How long is watermelon good for? How the watermelon was gathered, and its storage affected the fruit’s shelf life. Watermelons have a shelf life of 7–10 days on the counter and 2–3 weeks in the refrigerator for uncut varieties.
The entire watermelon, which is a vegetable but is typically eaten as a fruit, is edible, including the rind and seeds.
A picnic is rarely complete without a 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.
Melon, a type of fruit commonly eaten during summer, can be a healthy treat. While there are certain signs that a melon may be spoiling, there are some ways that you can keep it from spoiling. The key to keeping melon fresh is to store it in a cool place.
How Long does Watermelon Last in the Fridge?
For 3 to 4 days, watermelon can be stored in the refrigerator. To ensure optimal freshness and flavor, eating it as soon as you can after cutting it open is essential. To keep it from drying out or absorbing flavors from other foods, it should be carefully wrapped in plastic wrap or stored in an airtight container after being cut. Additionally, it’s crucial to keep the watermelon at the proper temperature, between 32 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit (0 and 4 degrees Celsius).
The watermelon should be thrown out if there are any indications that it has spoiled, including a slimy texture, an unpleasant odor, or visible mold.
Shelf Life of a Watermelon
You can anticipate a non-refrigerated watermelon to last 7 to 10 days if you purchase one. You should be able to enjoy a tasty watermelon in 2 to 3 weeks if you cool the melon before cutting it.
When you go home, immediately put any watermelon that you purchased in the refrigerator section of your neighborhood grocery store. Watermelon can be left on the counter if it is eaten within a couple of hours. Watermelon can be kept in the fridge for five days before becoming rotten. It would be beneficial to store it in the refrigerator in an airtight container or completely wrap it in cling wrap.
Another choice if you purchased more watermelon than you can use in a week is to freeze the extras. Any leftovers should be frozen after being cut into cubes. Watermelon that has been chopped can last up to a year if frozen.
If you purchase quarters from the grocery store that are tightly packaged, you should wrap them in plastic wrap. Keep the fruit the same way if you can’t eat the full piece at once. Before placing the leftovers in the refrigerator or freezer, cut what you need and rewrap the rest.
Factors to Consider While Buying a Watermelon
- A watermelon’s shelf life is shortened when it is cut.
- If it fits, whole melons can be stored in the fridge to increase shelf life.
- It is recommended to remove the watermelon and eat it frozen if you prefer to freeze it. Watermelon loses its texture, flavor, and color when it thaws.
- Your likelihood of being ill will be lowered if you store your watermelon properly.
- By properly preserving watermelon, you can consume the same fruit more than once while lowering food costs and eliminating waste.
- Sliced melons typically have a “use-by date,” if you’re unclear about the watermelon’s expiration date.
Tips for Storing Watermelon
Refrigerating
Sliced watermelon should be kept in the refrigerator for a few days because it only lasts a day when kept at room temperature. Be warned that refrigerating will change the fruit’s nutritional value and alter the composition of the flesh. To prevent deterioration, look for signs of decomposition, wash the skin to keep dirt from contaminating the meat, and cut clean slices. After that, tightly wrap the fruit in plastic before putting it in the refrigerator.
Freezing
Watermelon can be frozen to increase its shelf life and be used in smoothies or other fresh drinks even when it is out of season. Watermelon can also be mixed into ice cubes, which you can freeze in a popsicle or ice cube pan. Desserts with watermelon, spices, veggies, and other fruits are delicious.
Dehydrating
Watermelon can be effectively preserved by drying since a low water content increases shelf life and prevents decomposition. Use a dehydrator to dry watermelon, as you can regulate the temperature and airflow while the fruit is drying. Peel the fruit’s skin and slice it into tiny pieces before drying. About 24 hours will pass between treatments. If the pieces are carefully stored, you can make candy for your kids or eat them as a spicy afternoon snack.
Watermelon Rinds in Candy
Cubed rinds are placed in sugar syrup after being cut into cubes. Simmer the mixture until it reaches the consistency of jam. Before incorporating cinnamon to enhance the flavor, let the mixture cool.
We hope this post has clarified any questions you may have about how long watermelon stays in the fridge. Utilize the advice to make your watermelon last longer as well. As you can see, watermelon may become spoiled just like any other fruit.
