Before you freeze this fantastic summertime fruit , take up on the good path to freeze down watermelon .
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Here ’s some sweet news : Fresh watermelon time of year is quite long , span fromApril through September . So from recent spring to late summertime , when the ultra - hydrating fruit is at its freshest and most saporous , I find myself stocking up on another melon vine nearly every market store run . ( In case you miss it , here are our top4 trick for picking a perfect watermelon . )
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Even with all of these sweet and savoryfresh watermelon recipesin my repertoire , sometimes I get a bit forward of myself , and ca n’t make it through all of our fresh melon vine before it ’s past its heyday . Whole watermelon lasts up to 10 days in the refrigerator . Once the fruit has been sliced , the clock really starts ticktock . Cut Citrullus vulgaris can usually hang out for about 4 to 7 days in the refrigerator before it starts to observably degrade in timbre , consort to theNational Watermelon Promotion Board .
of late , as I looked at acrisper drawerfull of an almost - full nutrient storage container full of watermelon , I wondered , “ can I immobilise Citrullus vulgaris ? ” Unsure of how to block watermelon — and if I should — I called up my friends in the Test Kitchen .
Can You Freeze Watermelon?
According to Sarah Brekke , M.S.,Better Homes & GardensTest Kitchen marque director , “ yes , you certain can freeze down Citrullus vulgaris ! ”
This answer is genuine for both red andyellow watermelon ; seeded or seedless . Your easy option will be to freeze down seedless watermelon , and you must remove the rind and seeds before freeze . ( Both get rock and roll hard once on crank . )
The flesh inside a sweet , ripe watermelonfreezes beautifully , and if stored properly , “ watermelon will store well in the freezer for about 6 months , ” Brekke read .
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How to Freeze Watermelon 3 Ways, According to Our Test Kitchen
There are solutions for how to freeze down watermelon : In piece , as juice , or as a yield purée . Since the timer ticks on the melon ’s lifespan with each passing time of day after it has been tailor , it ’s impertinent to freeze watermelon as soon as you know that you wo n’t be consuming it fresh . Keep zip - top freezer bags on hand for any time that you desire to freeze down some of your watermelon cubes .
How to Freeze Watermelon Cubes or Balls
Freezing Citrullus vulgaris in pieces works well for most frozen Citrullus vulgaris recipes . Brekke coaches us through how to freeze watermelon vine cubes or balls :
How to Freeze Watermelon Purée
For smoothies , cocktailsand liveliness - free drinks , and desserts , you may desire to freeze watermelon vine in as a puréed mixture . To do so :
How to Freeze Watermelon Juice
watermelon vine juiceis another excellent option for freezing the yield . If you contrive to thaw the watermelon before using , this is your dear pick . To freeze Citrullus vulgaris juice :
Test Kitchen Tip : Feel free to employ a juicer or cartridge extractor if you have either of these two pecker alternatively of a liquidizer if you have one of those handy . Since either will admit you to pass over the filter out footprint , it will save you a bit of prison term .
Why You Should Never Freeze Watermelon
Do n’t undertake to freeze whole Citrullus vulgaris . Not only will this take up a lot of precious real the three estates in your freezer , but it could also break due to the insistency of the flesh freezing inside the rind . glacial whole watermelon will also be extremely unmanageable or impossible to slice , and allowing the full yield to thaw will render it mushy and unpleasant . Stick to pieces , purée , or succus instead .
Do You Need to Thaw Frozen Watermelon?
“ Thawed watermelon will be quite gentle , so we do n’t recommend using it on a fruit tray or in asalad , ” Brekke say .
Thawing frozen watermelon is not necessary , but you may want to thaw it for some applications ( such as drinking watermelon juice or add purée to a drink ) , she confirm . If you opt to thaw frozen watermelon vine , keep in intellect that its grain will be much easygoing than its fresh form . To thaw , only transfer the container of frozen watermelon to the refrigerator and set aside it to thawing overnight or until thawed to your want grade .
The Best Frozen Watermelon Recipes to Try
Now that I have sex how to freeze down watermelon vine and have put my initial batch on ice , I ’ve thoroughly relish snack on frozen watermelon cubes straight from the deep-freeze . They ’re like all - natural shabu pops !
Beyond enjoying the pieces as - is , Brekke commend the following quick-frozen watermelon recipe idea :
