How long does a watermelon keep. Rules and methods for successfully storing watermelons for the winter

no comments

How to store cut watermelon

Watermelon is a storehouse of vitamins, microelements, and other substances useful for our body, and it is also a very juicy and tasty berry. This product, like the human body, mainly consists of water. Eating it at a time can be difficult, and therefore it is important to know how much you can store a cut watermelon in the refrigerator. Improper storage of this berry can cause extremely undesirable consequences for the body, in the worst case, poisoning.

A whole intact watermelon can be stored in a cool place for a long time. But often in practice a situation arises when half of the cut watermelon remains, and no longer fits. You can’t just leave it like that - it will deteriorate, so you definitely need to find out the nuances of storage.

Watermelon, as one of the most juicy and delicious berries, appears on our table only in the summer-autumn period at the very peak of the heat. That is why it is so difficult to store it, and even more so if it is cut.

Of course, the best way to store a watermelon is to eat it completely and not leave it for later. However, if you still have a cut watermelon left, you need to know a few things about how to save it. Consider several ways to store cut watermelon:

Fridge. The best and most affordable way to preserve cut berries is the refrigerator. It maintains a constant low temperature, there is practically no access to pathogens, and the condition of the product can be monitored throughout the day.
Find a cold spot. Other cool places can be storage options: cellar, pantry, underground. The main thing is to keep it cool. Often, due to very high air temperatures in summer, these places also heat up. Therefore, you need to be very careful when choosing this storage option.
Pieces in the freezer. One way to store watermelon is not to "stuff" the watermelon in the refrigerator, but to cut it into pieces. These parts of the watermelon are stored in the freezer. To do this, the cut berry is cut into pieces, the peel and seeds are removed, and then placed in the freezer. At the same time, the thawed berry releases a lot of water. But as an alternative to other frozen berries for the winter, a very interesting and tasty storage option. It is best to prepare watermelon ice cream or smoothies from such pieces.
Squeeze juice. Another storage method: squeeze the juice with pulp from the remaining cut watermelon (preferably through a juicer), and then this juice can be sterilized and poured into jars to be used later in the winter. Or just freeze in the freezer and take out if needed.
Make ice cream. Another interesting and tasty storage method is to freeze the berry like ice cream. To do this, cut the remaining watermelon into pieces, pierce from the side of the peel with an ice cream stick, dip in powdered sugar and freeze in the freezer. Watermelon ice cream is ready.
Sunset for the winter- an alternative to the above methods of storage. In this case, it can be compotes, jam, or just rolled pieces of watermelon. To do this, you just need to sterilize and roll up in jars according to your favorite recipe.
Salt or pickle. Such a dish will be stored for a long time, has a peculiar taste and is the best solution to the issue of storing cut watermelon.
Pour in syrup. You can save the watermelon by freezing the pieces of this berry, but first fill them with sweet syrup, or some kind of fruit juice.
dried watermelon- this is a strange thing, but very tasty. To do this, the watermelon must be cut into pieces and sent to the dryer for about 1 day, again, the duration of this procedure depends on the size of the pieces and the power of your device.
Alcoholic jelly. For those who like to drink a little alcohol, you can process the cut watermelon and turn it into vodka jelly, put it in the refrigerator and enjoy the cooked mass after 3-4 hours.

Important! Before freezing the pulp of a watermelon, make sure it is suitable, as a spoiled product can lead to poisoning.

With all the variety of ways to store berries, the question of storage time remains unsolved. There are many options, but how many are enough?

How and how much can you store cut watermelon

In no case should a cut watermelon be left in the heat, and it can also be kept in a warm place for no more than an hour, otherwise harmful bacteria and microorganisms will form on it, which can lead to poisoning.

The remaining cut berry can be stored in the refrigerator, or in a cool cellar for no more than a day, since a longer shelf life leads to the multiplication of dangerous bacterial microflora. Also, during long-term storage, watermelon loses its taste and sweetness.

If you used a freezer as a storage method (for example, you froze watermelon juice, or watermelon slices), then, accordingly, you can store such a product for a year, until the next "watermelon" season.

When storing in the refrigerator, you must follow simple rules: turn the watermelon upside down with the cut side of the dish, so it will not drain. You can wrap it with cling film, but it is best to wrap it together with the dish, otherwise, at the place where the film adheres to the watermelon, the flesh will be sluggish and not juicy. This berry in the refrigerator should be stored separately from other products so that it does not absorb odors.

When stored in a pantry or cellar, a watermelon can be placed in a bucket with the cut side down and covered with a lid. So it will keep fresh longer.

So, in this article, we looked at several storage methods, as well as how much cut watermelon can be stored in the refrigerator. Anyone can keep such goodies, even if not for long. Therefore, you can choose any of the methods, or try your own, the main thing is that it is delicious. Remember, improper storage of cut watermelon can cause negative consequences for the body.

Watermelon, when providing the berry with the necessary conditions, can be stored for a long time. Individual varieties can lie in the open air for three months, only improving their taste characteristics. At the same time, it should be said that most of the Central Asian and Astrakhan varieties that ripen in the middle of summer and are sold in numerous markets in the summer are often transported incorrectly, so you should not expect excellent keeping quality from them. It is difficult to predict how long such a fetus will lie. But if you are engaged in the cultivation of watermelons on your own, then in this case you will be able to ensure the maximum possible preservation of the grown crop in terms of duration. We offer you small recommendations, after reading which you will know exactly how to store watermelon.

How to keep the fetus as long as possible

Remember that this berry does not like mechanical damage, so if you throw or carelessly transport watermelons, then soon characteristic blackening and signs of decay will appear on their surface, and the pulp will be completely spoiled. If you grow this berry yourself, then try to take and carry the ripe fruits in simple rag gloves, which will avoid mechanical damage to the fruit.

