How to Preserve Watermelon

Watermelon is a favorite summer treat, but this fruit is large and difficult to store. You can cut watermelon into large pieces and cover with cling film, then store in the refrigerator to keep fresh for a few days. Cut watermelon into small pieces that will last for a few days and store in an airtight container for a delicious fresh watermelon with no waste. Freeze chopped watermelon for longer shelf life and ease of use in other dishes.

Table of Contents

Preserving sliced watermelon

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Store whole watermelon at room temperature. The nutritional value of watermelon can decrease if you put the whole watermelon in the refrigerator. If you’re not planning on cutting the watermelon right away, it’s best to leave the watermelon whole at room temperature, out of direct sunlight. ^{[1] X Research Source}

You should still trim or freeze watermelon within 2 weeks of purchase.

Cover the cut side of the watermelon with plastic wrap. If you’ve halved a melon and want to save half, cover it with plastic wrap. Watermelons need to be covered to avoid the smell of other foods in the refrigerator. ^{[2] X Research Source}

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Store large pieces of watermelon in the refrigerator. Once the watermelon is covered, you can store it in the refrigerator. You should still cut watermelon into small pieces and use it up or freeze it within 3-4 days. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Preserving chopped watermelon

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Just cut the watermelon enough to use. If you cut a whole melon, chances are you won’t eat it all. Cut a watermelon in half and store half in the refrigerator. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Cut off the watermelon rind. Cut off the watermelon rind from the half of the fruit you plan to chop. Start by placing the cut side of the watermelon on a cutting board and cut off the rind from the top following the curve of the melon. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

Cut the watermelon into small pieces. Cut the melon into slices, cut the melon slices into rectangles, then cut into squares. ^{[6] X Research Sources}

Store watermelon in an airtight container. Even when kept in an airtight container, watermelon will lose freshness and sweetness in 3-4 days. You need to eat the melon before this time, otherwise the melon will become watery and lose its flavor. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

Frozen watermelon

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Cut off the watermelon rind. Halve the watermelon, then place the cut side down on a cutting board. Using a large, sharp knife cut off the melon’s skin starting from the top (previously one end of the melon) and slowly cutting down the curve of the melon. Repeat this operation around until the end of the melon. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

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Cut the watermelon into small pieces. To cut a watermelon into small squares, you would cut the two halves of the melon into criss-cross slices or into squares. If you want to cut into cubes, place the slices on a cutting board and cut them out. ^{[9] X Research Source}

If you want to use frozen watermelon in smoothies or ice cream, it’s best to cut it into cubes.
Cutting watermelon into cubes is best if you plan on eating it and not making anything else. However, thawed watermelon will be softer than fresh watermelon, so you should be careful when freezing watermelon.
You can also freeze watermelon slices if the freezer doesn’t have enough room. Sliced watermelon is easier to stack than block.

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Freeze watermelon in a layer. Arrange the watermelon slices in a single layer on a baking tray. Place the watermelon tray in the freezer and let the watermelon solidify. You may need to check every 10 minutes to see if the watermelon is frozen. ^{[10] X Research Source}

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Place the watermelon in an airtight container. Once the watermelon has solidified (after about an hour in the freezer), you can place it in an airtight container or freezer bag. Watermelon can be stored in the freezer for up to 6 months. ^{[11] X Research Source}

Steps

Preserving sliced watermelon

Preserving chopped watermelon

Frozen watermelon

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