How to store watermelon properly

How to choose watermelon for long-term storage

If you plan to store whole watermelon, choose late-ripening varieties. As a rule, they stay fresh longer due to the thick skin. If you have not grown fruits on the site, check this information with the seller or stock up on the harvest at the end of the season - usually late watermelons are sold on the shelves at this time.

Carefully inspect the fruit: it should not have damage such as dents, cracks and scratches, as well as traces of rot. Give preference to watermelons with dense, smooth, shiny and strong skins. A ripe and high-quality berry has a dried and brownish stalk, and in the place where the watermelon was in contact with the ground, the skin has a light yellow tint. For more information on how to choose a sweet watermelon, read separate article.

Buy berries weighing no more than 5 kg. Fruits of medium size store better and take up less space.

Things to remember when storing watermelons

• If you want to stock up on whole watermelons, don't wash them before storing them. It is enough to wipe them with a dry, clean cloth to remove dust and earth residues.
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• The best thing hold whole fruits at a temperature of 10 to 15 degrees, so they retain their taste, bright color of the pulp and will be less susceptible to decay. If you do not have a basement, cellar or other cool room, place watermelons can be in the pantry or on the glazed balcony.
• Do not store fruits near vegetables and fruits that actively excrete ethylene. Under its influence, the berries will deteriorate faster. So, this gas most of all comes from apples, pears, melons, peaches, tomatoes and peppers.

How to store a whole watermelon

One or two watermelons can be placed on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. In such conditions, the berries will remain fresh. 2–3 weeks.

Or try one of the methods below.

1. All not

For storage, you can use separate plastic or wooden boxes. Fill the container with hay or straw about a third.

Put the watermelon in a box and cover with hay on all sides with a layer of about 20 cm.

Put the box in a cool place.

Also, if there are racks in the basement or cellar, it is convenient to place the fruits simply on the shelves. To do this, cover the surface with a thick layer of hay or straw, place the fruits on top so that they do not touch each other. Cover them with material, putting it between the watermelons.

Inspect fruits periodically. Once every two or three days, turn them over to the other side so that the place where the peel comes into contact with the surface does not begin to rot.

2. In water

Get a large container or bucket that fits the size of the fruit. It is important that berry floated freely in the container and did not come into contact with the walls. Place a watermelon in it and pour clean cold water so that the liquid completely covers it.

Place the watermelon container in the basement, on a glazed balcony, or in another cool place. Change the water in the container every week.

3. in the grid

Wrap the watermelon in a heavy cotton cloth. Suitable, for example, an old T-shirt.

Put everything in a mesh bag. Use what's left of vegetables or fruits, or look for new packaging in hardware stores.

Fasten the edges of the mesh from above with a cable tie or a strong bundle.

Hang the watermelon in a cool place by attaching it to the ceiling with a strong rope or wire that can support the weight of the fruit.

4. In sand

For this method, you will need well-dried river sand. Pour it into a wooden box or cardboard box in a layer of 20–30 cm. Place watermelon on top.

Fill the fruit with sand so that it penetrates into all voids along the edges of the box and covers the berry with a layer of 20–30 cm.

Place the crate of watermelon in a cellar or other cool place.

How to store cut watermelon

Do not leave the cut fruit for a long time at room temperature, otherwise it will wind up and begin to deteriorate faster. Wrap it tightly with cling film as soon as possible and send it to the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. There it will stay fresh. up to 4 days.

Each time, taking out the fruit and cutting off a piece, do not forget to wrap the rest in a new layer of cling film.

If you haven't finished eating small slices of watermelon, it is convenient to put them in a food container with a tight lid.