During storage, the berries should be in contact with soft surfaces. Do not allow fruit to touch each other, which inevitably leads to rapid deterioration of the fruit. The best place to store the harvested crop will be a cellar or a special vegetable box in the refrigerator, where the temperature is in the range of 1-4 degrees Celsius. Some varieties can ripen in the sun for a long time, but in the heat, the shelf life usually does not exceed a few weeks.

When choosing a fruit for long-term storage, it is necessary to examine the fruit for damage and yellow spots, which may indicate an overripe berry. The presence of such spots will tell you how long such a fruit will lie. It is best to give preference to medium-sized fruits that are better stored than large-sized specimens. Such fruits retain their taste for as long as possible and can lie fresh and sweet even until the new year.

Periodically inspect and turn the fruits during storage to avoid spots on the surface of the berries, which subsequently lead to rot.

How to keep watermelon in the fridge

In the event that you plan to eat watermelon in a few days, then it is quite possible to store the berries simply in a plastic bag in the cold, but if you want to keep the fruits for several months, then you need to place the purchased product on the top shelf of the refrigerator. The shelf life of watermelons largely depends on compliance with temperature conditions and humidity indicators. It is preferable to keep the uncut berry in the refrigerator with a temperature of 1 to 3 degrees. You should not put the watermelon in the freezer, where the berry can quickly deteriorate. The optimum moisture content is no more than 85 percent.

It is recommended to lay a soft natural fabric on a shelf in the refrigerator and carefully place a watermelon on it. If there are several fruits on the shelf, they should be separated with a cardboard partition or wrapped in natural fabric. It is best to keep them on different shelves, which will protect the fruit from rotting. How many such fruits will go into the refrigerator depends on the availability of special boxes for fruits and additional shelves. Light adversely affects the shelf life, so you need to turn off the light in the refrigerator, or wrap the fruit with a light-tight cloth.

Before storing your chosen watermelon, it must be washed and dried with a paper towel. You can wrap the berry with newspapers or natural cloth, after which it can be stored for long-term storage in the bottom drawer, which is designed to store fruit. Turn the fruit at least twice a week to protect it from rotting.

Remember that only whole fruits should be stored for storage for the winter. But chopped watermelon can be stored in the refrigerator for no more than two days. Remember that the pulp of chopped berries quickly deteriorates and becomes dangerous for the body. Therefore, try to eat already cut fruit as quickly as possible.

Free legal advice:

On average, the shelf life of watermelons in the refrigerator is 4-6 months. At the same time, it is difficult to predict how long a particular instance will lie. The fact is that we do not know whether the transportation of watermelons was carried out correctly, the conditions for their cultivation and the specific variety of berries. It is best, if necessary, to keep the fruit until the new year to make purchases in September, when late Astrakhan and Turkmen varieties are sold in the markets. Such a fruit can easily lie for 4-5 months, delighting in the winter cold with juicy and sweet pulp.

Is it possible to freeze watermelons

Many of us wonder if it is possible to freeze watermelon pulp in the refrigerator? Indeed, this is possible, but it must be remembered that after defrosting, when the pulp loses its texture, such a defrosted watermelon can be used exclusively for making cocktails and various dishes that do not require the integrity of the pulp. Until the pulp is completely thawed and when it has not yet lost its texture, it can be served at the table, only you need to eat it as quickly as possible.

There are several ways to freeze the pulp of watermelons - simple freezing, with juice, with granulated sugar and syrup. With the so-called shock chilling, the shelf life of frozen fruits can be 12 months. The aroma and sweetness of the fruit when frozen remains the same, which allows it to be used for making all kinds of cocktails, juices and jams.

Storing watermelons at room temperature

Depending on the specific variety, you can store watermelon outdoors for a month. However, you must take into account the condition of the particular fruit, the degree of its maturity and compliance with the rules of transportation. It is recommended to put the fruits on a soft surface in a dark place. We can also recommend that you store the watermelon in a cellar in dry sand, which will keep the berries fresh for two to three weeks.

The original method of storage is practiced in southern countries, in which the ripened fruits are poured with cold water when the fruit is completely immersed in water. This method will allow the watermelon to lie almost until the new year. Just remember that the water should not freeze in the container, as this will invariably lead to damage to the fetus. It is recommended to change the water three times a month for fresh water. At the same time, the watermelon itself should not come into contact with air. Therefore, water changes must be carried out as carefully as possible.

Free legal advice:

ripening time for watermelon

Depending on their variety, watermelons grown in open ground can ripen in early July in the southern regions, and in August in central Russia. It should be said that there are various early and late varieties that differ in the growing season. If you choose a watermelon for long-term storage, then preference should be given to late varieties. The ripening of watermelons can occur both in the beds and during the transportation and sale of berries, when they lie in the sun for several days. In the industrial cultivation of this crop, still unripe watermelons are harvested, which subsequently ripen within a few days, acquiring the necessary sweetness and juiciness.

Conclusion

With the right storage conditions, a whole watermelon can lie for 4-6 months, retaining its taste and integrity of the pulp. We can recommend that you put the ripened fruits in the refrigerator in a fruit box, which will extend the shelf life, and you can enjoy delicious and fresh watermelon even in the new year. At the same time, you should take into account that when buying fruits in the markets, it is difficult to predict how long they will lie, so grow watermelons on your own and you will be able to eat the harvest you have harvested for as long as possible.

Publication of site materials on your page

How long watermelons are stored: whole, cut

How quickly the watermelon harvest time passes and how you want to extend it. Will it be possible to please yourself and loved ones with the summer aroma of a sugar fruit in winter? We will find out how long a watermelon is stored and try to keep it as long as possible.

Free legal advice:

Whole fruit

If you want to cut a watermelon for the New Year's table, then select a candidate for storage as picky as possible:

with a shiny skin and with bright contrasting stripes;
with a smooth surface without damage and dents;
unbeaten;
with an incompletely dried tail;
not very large, but with a thick skin;
with a ringing rather than a deaf sound when tapped;
late ripening varieties.

