{"id":4251,"date":"2022-01-05T00:21:36","date_gmt":"2022-01-05T00:21:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.foodchamps.org\/?p=4251"},"modified":"2022-09-17T15:05:39","modified_gmt":"2022-09-17T15:05:39","slug":"freeze-watermelon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.foodchamps.org\/freeze-watermelon\/","title":{"rendered":"Can You Freeze Watermelon? How Long Does it Stay Frozen?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Watermelon is an excellent fruit to freeze, and it offers an array of recipes you can make once you\u2019re ready to consume it. There are two ways you can freeze watermelon\u2014whole or in puree form. Both require relatively little space in your fridge since you\u2019ll toss out the rind.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"frozen
Frozen Watermelon<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

<\/a>Can You Freeze Watermelon?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Yes, watermelon freezes well<\/strong>. You can freeze it in pieces or a puree, and you don\u2019t have to dedicate hours to prepare it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When thinking about whether you should freeze your watermelon, it\u2019s essential to consider what you plan on using it for. In most cases, it\u2019s best to freeze watermelon if you want to use it in smoothies and other recipes that require blending.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, eating partially frozen watermelon can make a healthy treat that brings summer into your home at any time of the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Freeze Watermelon<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Freezing watermelon is a fairly intuitive process, but there are some steps you\u2019ll want to ensure you complete to avoid having a freezer disaster. We\u2019ve got your back covered with this easy step-by-step process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 1: Remove Waste:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sticking a whole watermelon<\/a> in your freezer, rind and all, won\u2019t bode well when you\u2019re ready to use the fruit. So, cut around the rind and remove the watermelon\u2019s seeds while you\u2019re at it. Those seeds get super hard in the freezer, and picking them out after you thaw your watermelon<\/a> gets messy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 2: Chop the Watermelon:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Watermelon
Watermelon Chops<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

You can get as creative or basic as you want here, but our advice is to use a watermelon scooper to cut up your watermelon. Remember, frozen watermelon doesn\u2019t maintain its texture when thawed. So, don\u2019t worry about cutting the watermelon into specially sized pieces for eating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 3: Perform a Flash Freeze:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Watermelon has a lot of water, so it\u2019s crucial to flash freeze the pieces if you plan on using a little bit of watermelon at a time. If you\u2019ll be using all your watermelon at once and don\u2019t plan on eating the pieces whole, there\u2019s no need to perform this step\u2014you can skip to the next section.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To flash freeze, lay your watermelon pieces on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Spread the pieces out so that none of them touch each other. Then, place the tray in your freezer and leave it there for a minimum of fifteen minutes. Once the pieces begin to freeze, take them out and proceed to step four.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 4: Pack into Freezer Bags:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Place your watermelon pieces into freezer bags and squeeze out all the air you can. You can even stick a straw in the bag and try to suck out some of the air. That said, vacuum sealers are ideal for freezing watermelon if you happen to have one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The reason why it\u2019s crucial to remove air from your watermelon is that it prevents freezer burn<\/a> from setting in. Your watermelon will already come out of your freezer in a less texturized state than you put it in, and freezer burn will make the situation worse by drying out the fruit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 5: Label the Bags:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The final step is to label your freezer bags with the date you put the watermelon in your freezer. That way, you can keep an eye on how long they\u2019ve been in there so you can use them up before they start turning into a less desirable state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Alternative Option: Freezing Pureed Watermelon<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Since you may not want to snack on frozen watermelon once it comes out of the freezer, you also have the option to freeze the puree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An advantage of pureeing over freezing watermelon whole is that watermelon loses some of its sweetness in the freezer. Therefore, you can add some sugar to the mix so that it comes out as tasty as when you picked it from your garden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pureeing watermelon doesn\u2019t require any additives (unless you choose to add in some sugar). Once you\u2019ve done so, pour the puree from your blender into ice cube trays. Let the puree freeze in the tray.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then, remove the cubes and place them in a freezer bag, following our suggestions to get the bag as free of air as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>How Long Does Watermelon Last in the Freezer?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You can expect your watermelon to last around eight months in the freezer. You can certainly leave it in your freezer past this time, but the taste and texture will likely deteriorate even more than usual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you\u2019re ready to use your watermelon, it isn\u2019t the type of frozen food you should put in your fridge to thaw. Instead, if you want to try eating the watermelon straight, let it thaw on your counter slightly\u2014but don\u2019t go overboard. The more frozen watermelon thaws, the more it\u2019ll lose its texture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alternatively, you can put the frozen watermelon directly into specific recipes, which we\u2019ll cover shortly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Tell if Frozen Watermelon is Bad:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When learning about how to freeze watermelon, it\u2019s equally important to know how to identify when your frozen watermelon is bad. Some signs that you should throw out your frozen watermelon include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n