It’s no secret that watermelon is a summertime staple. The sweet, cool taste is just what you need to beat the summer heat.
Watermelons are delicious, but they are also extremely perishable. Watermelon has a high water content, thus it spoils quickly when refrigerated for more than a week.
Extra watermelon can be saved from waste by being frozen and then eaten when summer is ended. Here are some of the most compelling arguments for preserving any surplus watermelon by freezing it:
Extend Its Shelf Life
The shelf life of watermelons can be greatly increased through the simple process of freezing. Watermelon can be kept in the freezer for 6-12 months if frozen properly, but refrigeration will only extend its shelf life by a week at most.
Now, you don’t have to wait till summer to experience the sweet taste of watermelon. Frozen watermelon has the same luscious sweetness as fresh as long as you thaw it correctly and eat it within a few days.
Prevent Food Waste
Watermelon that has gone sour is often thrown away without being eaten. But if you know you won’t eat all of the watermelon you bought, you may save it from going to waste by freezing it right immediately.
Instead of adding to the massive problem of food waste by throwing away unused watermelon, you may keep it for later use in smoothies, drinks, snacks, and recipes by freezing it. It’s more practical and environmentally friendly to use whatever you buy.
Enjoy Anytime
If you buy a large watermelon and freeze it, you can enjoy it in the winter as well as the summer. Watermelon cubes are great for staying hydrated, adding a pleasant flavor to drinks, and making fun frozen treats for kids.
If you keep frozen watermelon cubes on hand, you can whip up a refreshing watermelon smoothie in no time. When you want a cool, refreshing burst of flavor, try topping your yogurt or porridge with some frozen watermelon.
Blend into Smoothies
Speaking of blended beverages, frozen watermelon is a fantastic addition to any smoothie. Smoothies made with frozen watermelon have a richer, creamier texture than those made with fresh watermelon.
Smoothie drinks can be cooled without losing flavor when combined with this. To enjoy a healthy frozen treat at any time, freeze watermelon pieces in freezer bags and add them to your favorite smoothie recipe.
Frozen watermelon adds a refreshing, sweet flavor to smoothies that kids and adults alike will enjoy.
Make Popsicles
Making homemade watermelon popsicles from pureed watermelon is a delightful summer activity. They taste great and are a healthy alternative to the artificially colored and flavored popsicles sold in stores.
Watermelon can be made into a refreshing drink by blending chunks with some lime or lemon juice and, if desired, honey or simple syrup.
Fill molds and place in the freezer. Frozen watermelon pieces can also be used in traditional ice pop recipes. Flavors complement other foods well, especially coconut water, fruit juices, and yogurt.
Use as Ice Cubes
Frozen watermelon may be used for more than just drinks and sweets. Alternatively, watermelon cubes frozen in the freezer can be used as a tasty alternative to plain ice. To freeze watermelon, just cube it into 1-inch pieces and lay them out on a baking sheet in the freezer.
The watermelon flavor will emerge as the cubes melt into your water, lemonade, sangria, or drinks, adding a refreshing coolness. They are great for summer gatherings since they add flavor to plain water.
Make “Sorbet”
Though it’s not really a sorbet, frozen watermelon smoothies are delicious. Blend or process fresh watermelon with lime, honey, and a pinch of salt until smooth.
Prepare a container for freezing and pour in the mixture. On a hot day, you may scoop out a serving and enjoy a semi-frozen treat that tastes just like sorbet from the store.
You may make it your own by adding mint extract, melting chocolate, or any other flavoring of your choosing.
Use for Cocktails
Frozen watermelon can be used for more than simply ice cubes in cocktails intended for adults over the age of 21.
To make a refreshing watermelon daiquiri, just mix some frozen watermelon cubes with some vodka and simple syrup. Instead of using regular ice in your margaritas, try using frozen watermelon “margarita” cubes.
Make alcoholic popsicles by freezing vodka infused with fresh watermelon. Make a batch of watermelon shrub and serve it with bourbon, gin, or vodka any time of year.
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Make Agua Fresca
Frozen watermelon is a simple ingredient for the traditional Mexican drink agua fresca. Smoothies can be made quickly by blending frozen watermelon chunks with lime, mint, or other herbs, adding sugar or sweetener to taste, and then diluting with water. Add ice for a quick and refreshing drink.
You may make a lot and store it in the fridge for up to a week, so you can have it whenever you want. If you want to make it kid-friendly, use less sugar or purΓ©e it with other fruit juices instead of water.
Save Money
Extra watermelon can be preserved for later use by freezing it. In the off-season, watermelons can be quite pricey. But if you buy and store enough of it in the freezer during the height of summer, when prices are lowest, you’ll have enough for the rest of the year.
Furthermore, buying watermelons in quantity and freezing them allows you to save money during the end-of-summer sale. Any extra can be frozen after being cubed.
Preserve Nutrients
Watermelon loses some of its texture when frozen and thawed, but its nutritional value is preserved. Watermelon’s vitamin C, lycopene, antioxidants, and citrulline are not considerably diminished by freezing, according to studies.
Fortunately, many of the beneficial chemicals in watermelon are preserved when it is frozen. Don’t let it sit out for long periods of time to defrost.
Make Kid Snacks
Fresh or frozen, watermelon is a great snack for kids. However, watermelon becomes a lot more exciting for youngsters to eat when it is transformed into frozen pops, cubes, and bits.
Cut a watermelon into little chunks and freeze it on a baking sheet for a quick and healthy snack. Children can easily grab ice cubes from the freezer to snack on or use to cool their lunches.
Cut out interesting shapes with cookie cutters and freeze them for later use. Alternatively, you might make watermelon popsicles by freezing juice and then inserting a stick.
Simplify Meal Prep
Keeping frozen watermelon in freezer bags makes it convenient to use throughout the week. Frozen cubes are a great way to add texture and flavor to salads right away.
Use in cold soups like gazpacho or salsas and marinades. Cubes can be grilled after thawing or added to grain bowls and spinach salads. Cut watermelon into cubes or slices and store in the freezer for a burst of cold, refreshing flavor in summertime recipes.
Store Seasonally
Throughout the summer, you can find watermelons everywhere. In contrast, fresh watermelons are scarce and pricey throughout the cooler months of the year.
When watermelons are in abundance and inexpensive, now is the time to stock up on cubes and pureed watermelon and freeze it for later use.
This way, you can enjoy the refreshing taste of watermelon year-round, not only in the summer.
Reduce Food Prep Work
Freezing watermelon not only makes it last longer, but also makes it easier to prepare later. You can save time by using prepackaged frozen watermelon instead of having to wash, cube, and chop it every time you want some.
In order to save time chopping, you can thaw it or use frozen cubes immediately in smoothies and other dishes. Watermelon can be saved time and effort by being properly frozen and then thawed before use.
Maximize Ripeness
Once picked, watermelons don’t ripen any further. Therefore, they are best enjoyed within a week of purchase at the very latest. Ripe watermelons can be frozen immediately after they’ve been picked, so you can enjoy them at their best flavor.
If you buy a watermelon and know you’ll be eating it over the course of several days, cutting it up and freezing it will preserve its ripe texture and sweetness for as long as possible.