Not overripe, but slightly unripe - such watermelons are stored for 2-3 months. The best place for this is the cellar. It is here that there are all the conditions that ensure long-term storage:

low temperature (1-3 degrees);
high humidity (80-85%);
lack of light.

Watermelons are best stored in a suspended state and not in contact with each other.

Experienced gardeners resort to all sorts of tricks to increase the shelf life of watermelons: they apply alabaster, clay or wax to the peel, put them in straw, ash, sand or moss. But if you do not have a cellar, then store at home in a clean and dark cool corner, in a pantry or on a balcony. Wrap the watermelons in newspaper or cloth, hang them in a net, or place them on a soft, natural cloth mat. At home, they can only be stored for a month or two. It is important to periodically check their surface for rot and turn over to the other side.

cut into halves

Having waited for the long-awaited harvest, we are in a hurry to choose the largest fruit. We think that we will eat it whole and right away, but we are mistaken - sweet watermelons quickly saturate. Are you used to storing cut watermelon in the refrigerator? How long can it be kept here? To prolong life, try to properly pack:

wrap the incision with cling film - so it does not absorb odors;
put cut side down on a plate - less juice will flow out.

But try to eat it within 1-2 days because the sweet surface is a breeding ground for bacteria.

Free legal advice:

Treats can cause poisoning - especially do not risk the health of children and pregnant women.

cut into pieces

You can save a healthy berry at home in two ways:

So cut as much as you can eat.

Frozen

Now you know how long whole and cut watermelons are stored. Many housewives try to freeze fruit at home in the freezer and thus save a piece of summer. The fruit is cut without peel into small layers and spread on a tray for instant freezing. Frozen pieces can be put into small portion bags. So they can be stored for a whole year.

But when defrosted, the watermelon turns into porridge. Hurry up to eat it frozen like natural popsicles. The kids will love this dessert.

Free legal advice:

watermelon pickles

How long can salt preparations be stored? After all, with a good harvest, an excess of fruit is trying to conserve. Make sure that the lid of the blanks is tightly closed, and the temperature in the room does not exceed 10 degrees. Under such conditions, salted watermelons can be stored from six months to a year.

A watermelon kept at home warms the soul. It turns out that it can be stored for a long time, and in winter it will delight the whole family not only with vitamins, but also with their favorite taste.

How to keep fresh and tasty watermelon until the New Year?

A rich harvest of melons for a summer resident is a good reason for joy and pride, as well as a circumstance that makes you think about how to save watermelons for the winter. If the neighbors of watermelons in the garden - pumpkins are easily stored even at home, then green and striped giants are more demanding.

With a competent approach and attention to the fruits, you can save a watermelon until the New Year. But in order for a fresh summer delicacy to appear on the festive table in the middle of winter, you will have to prepare in advance.

Free legal advice:

True, in order for the watermelon to turn out to be juicy and sweet even in winter, the fruits are laid in cellars, where it is important to provide temperature and humidity conditions, allocate enough space for watermelons, and even during storage, pay some attention to giant berries.

Temperature and humidity for storing watermelon

The best conditions for storing watermelons for the winter can be created in the basement. Here, at a temperature of 1-4 ° C and a humidity of 75 to 85%, watermelons do not lose their juiciness or taste.

If the temperature background is higher, the consistency of the watermelon changes, the fermentation process can begin inside it, and the quality of the berry will be irretrievably lost. At temperatures below zero, watermelons freeze slightly.
Similarly, with a decrease in humidity, watermelons lose their juiciness, but if the air in the basement is too damp, the fruits rot.

Premises where watermelons and other vegetables and fruits are stored must be equipped with ventilation.

Selection of watermelons for long-term storage

How long can fresh watermelon be stored?

Usually, while maintaining the proper temperature and humidity, melons do not lose their properties for up to three months.

Free legal advice:

If early-ripening varieties and hybrids are more often chosen for consumption in summer, then it is better to plant late-ripening varieties for winter planting. After all, the later the watermelon is laid in the basement, the longer the shelf life is.

An example of such late-ripening watermelons is the variety Lezhky, Peasant or Excellent Black. How long can watermelon of these varieties be stored? The leader in terms of ability to be stored after being removed from the lash is the watermelon of the Kholodok variety, which does not lose quality for up to 5 months. It is important to choose the strongest, even and healthy fruits of medium size and regular shape.

Watermelon peel is the only protection for juicy pulp, therefore, if you want to keep a watermelon until the New Year, its integrity and quality should be treated with maximum attention. If there are scratches, impact marks, dents or other defects on the surface layer, such watermelons are rejected. They must be eaten without delay or sent for processing.

It is better to remove watermelons from the garden with gloves, and carefully place the berries removed from the whip on a soft, clean surface, leaving a small free space between the individual fruits.

Only healthy watermelons will last until the New Year and delight family members with such a familiar, summery taste.

Free legal advice:

How to keep watermelon fresh for the winter?

In the basement, watermelons are stored on racks and in vegetable boxes, using a variety of fillers to prevent the development of putrefactive bacteria and fungi, as well as to absorb excess moisture. The most accessible material for filling the box is dry sand, on a layer of which watermelons are carefully laid out. Then the sand is poured, filling the space between the fruits.

The same technique is used if it is planned to store watermelons for the winter in a layer of wood ash. The main thing, in this case, is to check in advance that there are no large fractions in the filler, for example, unburned wood chips or sharp pieces of coal that can damage the watermelon bark.

Better than other materials with moisture and harmful flora, dry marsh moss sphagnum fights.

It has a natural bactericidal power and good absorbency, is soft and safe for fruits, and it is not difficult to keep a watermelon for the winter in such an environment. Watermelons are laid on a layer of moss and they also compact the distance between the berries.

