Watermelon is about 92% water while the remaining 8% is rich in vitamins, antioxidants, lycopene and amino acids, making it a superfood.
Unfortunately, it won’t last forever, and you should determine if the watermelon is bad and how long it lasts before deciding to eat it. Let’s see.
Does watermelon go bad?
Like other foods, watermelon can spoil quickly. Packages of pre-cut watermelon always have an expiration date on the label, and you should take it seriously. The problem is that a bad watermelon is regularly seen and smelled, but its sour taste indicates that it is no longer edible.
Remember that this fruit will improve its quality if you keep it whole and cut it before eating. The rule of thumb is to keep it at a low temperature if you plan to store it for a long time.
How long does watermelon last?
Watermelon, like any other fruit, will not last very long, and you can keep the whole fruit at room temperature for about a week or 10 days, in some cases, without fear. If you refrigerate it, it can last up to three weeks.
Unfortunately, once you cut your watermelon, you need to eat it within a day or refrigerate it for 3 to 5 days, from the time of purchase to its initial freshness. . First of all, it depends on the storage method and additional handling. . The only option for long-term storage of watermelon is to freeze it.
Once you’ve cut the watermelon into slices, always refrigerate the leftovers, tightly wrapped. Store small pieces in a resealable bag or airtight container or wrap the fruit tightly with plastic or aluminum wrap. That way, you can enjoy your treatment for more than one day.
If you decide to buy tightly wrapped quarters at the supermarket, they will be covered with plastic wrap. If you can’t eat a whole piece at once, you should store the fruit this way. Cut as needed and rewrap the rest before storing in the fridge or freezer.
4 Tips to Tell if a Watermelon Has Spoiled
Expiration date of watermelon
Always follow the shelf life of watermelons strictly to avoid unpleasant surprises. This is especially important when you buy pre-cut fruit.
Nitrate presence
One of the best ways to know if your watermelon is fresh and naturally ripened is to test for the presence of nitrates. Avoid watermelons with yellow skin and white stripes.
A proven method is to mash a piece of pulp and add it to a glass of water. If you have healthy fruit, the water will be cloudy. However, with a very high percentage of nitrates will give the water a red color. It is better to avoid it.
physical appearance
- Color – Shade of pine green with or without stripes depending on the type of watermelon. Any deviation from the normal color should be suspicious to you.
- Mold – Any dark spots or white, dull, green or black mold on the rind of the watermelon indicates that your fruit has gone bad.
- Texture – Dry, mushy, dry, mushy, or thin flesh is a clear sign that you have a bad melon.
- Color – deep pink or clear red indicates that the fruit is healthy. To avoid food poisoning, if the color is yellow, orange or black, never eat it. Note that some varieties such as Tender Gold, Yellow Doll, Desert King, and Yellow Baby have naturally yellow or orange flesh.
- Odor – A vinegar-like odor is a sign that the watermelon has gone sour.
- Taste – A sour taste instead of fresh, sweet and juicy will tell you that the watermelon is spoiled, so it should not be eaten.
- Hollow core – This indicates that the watermelon is overripe or contains growth hormones, which can cause poisoning.
6 Tips for Storing Watermelons
As I mentioned earlier, the best way to store watermelon is to keep it whole and cut it before eating. However, you can also store it for a while with some simple methods. Let’s look at your options.
Refrigerating
Since sliced watermelons are only edible for a day when stored at room temperature, a better option is to refrigerate the slices for a few days. Be prepared that refrigeration will change the texture of the flesh and reduce the nutritional benefits of this fruit.
Check for signs of spoilage, wash the skin to remove dirt from the meat, and make clean slices to minimize spoilage. Then, wrap the fruit tightly in plastic wrap before storing in the refrigerator.
If you prefer to keep watermelon slices, you can dice the slices:
- resealable bag
- Sealable container
- Airtight container
This way you will retain the taste and freshness of the fruit.
Freeze
Freezing watermelon will prolong its shelf life, so you can use small cubes to make a smooth and fresh drink even during the season. You can also make ice cubes of blended watermelon and place it in cube trays or fill popsicle molds. One option is to combine watermelon with spices, other fruits and vegetables to make delicious dishes.
Dehydration
Drying watermelon is an effective way to preserve it because the low water content prolongs its shelf life and prevents it from rotting. Use a dehydrator to dry watermelons as this is the best way to control temperature and air circulation during the process.
Before drying, you need to peel the skin and cut the fruit into thin slices. The procedure will last about 24 hours. If you store the pieces properly, you can use them as a spicy afternoon snack or make candy for your kids.
Pickle
Pickled watermelon is very popular in Russia for a reason. You can pickle whole fruits, peels or meat in hot pickling solution according to your choice and taste. Most recipes include ingredients like vinegar, lemon juice, spices, and sugar.
Make slices or cubes and arrange them in mason jars. Bring the ingredients to a boil and pour the hot liquid over the watermelon. Seal the jars, let them cool to room temperature, and store in the pantry.
Candied Watermelon Peels
Cut the cubed peels and dip them in sugar syrup. Boil them until the mixture reduces to a thick, jam-like consistency. Add cinnamon to enhance the flavor and let the mixture cool.
Jelly
Making watermelon jelly is not a complicated process. Boil the fruit juice until it becomes a thick, clear mass. Don’t forget to add sweetener and pectin according to the recipe.
Danger of consuming expired watermelon
Consuming spoiled watermelon can quickly lead to food poisoning. The first signs that something is wrong will appear within a few hours and include:
- Fatigue and headache
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
In some severe cases, the patient experiences high temperature, joint pain and pain. An additional problem is food poisoning due to Listeria, which can grow on the rind of the watermelon and infect the flesh after cutting.
You should also be careful if you have diabetes because this fruit is high in natural sugar. Watermelon can rarely cause an allergic reaction, followed by difficulty breathing and swelling after consumption.
Also, the role of lycopene in this and how it affects human health is not fully understood. However, it will help if you avoid watermelons with yellow stringy pulp and shiny, polished pulp that has a sour smell.
Can you freeze watermelon?
Because it has a high water content, freezing is not the best choice for storage. Actually, it is not the freezing process but the appearance of the fruit after decomposition that is the problem. Once you melt it, you will get the desired color and tasteless red portion.
However, you can use watermelon to make fruit juices and smoothies. To get a smoothie, you mash and blend it so that there is no problem with the texture change. When you decide to make a refreshing summer drink, you can use watermelon cubes in water instead of regular ice cubes.
- Watermelon Cubes – To get them, you need to scoop out the seeds, cut the flesh into small cubes, and place them on a tray until frozen. Then, pack the cubes in a freezer bag and use when needed.
- Fruit Infused Water – Prepare watermelon in fruit water, freeze slices in ice cube trays, and use whenever needed.
Thaw the watermelon cubes overnight in the refrigerator. If you have a smooth blender that can grind ice, you can freely use frozen cubes to get a delicious and refreshing drink.
Abstract
Watermelon can spoil quickly, but the signs of spoilage aren’t that complicated to spot. Always check the outer appearance and flesh of a melon before buying it. Next, take care to store the fruit properly to extend its life.
How to tell if watermelon is bad?