How to Store Cut Watermelon?
The shelf life of cut watermelon is significantly shorter than that of whole watermelon. It keeps its quality for around 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator. It lasts only about a day if left out at room temperature, so that is not a smart idea.
You don’t want the watermelon to dry out in the refrigerator when it comes to storage. You must take some precautions to ensure that. Plastic wrap is the most popular substitute, especially if it’s a half or quarter. An airtight container or freezer bag will do if the fruit has already been cut into smaller pieces or sliced. Furthermore, neither alternative is a more eco-friendly choice than plastic wrap.
How to Freeze Watermelon?
You might be tempted to freeze the remaining watermelon if the suggested shelf life is insufficient for your needs. The fruit does not freeze well and has a water content of about 91%.
Since defrosting destroys the texture, you won’t like defrosted watermelon as much as fresh watermelon. Many advise freezing it into cubes to use as an infusion in water, drinks, or smoothies in place of ice cubes. You don’t thaw the fruit in any of them. Simply throw it in frozen. Since defrosting destroys the texture.
These methods should be followed if you wish to freeze watermelon cubes:
- Line a cookie sheet with wax paper or aluminum foil to prepare it.
- Place the meat on the cookie sheet you have prepared after chopping it into cubes.
- It should freeze in a few hours or overnight, so put it in the freezer and leave it there.
- The cubes should be frozen after being put in a freezer bag or other airtight container.
- You can pick up as many cubes as you need whenever you need them, and they don’t take up as much space as they would on a baking sheet.
How to Buy Watermelon?
Purchasing a good watermelon is the first step in keeping it fresh. You want a watermelon with a firm exterior no matter what size or seed count you’re aiming for. It is useless if you can press your finger into it. Choose a watermelon without dents or cuts, as these conditions can also cause overripening.
Your watermelon should have a hollow, drum-like sound when you tap it. That indicates that there is luscious fruit and juice inside that is ready to spill.
What Happens if I Eat Expired Watermelon?
Food illness or, even worse, an upset stomach might happen from eating rotten watermelon. Food poisoning symptoms include fatigue, headache, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
The bacteria that cause food illness, listeria, is found on the rind of the watermelon. So cleaning your watermelon before cutting it open makes food poisoning impossible.
Watermelon allergies do exist. However, they are uncommon. Since watermelon has a high natural sugar content, people with diabetes need to exercise caution when eating it.
Finally, avoid watermelon with yellow or slimy, sour-smelling pulp.
You should be fine if you only eat fresh watermelon and wash the rind before cutting it. Using a melon baller to remove little bits of sweet watermelon on a hot summer day is my preferred method of consumption.
Can Watermelon go Bad and How to Tell if it is Bad?
Watermelon can spoil just like any other fruit, including dried raisins.
It’s tough to determine whether or not a watermelon is still good if you have a whole one on hand. Of course, discarding the rind is usually best if it has visible mold on the outside. However, if there are simply a few minor bruises or black spots, that doesn’t reveal much about the state of the flesh.
We must look inside the watermelon to determine whether it is healthy. Generally speaking, the flesh should be fine if the outside is firm, free of bumps, and largely homogeneous in color. Because a whole watermelon lasts far longer than one that has been chopped, this creates a bit of a catch-22.
If you have a watermelon cut up or quartered, it is usually simple to determine if it is good. Start by checking for slime, mushy areas, dark spots, or color loss. Both of these indicate overripeness.
You won’t become sick from those paler or darker spots, but you probably won’t enjoy them very much. I think slime is gross and immediately throw it away, and I advise you to do the same.
In other words, it’s best to discard the flesh if it doesn’t appear to be delicious and fresh.
Don’t just look at the fruit; give it a good sniff. It is ruined if it has a sour smell.
Give the final judgment based on taste if everything appears in order.
Let’s discuss how and how long you can preserve watermelons now that you know the warning indications of a poor watermelon.
Conclusion
This fruit, which has a delicious red color and many health benefits, includes:
Reducing oxidative stress and inflammation aids in the fight against cancer,
It keeps you hydrated and lowers your risk of developing heart disease. We hope our guide has helped you know how long a watermelon can last in the fridge.