A good effect is obtained by treating the surface of the watermelon with a mushy solution of clay or alabaster, wax or paraffin. Protective substances are applied to the watermelon bark so as to obtain a layer up to a centimeter thick. Coatings that do not allow air, light and moisture to pass through help protect the watermelon from external influences and from the loss of its own moisture.

Free legal advice:

Under such conditions, watermelons will be preserved until the New Year, however, it would be useful to play it safe and check the quality of the fruit from time to time in order to notice the onset of spoilage in time and remove the low-quality berry.

Storing watermelons at home

And how long is a watermelon stored in an ordinary apartment? Thick-skinned, ripe fruits wrapped in light-tight material or wrapping paper can also be stored in the apartment. Away from heating appliances and with regular turning, a watermelon can lie for about a month, and then it is still better to eat a sweet fruit.

If the summer resident is lucky to grow large sweet watermelons, sooner or later he will have to face the problem of storing these delicious fruits. It’s good if a whole watermelon in the basement survives until the middle of winter, but sometimes even if all the rules are followed, the fruits have to be culled and sent to the table.

At the same time, the question often arises, how long can cut watermelon be stored in the refrigerator? Unfortunately, pathogens develop so quickly on the sweet pulp that a watermelon in the refrigerator remains safe for no more than a day. What to do with still high-quality fruits? How to save a watermelon for the winter, and what can be prepared for the future from the pulp of this healthy fruit?

Is it possible to freeze watermelon for the winter?

Although, as a result of exposure to low temperatures, the juicy pulp of a watermelon loses its consistency and becomes liquid after thawing, it is possible to freeze a watermelon for the winter. It is possible to minimize the damage caused by frost to the pulp of watermelon if the pieces of arbitrary shape, cleared of seeds and peels, are laid out on a flat tray and placed in the freezer. Thanks to the comprehensive effect of cold, watermelon will freeze as quickly as possible, retain its shape, aroma and taste, as well as juiciness. Pieces of frozen watermelon, along with strawberries, cherries, currants, raspberries, will be an excellent addition to nutrition in the winter.

Free legal advice:

Frozen pieces are placed in resealable bags or containers. In this form, you can keep the watermelon until the New Year and until the next harvest, and use it for making desserts, cocktails, fruit creams and juices. It is even easier to freeze watermelon juice with pulp. If you use portion molds, such juice can turn into a refreshing and healthy ice cream, ice cubes for cocktails or beauty treatments.

There are other ways that allow you to save watermelons for the winter without much time and effort and impress family members and guests with original delicacies:

The watermelon is thoroughly washed and, together with the bark, cut into portioned triangular slices.
An ice cream stick is inserted into the slices through an incision on a dense peel.
The pulp is dipped on both sides in powdered sugar.
The watermelon slices are laid out on a baking sheet so that the pieces do not touch each other.
The tray is placed in the freezer, where it is left until the product is completely frozen.
Ready ice cream, shifting with pieces of parchment, is placed in containers and stored at a temperature not exceeding -18 ° C.

This delicacy is served frozen. If, for the preparation of culinary dishes, you need to thaw pieces of watermelon, it is better to do this in the refrigerator, at a temperature close to 0 ° C.

How to store watermelon

There is no person who does not love sweet, juicy, extremely tasty watermelon. This is a real storehouse of vitamins, minerals, trace elements that nature endows us with. But this largest berry in the world is extremely delicate, so if you want to keep a piece of summer until the New Year, or a little longer, you need to know what needs to be done to keep the watermelon fresh for as long as possible. In principle, storing a watermelon until winter is as easy as storing a melon, but some subtleties still need to be remembered.

Free legal advice:

How to properly store watermelon

Storage temperature

The storage temperature should not exceed +1 - +4°C, with a relative humidity of not more than 85%. When the temperature rises by 4-6 ° C, the watermelon begins to sour.

First of all, you need to be able to choose the right watermelon for storage. To do this, you need to know a few simple rules that will help preserve this berry. It is undesirable to buy early watermelons, they will not lie for a long time. In addition, now there are many cases when melon growers feed plantations with nitrates for faster ripening. You need to buy late varieties that ripen naturally by early September. You should not buy watermelons at spontaneous points, especially along roads, because the pulp of a watermelon instantly absorbs everything harmful that flies out of a car exhaust pipe. For storage, you need to choose medium-sized specimens, weighing 3.5-4.5 kg, of a brilliant color with a dried tail. A whole ripe fruit can be stored in the refrigerator, in the pantry, in the cellar, if it is in a multi-storey building. Watermelons should be stored on a soft bedding, the ideal option is straw, and the fruits should not come into contact with each other.

How to save a watermelon until the New Year

In the cellar where watermelons should be stored, there should not be other vegetables. You need to choose a fruit without cracks and spots. It is best to prepare the racks and line them with straw so that the watermelon does not lie on a hard surface. You can put the berry in a soft bag and hang it, so it will be well preserved. Watermelons should be regularly inspected in order to immediately reject the fruit, even with the slightest signs of spoilage, otherwise the rest will quickly deteriorate.

You can find a large box, put a watermelon and fill it with dry sand. If there is no cellar and cold pantry, then one or two watermelons can be wrapped in paper and put in the coldest zone in the refrigerator. In this case, watermelons can lie up to two months. There are lovers of pickling watermelons. In this case, you can pickle it in chunks, even in jars, or in barrels, entirely, but for this you will need to choose medium-sized specimens, up to 2 kilograms, no more.

How to store cut watermelon

If the watermelon has not been completely eaten, then half of it can be put in the refrigerator, but not more than for two days, for a maximum of three, since its contents are very quickly susceptible to infection by bacteria.

Free legal advice:

Homemade mayonnaise is prepared by many housewives. We offer you to learn how it should be stored correctly so that it remains tasty and healthy.

