Frozen watermelon can be stored all year round. The easiest way is to freeze the watermelon dry on a baking sheet. You can also sprinkle sugar on the watermelon to keep it sweet after freezing. If you want your watermelon to retain its sweetness and freshness as best it can, store it in syrup or fruit juice. Although the watermelon will lose some of its natural texture after freezing, the frozen slices can be eaten on their own or added to smoothies and other dishes.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Washing and Slicing the Watermelon
Step 1. Wash the watermelon under running water and dry it
Before slicing the watermelon, rinse off any dirt and debris. If necessary, scrub it with a vegetable washing brush to remove stubborn dirt. Then dry the watermelon with paper towels.
Also wash your hands with hot water and soap to avoid staining the watermelon
Step 2. Take a sharp knife and cut the watermelon into four pieces
Place the watermelon on a flat, stable surface, such as a cutting board or counter. First, cut it from side to side in two halves. Then place the resulting halves flat on a table and cut them vertically in half.
- Another way is to cut the watermelon into thin slices. Cut it in half, then cut each half horizontally into 2–3 centimeters thick slices.
- You can also peel the rind off the watermelon before cutting it. Cut off the rind on one side so that you can place the watermelon on the resulting flat area. Then cut off the crust from all sides in sequence.
Step 3. Peel the rind and seeds from the watermelon slices
Place the slices again on the flat surface of the cut. Work your knife along the border between the pink flesh and the white and green rind and separate the rind from the flesh. Before chopping the watermelon any further, peel the black seeds and discard them.
While the rind can be thrown away if desired, it contains many nutrients and has many uses. For example, try toasting or pickling the rind, squeezing juice out of it, or adding to other (such as oil-fried) dishes
Step 4. Cut the watermelon into 2–3 centimeter cubes
Once you have peeled the rind off the watermelon, you can easily cut it into slices of the size you want. The easiest way is to slice the watermelon and then freeze it into cubes or balls. Try to keep all the pieces of about the same size - in this case, they will freeze at the same speed.
- Use a melon spoon to cut the watermelon into balls. It looks like an ice cream spoon. The spoon can be used after you cut the whole watermelon in half.
- You can also freeze watermelon slices, but they will take up too much space. In addition, after freezing, they will lose their texture and taste unpalatable when raw.
- You can also freeze watermelon juice or puree in a container or ice cube. Before that, grind the pulp with a blender and strain it through a sieve.
Method 2 of 4: Dry-freeze without sugar
Step 1. Arrange the watermelon slices on a baking sheet
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent the watermelon from sticking to it. Spread the slices in one layer and make sure they do not touch each other.
- While you can place the watermelon slices directly on the baking sheet, it is best to use parchment paper or a baking mat to avoid getting too dirty on the baking sheet.
- If the pieces of watermelon touch each other, they can stick together when frozen, and it will be more difficult for you to pack and thaw them afterwards.
Step 2. Freeze the watermelon for 2 hours until the pieces are firm to the touch
Place a baking sheet of watermelon in the freezer and set a timer. Once frozen, the watermelon slices should feel firm to the touch. If you can press your finger into them relatively easily, keep them in the freezer for a while to freeze them through.
If the frozen slices are difficult to remove from the baking sheet, use a sturdy spatula. Hand warmth is usually sufficient. You can also wait about one minute after removing the baking sheet from the freezer to help the slices separate from the bottom of the baking sheet
Step 3. Transfer the watermelon slices to signed containers or bags suitable for the freezer
Transfer all frozen slices to a plastic bag or sealable food container. Leave about 1-1.5 centimeters of free space on top in case the watermelon pieces expand. Write the current date on the container or bag so you know how long you have stored the watermelon.
- Leave some free space at the top of the container or bag, or it may open when the watermelon slices expand.
- The date can be written in black marker directly on the packages. If you store watermelon in food containers, try sticking stickers to them.
Step 4. Store your watermelon in the freezer for up to 12 months
As a rule, at a temperature of -18 ° C, watermelon slices can be stored indefinitely, but after 10 months their quality begins to deteriorate.
The watermelon frozen in this way gradually softens and loses its sweetness a little. It is best used in a variety of dishes (for example, making smoothies)
Step 5. Before using the watermelon slices, defrost them in the refrigerator
When you are using the watermelon, move it from the freezer to the refrigerator. Wait for the slices to soften, then add them to your desired dish. Often times, watermelon slices can be used before they are completely soft, especially if you want to make something liquid with them, such as a smoothie.
