Watermelon is often a go to side dish for a meal on a hot summer day. I have all the tips you need for selecting the best whole watermelon from the grocery store and keeping it fresh for weeks. I will also be sharing the best way to store watermelon after it's been cut.
How to Pick the Perfect Watermelon
Picking the perfect watermelon can be a challenge. You have to guess based on the exterior appearance of the melon. These are my two best ways for how to pick the perfect watermelon.
The first thing I look for is the yellow spot on the outside rind of the watermelon. The more yellow the spot is, the more flavorful the fruit. This yellow spot is called a field spot. It means that the watermelon had time to naturally ripen on the vine in the field.
The second thing I look for is the brown webbing on the rind. This is caused by bees pollinating the flowers of the watermelon plant. It’s another indication that the fruit will be sweeter.
How to Wash a Watermelon
Before being cut, the shelf life of a watermelon is a few weeks. You can store your whole watermelon in the pantry at room temperature. I grocery shop once a month so we tend to eat a couple of weeks after we buy it. Other fresh fruits, like berries, pineapple, and cantaloupe, should be eaten before watermelon if you buy them at the same time.
You can see my monthly grocery hauls on my YouTube Channel if you want to see what I buy each month on a budget of $135/month.
Before you put your watermelon in the pantry to be stored, it should be washed. This will remove any dirt or harmful pathogens on the rind. This step will also help to extend the watermelon’s shelf life.
To wash your watermelon you can use a tub, deep sink, or even a cooler. Place the entire watermelon in the washing container with cool water and vinegar. In order to wash it you will need ½ cup 5% distilled white vinegar for every 20 cups of cool water.
The watermelon will float so you need to make sure to rotate the watermelon so both sides soak for two (2) minutes. After this step is complete, wipe down the watermelon rind and allow it to air dry. Once your melon is completely dry, you can store it in your pantry until you are ready to cut and eat it.
Zero Waste Produce Guide
The full directions for washing watermelon and a total of 75 other produce items is included in my Zero Waste Produce Guide. It includes step by step directions for how to keep produce items fresh for weeks. There are also 40 recipes for ways to use your produce as well as other valuable information to help you save money on groceries.
Watermelon Storage Tips
When you’re ready to eat your watermelon, you can cut it however you prefer to eat it, slices, wedges, sticks, cubes. You’ll want a large cutting board and a sharp knife to do the job well. It’s also a good idea to have a towel handy. I like to cut watermelon into cubes and store them in a gallon sized glass, airtight container. The jar is big enough to fit a large watermelon and storing it in glass lengthens the shelf life of cut watermelon.
Every few days I drain the juice from the jar. This is key to keeping your cut watermelon staying fresh. Save the juice for a refreshing summer drink or smoothie. Another way to use the juice is to pour it into ice cube trays and use the ice for watermelon-infused water once they are frozen.
I also enjoy using watermelon for a watermelon feta salad. You can view the full recipe in this blog post.
What is your favorite way to enjoy this delicious fruit? Eat it plain? Add salt to watermelon slices? Turn it into juice or salad? Do you grill it? I would love to hear what you do with this summer fruit now that you know how to pick the perfect watermelon. Leave a Comment below – let’s share some ideas!
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