Figs are an indispensable component of many salads. We have a very informative article on how this fruit is stored at home.

Bought a lot of bananas? Don't want them to darken and lose their appearance? Read our article on how to store them so they don't turn black.

Many people love radishes. Especially in the spring when she is young. Read our article on storing radishes at home

Free legal advice:

Take the risk to find out more! Read our article on how to properly store pancake batter!

Cancel reply

Tell me, is it worth it to be afraid of rodents when storing watermelons? And what are the ways?

Storing watermelons in the cellar is practically no different from storing most vegetables.

And who knows in what water to store watermelons?

the storage temperature of watermelons in reservoirs must comply with GOST. But I would be interested to read about the storage of salted watermelons in reservoirs

Free legal advice:

Unauthorized use of materials is prohibited. All text materials of the site are protected by copyright. Legal support of the project is being carried out.

All photographs and images used on this site are purchased from Depositphotos.

Rules and methods for successfully storing watermelons for the winter

How long can watermelon be stored

Naturally, the first question to ask yourself is: what is the shelf life of watermelons in general?

Free legal advice:

It all depends on the type of culture. Early-ripening varieties are the least suitable for long-term storage, but late-ripening fruits are the best. These varieties include Astrakhan marble, Peasant, Lezhky, Astrakhan striped, Kholodok and others, the ripening period of which falls on September. The peculiarity of late varieties is that the process of chemical synthesis of sugars in them is slower, and therefore the disintegration of chemical bonds takes more time. Therefore, late varieties can retain taste and elasticity for up to 5 months.

If you are interested in how long early varieties of berries can be stored, then their maturation period is very short and is calculated in days. At home, such a fruit is best eaten or processed immediately.

Which watermelon is suitable for long-term storage

As already mentioned, varieties that ripen in early or late September are best suited for storing watermelons for the winter. The likelihood that such a crop is grown on nitrates is extremely small, which makes the fruits not only tasty, but also healthy.

Next, pay attention to the appearance of the fruit. If, when buying, you notice cracks, dents or scratches on the watermelon, then it is better to use such a fruit immediately. Any damage becomes a potential source of bacterial infection.

The purchased watermelon must be ripe, the only way it will be stored at home for a long time. However, this maturity should be natural, not accelerated. Therefore, do not buy berries in supermarkets or along the highway. Firstly, the fruits there often do not have the best taste, and secondly, they are sold unripe.

Free legal advice:

If you decide to keep the berries from your own garden, then you can start picking them five days before the final ripening, doing this very carefully, without damaging the leg. Then the fruits are carefully transported to the storage place. In this case, transportation should not be carried out "encumbered". The culture is recommended to be placed in a vehicle in one layer on a soft bedding - in an amount sufficient so that the fruits do not hit each other during transportation.

Required temperature and humidity

How long the melon crop will be stored is directly affected by the humidity and temperature of the storage room. Where else to store watermelons, if not in the basement or cellar, where you can provide ideal conditions for berries! The best temperature for storing watermelons is + 2-6 degrees, and the humidity should be 75-85%.

Due to the high humidity, the fruit will lose less of its own moisture, so it will stay juicy and fragrant longer. And a stable temperature, close to a minimum, will allow even in winter to feast on crispy, but not frozen pulp.

At home, a pantry or refrigerator can be a good storage place if their capacity allows you to store the whole berry. In addition, at home you can store watermelon on the mezzanine, balcony, in the pantry.

How to keep fresh

In order for the fruit to remain fresh and tasty as long as possible, it is recommended to store it in a suspended state separately from other crops. Many home gardeners keep their crops underground, where the stored fruits are neatly stacked on a bed of straw or other plant material. In addition, in a private home, you can afford to store watermelons in special boxes with sand, where the fruits are dropped and sprinkled with sand or ash as a layer. In addition, you can make a layer between the berries with the help of moss.

Free legal advice:

Before putting the fruit in place, it must be washed, dried and covered with some kind of protective substance. Among these substances, wax, alabaster, clay and two percent lime are considered the best. The fruit is covered so that the dried substance forms a crust of 0.5–0.8 mm.

Freezing for the winter

If you do not have the opportunity to place gourds in a separate room, then you are probably interested in whether it is possible to store watermelons in the refrigerator and how long a watermelon is stored in a frozen state.

It is best to store the watermelon in the freezer, where it fits, pre-cut into pieces. To do this, it is recommended to remove the crust, cut the pulp into uniform medium-sized pieces and put it on a flat surface in one layer (for example, on a tray or baking sheet). The tray is then placed in the freezer where the pieces freeze evenly. After part of the fruit can be quickly transferred to containers or tight bags.

Such a berry can be stored for a very long time - until the next harvest. However, remember that defrosted pulp quickly loses moisture and volume, so be sure to consume fresh watermelon quickly. Also, do not forget to close the container tightly, otherwise the fruits will be saturated with the smells of the freezer.

Free legal advice:

Other storage methods

In addition to all of the above methods, there are two more - pickling and salting watermelons. These methods will keep the fruit well, but the taste of the pulp will change. Pickled and pickled watermelons can be stored for a whole year or longer, provided that the recipe and culinary processes are followed correctly.

Video "How long to store watermelon"

From this video you will learn how to properly store watermelon.

Sliced and whole watermelon: how to save

How to save a whole watermelon

for long-term storage, thick-skinned watermelon of late-ripening varieties is better suited.
watermelon must be carefully chosen: a fruit without dents, not beaten, with a whole peel will do.
the easiest way to save a watermelon is if there is a cellar, since the optimal storage temperature is +1-+3 degrees.
the watermelon should lie on a soft surface and not come into contact with other watermelons. In cellars, it is recommended to lay out watermelons on straw, but you can simply put a clean soft cloth, of course, natural.
if there is no cellar, then you need to choose the coolest dark room, put the watermelon on a soft surface and visit it as often as possible and turn it over.