Once thawed, watermelon can be kept in the refrigerator for about 4 days. Throw it away if it becomes too soft or smells rancid
Method 3 of 4: Freezing the watermelon in sugar
Step 1. Add sugar to the sliced watermelon pieces
Wash and slice the watermelon as described above, then transfer the slices to a large bowl. Fill them with white granulated sugar at the rate of about 500 grams per 2.5 kilograms of watermelon. Stir the contents of the bowl with your hands or with a sturdy large spoon.
This method works best for diced or diced watermelon. Sugar will help retain some of the sweetness that is lost when frozen
Step 2. Transfer the watermelon slices to freezer-safe containers
After mixing the watermelon pieces with the sugar, transfer them to plastic bags or tight-fitting food containers. Leave 1–1.5 centimeters of free space on top so that the flesh of the watermelon has room to expand. Write the current date on bags or containers before placing them in the freezer.
With this method, it is not necessary to pre-freeze the slices before storing them in the freezer
Step 3. Store your watermelon in the freezer for up to 12 months
Keep slices in the freezer at -18 ° C or colder. Frozen watermelon can be stored as long as you like, but after 10-12 months it will begin to lose its properties.
Step 4. Before using the watermelon, defrost it in the refrigerator
Transfer the containers to the refrigerator and keep there for about 30 minutes, until the slices are soft. The thawed pieces should be softer than fresh watermelon. They can be eaten by themselves, but are best added to smoothies and other drinks.
Once thawed, watermelon can be kept in the refrigerator for up to 4 days
Method 4 of 4: Freezing the watermelon in syrup
Step 1. Boil sugar and water in a small saucepan
Pour 4 cups (1 liter) of water into a saucepan and add 1¾ cup (150 grams) of white sugar. Bring the solution to a boil over medium heat. Stir the water from time to time to completely dissolve the sugar.
- You can replace about ⅖ of the sugar with the same amount of corn syrup or honey.
- Another way is to use fruit juice. Try pineapple juice, orange juice, or ginger ale instead of water. You can also skip the syrup and pour the juice directly into the watermelon container.
Step 2. Freeze the syrup in the refrigerator for 1 hour
Pour the syrup into a plastic container and refrigerate. Keep it there until it feels cold to the touch. If the syrup is still hot to the touch, wait until it has cooled to at least room temperature.
Hot syrup can cook watermelon, so wait until it cools down properly. If the syrup is warm to the touch, pour it early in the watermelon
Step 3. Gradually combine the watermelon and syrup in a freezer-safe container
Choose a quality plastic bag or container to store your watermelon in the freezer. Pour ½ cup (120 ml) syrup into it first, then add the watermelon slices. After that, pour in the remaining syrup and completely immerse the watermelon pieces in it.
- Make sure that there is at least 1.5 centimeters of free space on top of the container. This will prevent the container from opening when the watermelon slices swell slightly when frozen.
- If you don't want to make the syrup, you can put the watermelon slices in a bag and fill them with juice. The juice will retain the properties of the watermelon in the same way as the syrup.
Step 4. Cover the watermelon with a piece of wax paper
Keep the watermelon slices completely submerged in the syrup! To store your watermelon properly, you should use waterproof paper. Wrap a sheet of wax paper tightly over the top of the container before sealing it with the lid. The paper will keep the watermelon slices in the syrup and they won't dry out.
Mark the current date on the container so you know exactly when you froze the watermelon
Step 5. Store your watermelon in the freezer for up to 12 months
Keep it at -18 ° C or below. When you are thinking about using a watermelon, you can pre-thaw it in the refrigerator or add it to your desired dish almost immediately. Once thawed, the watermelon can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Watermelon frozen in this way is best suited for desserts and fruit cocktails. It retains its qualities and sweetness like a canned watermelon
Advice
- When frozen, the texture of the watermelon changes. Do not freeze the watermelon if you want it to stay fresh. After freezing, the watermelon becomes softer and gets a mushy consistency.
- Frozen watermelon is best added to smoothies, drinks, and other meals that don't require whole slices of fresh watermelon.
- Another way to freeze watermelon is to juice or puree it and then pour it into an ice cube tray. The result is flavorful cubes or popsicles.
- Melon can be frozen just like watermelon.