Watermelon is one of the most popular fruits to enjoy during the summer months, but it can be incredibly frustrating when you bring a whole one home, only to discover it’s dried out and spoiled
Nothing screams summer like biting into a slice of succulent watermelon – but the disappointment of lugging one back from the shops only to find it’s dried up and past its best is a real downer. With watermelon season in full swing from mid-June to late August, now’s the prime time to snag a bargain and bone up on how to stash it correctly.
Christina Orso, a culinary expert from Mortadella Head, shares the lowdown on stashing your whole watermelon properly. She advises: “Once home, I store the uncut watermelon at room temperature, out of direct sunlight. Uncut watermelon has a longer shelf life than cut watermelon.”
READ MORE: DNA site that helped woman find long-lost Japanese brother is now under £30
And she adds a promising note: “With proper storage, an uncut watermelon can stay fresh for up to two weeks!” It might sound odd, but to keep your watermelon in tip-top shape, don’t park it next to your other fruit as this can speed up spoilage, reports the Express.
Watermelons are particularly susceptible to ethylene gas, which is churned out by fruits like apples, avocados and bananas to aid their ripening process. The trouble is, too much of this gas from a crowded fruit bowl can lead to all your fruit going off prematurely.
To avoid this, watermelons fare well when stored alongside pineapples, which emit only a smidge of ethylene gas. They’re also good neighbours for citrus fruits such as lemons, limes, and grapefruits, and they won’t turn their noses up at being near berries like strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries either.
The ideal spot for storing watermelon is at the rear of a kitchen worktop or beneath a shelf, as it flourishes best in a dim area of the kitchen away from direct sunlight and warmth.
How to correctly store sliced watermelon portions
Nevertheless, chopped watermelon must also be housed in a lidded container to maintain optimal freshness, as it’s more susceptible to bacterial growth owing to its elevated natural sugar and moisture levels. Christina explained: “Freshly cut watermelon loses moisture and flavour when exposed to air. The best way to combat this is to tightly wrap the cut end (the exposed flesh) with plastic wrap.”
She continued: “Then, place the wrapped watermelon in a shallow airtight container. An airtight food storage container or cling wrap will work wonders here.”
Whilst wrapping watermelon in cling film is perfectly acceptable, you might also want to consider purchasing beeswax wrapping as a more environmentally-conscious option. For smaller watermelon chunks, you can simply pop them straight into a container rather than wrapping them, though adding kitchen roll or a paper plate to the container will keep them fresher for extended periods.
Christina advised: “For smaller cut watermelon pieces or cubes, I place them on a paper towel-lined plate. The paper towel will absorb any excess moisture that can lead to sogginess.”
The kitchen roll or plate helps prevent dampness from accumulating in the container, which can assist in stopping mould from ruining the watermelon. However, once you’ve sliced into that juicy watermelon, don’t expect the flavour to last forever; a couple of days is about as good as it gets before it starts to fade, even if it’s still free from bacteria and mould.
Christina advised: “While refrigeration helps, avoid storing cut watermelon for over a day or two. The cool temperatures can start to diminish the watermelon’s sweet taste.”