How to store cut watermelon

Cut watermelon can not be stored for a long time. The best thing is to buy a watermelon that you can eat right away. But it rarely succeeds. Therefore, measures must be taken to save the remainder.

You can not leave sliced watermelon on the table, especially in warm weather - bacteria begin to multiply very quickly in it and you can easily get poisoned, even if the watermelon has stood for only an hour.

Cut watermelon should be stored only in a cool place: usually in a refrigerator, but an underground or cellar is also suitable, where the temperature is less than 10 degrees.

When storing watermelon, place it cut side down. Since all the moisture in it rises, and in this position it flows less and does not lose its taste so much.

If you want, you can wrap the watermelon in cling film, but it is better to wrap it with the plate on which it lies, cut down. If the film comes into contact with the pulp, then the latter becomes soft and “snotty”.

Option for underground: cut watermelon should be put in a pot / bucket / basin. To cover with a lid. So you can save watermelon no worse than in the refrigerator. And even a little longer.

Is it possible to save watermelons until the New Year?

How long does a watermelon keep? The answer to this question cannot be unambiguous, since too many factors affect the lifespan of this wonderful berry. In order to enjoy a juicy and fragrant fruit from the heart, you first need to be able to choose it correctly, and long-term storage of watermelon does require some knowledge and conditions.

Experienced melon growers are probably able to determine within a few seconds what is in front of them: a ripe sweet berry or an unripe, and even worse, an inedible fruit pumped up with nitrates.

People far from gardening most often buy a watermelon almost at random, like a lottery ticket. Not surprisingly, disappointments in such cases are not uncommon. It is especially disappointing when you want to pamper your child or guests with a wonderful fruit and berry dessert, and on the dish there is an unsweetened, almost tasteless and unappetizing watermelon. In order not to get into such a situation, the choice should be approached thoroughly and slowly. So, what to be guided by when buying?

Point of sale selection

First of all, you need to understand where you can, and where you definitely shouldn’t make a purchase:

Roadside improvised stalls, where the fruits lie in a green pile on top of each other, and often even without a canopy, right under the scorching sun, it is better to bypass. Watermelons very quickly absorb toxic substances that enter the air with the exhaust gases of passing cars, which not only impairs the taste, but simply makes them unhealthy. And exposure to sunlight can lead to damage to the fetus in just a couple of hours.

Caution: in no case should you buy cut or opened fruits to demonstrate “ripeness”; there is a high probability of food poisoning after eating them.

Supermarkets, especially large chains, inspire more confidence, but, unfortunately, not all of them and not always can boast of the excellent quality of fruits, vegetables and berries, since such outlets usually make very large purchases of goods that often spend a long time in warehouses . For this reason, no one can guarantee the ripeness of watermelons lying on the shelves of large stores. It all depends on the specific batch, the timing of its delivery from the field and the quality of the choice of the supplier.

Important: these berries do not have the ability to ripen after harvesting from the garden; Sadly, they don't get better.

Equipped markets are considered the most suitable place to buy watermelon, where there is full control over the quality of the product that reaches the consumer. However, even in such a place, you can and should ask the seller for a certificate for his products.

It's good when the watermelons on the market counter lie in one row, without touching each other, and on a special soft bedding. This suggests that trade is carried out by a person who knows firsthand about the conditions necessary to preserve the quality of melons.

When does watermelon season start?

No one is surprised when in the middle of summer in all districts of the city tents grow like mushrooms after rain, in the depths of which mountains of watermelons await their customers. Meanwhile, buying a good, ripe watermelon in July is an almost impossible task, since the fruits begin to ripen only in August. Accordingly, in the second half of the last summer month, it is time to treat yourself and loved ones to ripe and sweet watermelons.

Varieties for Better Storage

Not every watermelon can lie without spoiling for a long time, therefore, when puzzling over how to store watermelons until the New Year, it is important to know what kind of variety you have grown or met on the counter. Early ripe varieties are only suitable for immediate consumption, they cannot be stored for a long time. The shelf life of late-ripening watermelons can reach several months if care is taken to create the right conditions. The latest varieties are:

Astrakhan striped,
Astrakhan marble,
Popovka,
Melitopol 143,
Bykovsky 15,
Lezhky,
Chill (can be stored up to 5 months),
Peasant,
Excellent black.

We define quality

Long-term storage of watermelons is possible only for ideal specimens. Selection criteria:

The absence of even the slightest damage to the crust: there should be no dents, no scratches, no cracks, since all this will lead to the rapid decay of the fetus.
Too heavy specimens will not last long. It is best to keep berries weighing no more than 4-5 kg.
Watermelon can be stored for a long time if it is really ripe. A berry that has not had time to ripen will become unusable very quickly.

Visual inspection of the fetus does not present any difficulties, but it can be difficult to determine whether it is ripe or not. Nevertheless, it is possible even for those who are not too sophisticated in this matter. To help - instructions.

How to choose a ripe watermelon?

1. Pay attention to the condition of his tail: it is correct if it is dry. However, the tail may well dry out during storage, so the halo around it should also be dry.

2. A ripe fruit cannot but have a small stain from contact with the soil. The yellow color of the spot is a good sign, but the white one indicates the presence of a high content of nitrates in the berry.

3. The peel of a ripe specimen is so strong that it will be very difficult to pierce it with a fingernail, and when rubbed, it does not exude a grassy aroma.

4. Glossy, shiny surface indicates that the berry is ripe, and haze warns of the presence of harmful chemicals.

5. You need to listen: when tapped, the ripe fruit makes a dull resonating sound, and when squeezed, it crackles slightly. A ripe watermelon cannot “ring”.

Subtleties that not everyone knows about: if there is a halo on the opposite side of the tail, which is larger in diameter, such a berry is “the fair sex”, and it is much sweeter than the others, and there are much fewer seeds in it. And of two fruits of equal size, it would be right to give preference to the lighter one: it is really ripe!

