons frozen for more than 12 months. Too long freezing time not only causes watermelon to lose its inherent flavor, its internal texture is also changed. That transformation is not good, it can even cause many problems that are harmful to your health if you use it.
Although not frozen, you can still store watermelons for a long time in the right environment. They are fruits that do not spoil quickly. If you haven’t cut or bruised the watermelon since harvesting, you can leave it for 10 to 12 days at room temperature. You can keep it in a cool, dry, and temperature stable location for storage. It is best to consume them within the first 1 to 2 weeks after purchase.
If you don’t freeze them, you can keep watermelons for several weeks, cut or whole, in the refrigerator. Cut watermelon can only be kept fresh in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. If you keep the fruit whole, the shelf life will be longer.
When you freeze a whole watermelon, it can continue to be frozen after cutting. However, the time will not belong.
How to know if watermelon has gone bad?
Even with proper storage, your watermelon can go bad. You can tell if your watermelon is spoiled or not based on the look or the smell and taste of the watermelon.
If your watermelon has mold or is unusually green, white, or black, it’s spoiled. Some other cases of damaged watermelon such as the appearance of black dots, the flesh of the melon is soft, mushy or has a slimy membrane. If you find that your watermelon has an unusual color (yellow or crimson) watering, it may also be spoiled.
In addition to the symptoms that can be easily recognized with the naked eye, when a watermelon is spoiled, it can also appear with strange scents and flavors. At first, when you smell your watermelon has a strange, musty smell, it is definitely spoiled. When watermelon has a sour or unpleasant taste other than sweet, it is no longer safe for you to consume.
If your watermelon shows any of the above symptoms, it is no longer safe to consume. Conversely, if you do not find any symptoms then your watermelon is in good condition and can be used.
How do you store watermelon for a long time?
If you are looking for a way to preserve watermelon for a long time, freezing is the most effective method. Freezing can prevent the growth of microorganisms, slow down enzyme activity and delay the spoilage time of watermelon. This convenient remedy can be applied to many other foods, including watermelon juice. When freezing watermelon you can preserve it for 5 times longer than conventional methods of preservation.
The right temperature will help your watermelon last longer. In addition, it also helps greatly in ensuring the taste and deliciousness of watermelon. The prerequisite is that you must maintain a stable freezing temperature, there should be no sudden temperature changes.
Although freezing watermelons is an effective method, experts recommend freezing watermelons for up to 12 months. If this time is over, the quality of watermelon will gradually decrease, even if the taste is no longer fresh and may cause harm to the body when used.
How do you defrost watermelon?
You don’t have to completely defrost watermelon before you eat it. With lots of fun recipes, you can even use frozen watermelon for a fresher taste. Especially when you freeze watermelon with sugar or sweet syrup and juice, it is much more convenient to use frozen watermelon.
However, if you want to defrost watermelon for your recipes, you can simply remove the watermelon from the freezer compartment to the refrigerator compartment. You just need to leave them until they are completely defrosted and have the softness you want.
You should not defrost watermelon by soaking it in hot water or leaving it at room temperature. That stimulates the textures in the watermelon to break down and convert, and causes more bacteria to grow in the watermelon.
Can you refreeze the watermelon?
You can refreeze the watermelon after defrosting. But re-frozen watermelon can only be used in smoothie, ice cream or juice recipes. You must also refreeze the watermelon shortly after it has been defrosted.
Watermelon contains a lot of water, when frozen and thawed, most of its texture has been broken. That process happens, causing the thawed watermelon to become mushy and no longer beautiful in color, its taste will also be slightly changed from the original fresh taste.
The above leads us to recommend that you shouldn’t refreeze watermelon, but you can do it when you don’t want to waste your leftover thawed watermelon.
Conclusion
Watermelon is a wonderful fruit and freezing watermelon is the most effective way to help you preserve this fruit for a long time. This convenient method also makes it possible to use watermelon year-round. Frozen watermelon can also be processed into many delicious and refreshing dishes. However, how to properly freeze watermelon is important knowledge. Hopefully, the information that we share with you in this article will help you preserve more of the flavor of watermelon in the freezer compartment.
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