When buying watermelons, it is important to know how long they will stay good in the fridge. Watermelons have an average shelf life of two weeks in the fridge. Make sure to keep them whole. Depending on how ripe they are, they may last even longer. Cut watermelons should be stored in the refrigerator to maintain the longest shelf life possible. Read on to learn more. Also, check out these top picks for ripe and cut watermelons.
How Long can Watermelon Last in the Fridge?
At room temperature, whole watermelons last roughly a week; in the refrigerator, they last about two weeks. Cut watermelon will keep in the refrigerator for three to five days. Make sure it is well-wrapped to prevent drying.
Watermelon should only be frozen if used once frozen, such as a smoothie or water infusion. The process of freezing and thawing the fruit ruins its texture. The fruit is no longer edible if it feels hollow or very light inside after being stored for a long time because of water loss.
Watermelons also featured in our chart have a shelf life of 7–10 days on the counter and 2–3 weeks in the refrigerator for uncut varieties. How the watermelon was gathered, and its storage affects the fruit’s shelf life.
The entire watermelon, a vegetable typically eaten as a fruit, is edible, including the rind and seeds. A picnic is rarely complete without watermelon. Its sweet, juicy red flesh is rich in lycopene, an antioxidant that is healthy for the heart and bones, and vitamins A and C. It is 90% water and 8% natural sugar, meaning it has no fat and extremely few calories.
How are Watermelons Sliced?
Start by Consuming Fresh watermelon
Sliced watermelon is one of the easiest and tastiest snacks to find, aside from fruits and vegetables that are consumed raw. We’ll have to split up the watermelons because they are too big and have too thick peels to chew. The techniques listed below will help you accomplish it quickly and safely. Because of the round edges, the cutting may be trickier than with other foods.
Trim the End of the Watermelon
Using one hand, hold the watermelon steadily on a hard surface, such as a cutting board. Use a strong, sharp knife to slice off the watermelon’s ends, removing just enough peel to expose the delicious flesh. Future cuts are much safer and easier to access after these ends are flattened. It is safer since it produces flat sides that prevent the watermelon from moving while being cut. It is simpler to determine how big to cut the watermelon slices and where the rind ends, and the fruit begins.
It may seem counterintuitive, but sharp knives are safe knives. With a sharp knife, cutting is more superficial (obvious!). Since you won’t need to move the knife to cut, you’ll be less likely to trip and hurt yourself. If you have a heavy knife, it will be easier to cut through the thick watermelon and make these crucial initial cuts.
Half the Watermelon
The watermelon should stand still if you place it on one of the cut ends. Cut the watermelon in half lengthwise using that sharp (ideally large) knife.
Slice up the Watermelon
You can choose to slice the halved melon into thick or thin slices. Each watermelon half should be placed on its wide sliced side. Cut each half lengthwise, or even quarters for larger watermelons, to create more manageable watermelon slices.
Present Slices of Watermelon
Slices of watermelon can be eaten right away or chilled until serving time. They will keep nicely overnight if you want to prepare them in advance. The pleasant chill we all desire on those hot summer days when watermelons are at their best is enhanced by placing them in the refrigerator for a few hours.
What Advantages does Watermelon have?
Here are some advantages of watermelon for preventing cancer.
Experts assert that watermelon lycopene lowers cancer risk by inhibiting insulin (IGF), a protein crucial for cell division. Cancer is assumed to be brought on by excessive IGF levels. Additionally, research has been done on the watermelon compound cucurbitacin E’s potential to prevent the growth of tumors.
Improved Cardiovascular Health
Watermelon contains lycopene, which can help reduce blood pressure and cholesterol, two variables leading to cardiovascular disease. Citrulline, an amino acid in watermelon, aids the body’s nitric oxide synthesis. Nitric oxide lowers blood pressure and increases blood flow. The heart-healthy vitamins A, B6, C, magnesium, and potassium are also in watermelon.
Reference: Watermelon lycopene and allied health claims
Supporting Your Weight Loss
Citrulline, found in watermelon, reduces cell fat accumulation and guards against obesity and uncontrollable weight gain. Watermelon juice is low in calories but abundant in fiber. So, having a glass of wine before a meal will lessen appetite and enhance weight reduction.
Optimum Skin and Hair
Watermelon contains vitamins A and C, which help the body produce collagen and maintain healthy skin and hair. Lycopene and beta-carotene can help with UV radiation, sunburn, and skin cancer.
How to Tell Watermelon is Bad?
Smell and Taste Faculties
Watermelons are tasty, sweet, and juicy. When a melon feels sour when you bite it, it has gone bad because the sugars in the melon have turned sour.
Before buying the watermelon, you must smell it to decide whether it is good. You want a watermelon that smells sweet and inviting. If it smells sour or acidic, do not purchase it; it is already rotten.
Apply Side Pressure
As you tap the watermelon, could you pay attention to its sound? The melon is in good shape if it makes a deep hollow sound. It is either past its peak or not quite ripe if the melon sounds full. It’s mushy or rotting inside if the watermelon makes a dull sound when you touch it.
Check for Mold
It has gone wrong if moldy patches or other imperfections are on the watermelon’s rind. Any wet spots that are black, white, or greenish-blue are signs that something is amiss with the melon.