With all of the above in mind, everyone will be able to choose a great ripe watermelon with a high percentage of probability. Having made a successful purchase a couple of times, you can safely stock up and store watermelons for the winter. It is better to do this at the end of September, then the chance to treat yourself to a summer dessert at the New Year's table will be maximum.

Conditions for the preservation of fruits

Storage of watermelon requires compliance with several conditions:

The temperature should not exceed +10 degrees. The optimal mode is from +1 to +4 degrees Celsius. When the air is too warm, the pulp simply peroxides, and when it is negative, it turns into ice.
The berry must be isolated from any light, and first of all, of course, from the sun. Under its influence, the life of the fetus is significantly shortened.
The humidity in the storage room should be approximately 80% (+/-5%). If the storage is too dry, the watermelon will wither, and in an excessively humid environment, it will rot.

There are several ways and suitable storage locations for these amazing berries.

cooling chamber

When it comes to how to keep a watermelon for immediate consumption for a couple of days, the best option at home will be a refrigerator, because it allows you to easily regulate and maintain the desired temperature, does not let in light and does not dry out food.

It happens that even with joint efforts it is not possible to finish off a huge berry in one sitting, then you have to store a cut watermelon in the refrigerator. Here, too, you need to take into account some nuances:

on the third day, the once fragrant and sweet pulp loses its characteristic taste, and it is no longer interesting to eat it; besides, the watermelon just starts to spoil;
many wrap the berry with cling film so that its flesh does not dry out, but this is only correct if you turn the watermelon cut side down on a wide plate and wrap both the fruit and the dishes with the film;
before storing a watermelon in the refrigerator, even uncut, it is important to make sure that no odorous products are observed in the neighborhood; the fact is that even through the peel, the berry absorbs all the flavors very intensively, for example, smoked sausage or fish.

Balcony

On a balcony or loggia, if they are protected from sunlight, you can store a whole watermelon even in summer, but not for long, a maximum of a week. But an opened watermelon will “behave badly” if it is too warm outside. Another thing is late autumn, when the thermometer does not rise above +5–7 degrees, and the sun no longer bakes. At this time, the cut fruit will remain on the loggia for a day or two, and whole berries at this temperature may well last until the New Year's feast.

Cellar storage methods

Keeping watermelons in the cellar is very simple and convenient. However, in winter, the basement or underground is just an ideal storage for other supplies that have no place in the apartment. Therefore, this option has its own difficulties: storing watermelons in the cellar involves isolating them from other fresh vegetables and fruits, since such a neighborhood can significantly accelerate the deterioration of the former. Well, if the cellar is not one room, or at least has a partition.

Storage options for watermelons:

Hanging. The fruit is taken, wrapped in a soft natural cloth or several layers of clean paper, and placed in a wicker string bag, which is suspended from the ceiling. In this form, watermelon can be stored for up to six months, if we are talking about the lightest varieties.
On wide shelves covered with straw or other soft natural material (moss, peat, pine needles).
In ashes or sand. At the bottom of a wooden box, the selected filler is poured, watermelons are laid out and completely covered.
Moss growing in swamps has excellent bactericidal properties, and therefore is excellent for storing fruits that are surrounded by it, covering the entire surface.
You can “pack” each berry in a protective suit made of wax, alabaster, clay or paraffin. To do this, you just need to coat the watermelons with a liquid substance and wait until it dries. Then it will be very easy to cut it and remove it.
In a tub or barrel of water - another possible option for "underground" storage of watermelons. Of course, the water should be cold, and it should be changed at least once a month.

If there is a subfloor in a private house, then even a cut fruit does not have to be stored in the refrigerator. Put cut side down in a deep, clean bowl, cover with a wide dish and put in the cellar - quite a possible option.

Conditions and shelf life in the cellar

In general, all the methods listed above are good and allow you to save sunny fruits not for one day, but for several months in advance, up to February, but again, given some conditions:

the room should be well ventilated;
before laying the berries for storage, they should be kept in straw for a couple of days, and then treated with a 2% solution of lime to prevent damage to the stock by mold or rot;
treat the storage with special means against fungi and microbes;
maintain the correct level of humidity and temperature;
when storing berries, it is important to ensure that they do not touch each other;
a couple of times a month it is necessary to inspect the stocks, removing the specimens that have begun to deteriorate and turning those that are in perfect order from side to side.

On site, in the ground

Some manage to store watermelons in the ground. For this purpose, a deep hole is dug, the bottom of which is lined with straw (layer thickness of about 10 cm), then the fruits pre-treated with lime (2% solution) are laid, the space between the berries is filled with shavings, they also cover the stock from above and cover everything with earth. The layer of earth is about 30 cm.

What to do if there is no underground or balcony?

Is it possible to store watermelons in the apartment for as long as in the cellar or on the balcony? Perhaps the answer is obvious. Even if you place the berries in a relatively cool pantry, they will not last that long.

Some apartments have small niches located under the kitchen window, which turn into refrigerators with the onset of the first cold weather, but even there long-term storage of watermelons seems unlikely, both humidity and temperature are very unstable.

Freeze

It is better to freeze watermelons in portioned pieces. Better yet, make a semi-finished product out of them by planting each slice on a wooden stick and rolling the juicy pulp in powdered sugar. On the baking sheet, the blanks must be sent to the freezer, and when they turn into ice cream, put the berry ice in plastic containers, not forgetting to layer it with parchment paper.

Such figurines can serve as a wonderful decoration for fruit salads or interesting cocktails.

Preservation of fruits for a long winter period is a pressing problem in our latitudes, we recommend that you also read the article on bananas to find out if bananas can be stored in the refrigerator and other subtleties, in many ways similar to the preservation of other fruits.

