Table of Contents
How to Store Watermelon Wait. Whole watermelon should be left at room temperature until ripe. Refrigerate. Once ripe, place the whole watermelon, uncovered, in the refrigerator. Seal. Once cut, seal cut watermelon halves or slices in a Glad ® Zipper Bag. Refrigerate. Store in the refrigerator.
How do you store an uncut watermelon?
Uncut watermelons have a shorter refrigerator life, so store at room temperature until ready to chill and eat. Tightly cover cut pieces in plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for two to three days.
Do whole watermelons need to be refrigerated?
Keep whole melons like watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew on the counter for best flavor. USDA research found that storage at room temp may even help keep the antioxidants better intact. Once cut, store in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
How long can you keep an uncut watermelon?
Uncut watermelons will last 7-10 days on the counter and 2-3 weeks in the fridge, cut watermelon are also listed in our table. The shelf life of watermelon depends when the watermelon was picked and how it is stored.
How long can watermelon sit out at room temperature?
If melon pieces sit out at room temperature for longer than two hours, throw them out. If you have to wonder how long they’ve been out there, they’ve been out too long. Cantaloupes, watermelons and other melons are great, nutritious foods – but if they’re handled incorrectly, they can make you very sick!Jul 10, 2012.
Should you refrigerate uncut watermelon?
Whole melons like watermelons, honeydews, and cantaloupes retain their flavor best at room temperature. Storing them at normal temperatures may even help keep their nutrients intact. Plus, they take up a lot of space in the fridge. Only once they’re cut should you refrigerate them, and only for a few days at most.
How do you keep watermelons from rotting?
Keep ripening watermelon from direct contact with soil to prevent rot and protect fruit from pests and rodents. When fruit is about the size of a softball, place it on a bed of straw or cardboard. Setting fruit on a light-reflecting surface, such as aluminum foil, will concentrate heat and speed up ripening.
Where is the best place to store a watermelon?
What’s the best way to store watermelon? Whole watermelons can be kept at room temperature for a few days, but will keep better in the fridge. Once cut, watermelon should always be stored in the fridge.
Can you freeze cut watermelon?
To freeze watermelons, cut the fruit open. You can cube the melon, freeze it in big chunks, or use a melon baller or spoon to create small balls. Place the tray into the freezer to quick freeze the melon. After the watermelon is frozen solid, pack the pieces into freezer bags or containers.
What fruits should not be refrigerated?
Fruits That Should Not Be Stored in the Refrigerator Apricots, Asian pears, avocado, bananas, guava, kiwis, mangoes, melons, nectarines, papayas, passion fruit, pawpaw, peaches, pears, persimmons, pineapples, plantain, plums, starfruit, soursop, and quince will continue to ripen if left out on the counter.
Should you wash watermelon before cutting?
Before cutting, wash the outer surface of the melon thoroughly with cool tap water to remove surface dirt; scrub with a clean produce brush. Cut melons should be displayed in a refrigerated case, not just displayed on top of ice. Uncut melons do not need to be refrigerated.
Is it OK to leave watermelon out overnight?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends storing watermelons at a temperature of around 4ºC (40 degrees Fahrenheit) and below. If watermelon pieces sit out at room temperature for longer than two hours, be sure to discard them. To be eaten within three to five days (the sooner you eat it, the better!)Jun 19, 2020.
Does watermelon get sweeter after you cut it?
“In general, melons will not change significantly once they’re harvested from the vine,” Green explains. She says that cantaloupes, honeydew, and watermelon are all non-climacteric fruits, which means that once they’re harvested, they won’t continue to become tastier or sweeter like peaches or bananas will.
Can you overeat watermelon?
What happens if you eat too much watermelon? If eaten in reasonable amounts, watermelons should produce no serious side effects. If you eat an abundance of the fruit daily, however, you may experience problems from having too much lycopene or potassium.
Can you cut mold off watermelon?
Molds have a harder time growing roots in dense foods, so if you cut off at least 1 inch around the spot of mold, you should be fine to eat your firm fruits and vegetables. Just make sure to keep the knife out of the mold to avoid cross-contaminating your produce.
How do you know when a watermelon goes bad?
The easiest way to tell is to check the skin for any soggy spots and patches of greenish-blue, black, or white mold. Even if the exterior looks OK, there’s a chance that the fruit could have gone bad. If the flesh has noticeable dark spots or is covered in anything slimey, you should toss it.
How long is watermelon good in fridge?
If you’re worried about your watermelon spoiling, you can pop the whole thing in the fridge; FreshDirect says that you can keep a whole watermelon in the fridge for up to three weeks, at best.
Does watermelon get sweeter in the fridge?
As the moisture drains and evaporates from the cut melon, the sugar content rises. The more moisture lost, the sweeter the melon. , Trained chef, organic gardener, and experienced eater. Originally Answered: Why do watermelons taste sweeter than usual when kept in the fridge for an hour or more?.