Watermelon Patch
You can tell if a watermelon is bad by looking at the ripe area on its skin. If the patch is yellow, the watermelon is delicious.
The patch is not ripe and, therefore, unfit for ingestion if it is white. A golden watermelon patch on the fruit indicates that it has been sun-ripened.
Wash the Hue
The watermelon’s exterior should be a healthy shade of lime green or a striped pattern of lime green and a darker shade of pine green. Additionally, the watermelon should not be sparkling or bright in appearance.
If it is glossy, it is not quite ripe. The stem shouldn’t be seen while looking at it directly. Instead, please search for a little crater that shows the melon has detached itself. It was picked before it was fully ripe if it had a stem.
What is the Ideal Method for Storing Watermelon?
Because of their high water content and reputation for flavor, watermelons are perfect for eating on a hot summer day. If watermelons are not properly stored after purchase, they quickly go bad.
How you store your watermelons will affect how long they last before deteriorating or decomposing.
- Be sure to keep your watermelon cool and dry. When storing your watermelon, cut it in half and set each half in a different plastic bag on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. Your watermelons won’t go bad as quickly because they won’t be in contact with the fridge’s cold, frozen surfaces.
- Uncut watermelon should be consumed within ten days if it is kept in the refrigerator. Additionally, keep your melons away from anything that produces ethylene, which can hasten their rotting.
- Large and challenging to store in the fridge are watermelons. Cut them into pieces and wrap them in plastic wrap to keep them fresher for longer. Only take what you need of the watermelon, and store the rest in an airtight container.
- Whole watermelons won’t go bad when kept at room temperature and out of direct sunshine. However, after purchasing them, you must store them in the refrigerator for at least two weeks.
- The watermelon cut end should be carefully wrapped in plastic wrap. The watermelon won’t pick up the flavors of the other foods in your refrigerator if you do this.
How can Watermelon Seeds be Used?
It is unnecessary to avoid eating watermelon seeds because there are numerous ways to take advantage of their flavor and nutrition.
For instance, you could roast watermelon seeds. Roasted watermelon seeds include a wealth of nutrients and healthy lipids like omega-3s. They also supply potassium and magnesium, which support electrolyte balance and post-workout hydration.
It’s feasible to make watermelon seed butter. (I’m not sure what it would taste like. Get a pot of watermelon seed butter to start before you make your jar.) Spread it on crackers, fruit, bread, and other items. You may even sow those black seeds in your backyard if you have the room.
Watermelon Seeds Roasted
Dry and rinse the seeds. When they are entirely dried out, they will roast the best. Toss the watermelon seeds with olive or grapeseed oil once desiccated. Shames advises using a spray bottle to spritz oil over the seeds to help spread the oil throughout and cut back on calories.
On a baking sheet, distribute the seeds uniformly and season with salt. Then bake for 10 to 15 minutes at 325 degrees F (163 degrees C).
Can You Eat Watermelon Every Day?
If eaten in moderation, watermelons shouldn’t have any noticeable negative consequences. However, let’s say you regularly eat a lot of fruit. Then you can experience problems due to too much potassium or lycopene. More than 30 mg of lycopene per day may induce nausea, diarrhea, and bloating.
Since watermelon contains 92 percent water, a great option for daily hydration, it also has a low-calorie density or a low number of calories per unit of weight due to its high water content. By keeping you feeling full for longer, low-calorie foods like watermelon may aid in weight loss.
How does Watermelon Affect Your Stomach?
In addition to having a lot of water, watermelons also include fiber. The high water content and a small amount of fiber in watermelon are crucial for a healthy digestive system. By preventing constipation and promoting regular bowel movements, these nutrients enhance gut health and may even improve digestion.
Water and fiber both work to keep your bowels regular and assist in transporting waste through your digestive tract more effectively. After all, it’s difficult to absorb thoroughly, leading to gas and, occasionally, an upset stomach. Significant bloating can also be brought on by watermelon. This is due to the high fructose content, a natural sugar that causes serious harm to our digestive systems.
Can Watermelon Cause Weight Gain?
We all like watermelon, but did you know it can help you lose weight? With only 30 calories per 100 grams, watermelon is a fruit with few calories. Three thousand five hundred calories are needed to produce one pound of body fat, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Approximately 94 percent of a watermelon’s weight is water. Watermelon is hence unlikely to result in weight gain. Because it has less than one gram of fat per cup, watermelon is also excellent for a low-fat diet. It is also a fruit with bad calories since it expends more calories digesting than it consumes. Simply put, you expend more calories than you take in.
The American Cancer Society warns that if you regularly eat a lot of fruit, you can experience problems from an overabundance of lycopene or potassium.
Conclusion
Although sliced or cut watermelon isn’t as healthy as the whole muskmelon, it can be stored in the refrigerator for a few days. A few tips should be used to extend shelf life: cut watermelon should be stored tightly wrapped with plastic or a lid. Avoid buying watermelons with white stripes or yellow rind, which can have dangerous nitrates.
When storing watermelon in the fridge, check the “Eat By” date on the package. Watermelon has a shelf life of about a year. However, the “best before” date doesn’t apply to cutting watermelons. Its “best before” date is when the fruit was picked or purchased. Always use proper hygiene when handling food to prevent foodborne illnesses.