At the end of summer, watermelon finally appears on our table - a delicacy that everyone loves for its extraordinary juiciness, specific taste and many useful qualities. However, this is a perishable product, which is best not left for a long time even in the cold. Both halves of the berry and its slices gradually lose their freshness, wither and can become sour. That is why, when buying the desired fruit, you should collect information in advance about how much watermelon can be stored in the refrigerator, cut into pieces.

To begin with, choose berries of a size that the family will eat as quickly as possible, unless, of course, they are intended for long-term storage. Watermelon, already cut into pieces, quickly loses its valuable properties and can even become a source of bacterial infection if it is overexposed. Therefore, the half-eaten product can only be covered with cling film and left in the refrigerator for a couple of days. In this state, he is able to "hold out" fresh for no more than three days, and then it is better to get rid of him so as not to harm his own health.

If, out of ignorance, the delicacy was left at room temperature, it is unacceptable to eat it after an hour or an hour and a half - such categoricalness is associated with numerous cases of poisoning.

Despite the fact that the fruit is bought exclusively for food, as with long-term storage, it is necessary to choose only high-quality berries, the skin of which has a natural green color and shines. At the same time, their stalk should be dried up - this means the ripeness and sweetness of the watermelon pulp. Any specks, scratches and other damage on the peel are undesirable.

Also, you don't have to buy a product as soon as it's on sale. Most of the fruits of the first harvests in their composition, often, contain a large amount of nitric acid salts, which feed the culture. As a result, when eaten, the berry can cause the development of methemoglobinemia, in which hemoglobin cannot normally provide the body with oxygen.

Find out how high-quality the berry is by placing a small slice without a peel in plain water. If it becomes pinkish, then this means the presence of nitrates in it - a normal watermelon will make it slightly cloudy.

What is the best way to store half a watermelon?

Despite the fact that half of the berries are not separate pieces, you need to understand that this is already an “opened” product that will quickly begin to deteriorate. Therefore, it is not difficult to understand how much cut watermelon can be stored - in general, no longer than two days on the refrigerator shelf and a couple of hours on the table.

In order to preserve the remaining half, when sending it to the cold, the berry must be prepared, and then you can count on the fact that its unique taste, aroma and abundance of juice in the pulp will remain unchanged for some time.

This is done as follows:

The fruit is laid down with the cut part, which prevents wilting, drying and does not allow the juice to flow out.
The tray with the product is wrapped in food grade cellophane so that the film does not come into contact with the cut.
Since watermelons quickly absorb other people's flavors, they should be removed from dishes with a strong smell.

It should be borne in mind that a cut berry that has stood in the refrigerator for about 24 hours is not suitable for children and expectant mothers; such a delicacy can harm them more than other households.

How to choose the right watermelon: video

Optimal storage conditions for cut watermelon slices

Based on the fact that the ideal temperature regime for a berry divided into several parts is + 1-3 degrees, we can conclude that a certain place should be selected for it in the refrigerator. Usually, fresh herbs, vegetables and fruits are stored at this temperature, and it’s worth putting the cuts there. By the way, it will last about 3-4 days, while the slices - only a day.

Pieces are not placed in the freezer, unless they decide to make juice or jelly from watermelon pulp - having lost its natural structure, it will only be suitable for this.

The best option for eating treats is cutting as needed, but sometimes the cut pieces still remain, and you need to know how to store the cut watermelon. There is an option to peel the pulp, cut into diamonds and put in a vacuum container, then put it down the refrigeration unit.

But you can do it differently, and freeze:

first, the crust is cut off, and the pulp is cut in any way and the seeds are removed from it;
the pieces are placed on the tray, having previously covered it with a film, at some distance from each other;
the tray is placed in the freezer until completely frozen;
then the cut is placed in a container or bag and put back in the freezer.

Defrosting is carried out if necessary, without removing it from the refrigerator, moving the container to the bottom shelf. It is advisable to use the product within the next two days.

This method is good because the watermelon pulp is completely protected from spoilage, and retains all its beneficial substances.

A great way to preserve a valuable treat is to freeze with syrup. It is made from sugar and water, but you can also take any freshly squeezed juice for this, for example, citrus. In some cases, this is done even without the addition of granulated sugar. Pre-prepared pieces are placed in a special container and filled with 80-85% of the total volume, since the frozen liquid tends to expand. It is possible to cover watermelon slices with sand or fructose and, after the juice is released, freeze.

Berry carving, which is undoubtedly a delightful sight, is stored in the cold for up to four days, but for this, it is first sprayed with water and covered with a film.

Imagine how much watermelon can be stored in the refrigerator cut, and following the basic rules for its preparation, you can enjoy the wonderful taste of a valuable berry for several days or even months if the pieces were frozen.

Do you want to surprise your family and friends at the New Year's table? Invite them to enjoy ... watermelon as a dessert! Yes, yes, this juicy berry may well be stored in its original state for 3-4 months, so if you still don’t know how to keep a watermelon until the New Year, I can help you with my advice.

Keeping a watermelon in winter makes sense only if you have chosen or bought a suitable fruit for this. Early ripe varieties, as well as specimens with damaged skins, cracks and dents, will not lie in your house for even a month. If you want the watermelon to be stored, if not all winter, but long enough, first you need to choose it correctly. I will reveal to you a few secrets of this process.

Buy fruits in the middle or end of September - late-ripening varieties ripen by this moment, which, as a rule, are not stuffed with nitrates so that they ripen faster.
Late-ripening thick-skinned fruits of such varieties as Astrakhansky, Blagodatny, Volzhsky, Bykovsky, Dessert, Icarus, Melitopolsky, Kholodov's Gift, Stokes are best stored at home. "Cold".
The rind of the watermelon should be thick, dense, bright green, elastic and shiny. Make sure that there is not the slightest damage on it: scratches, cracks, dents and sunburn.
It will be better if the fruits intended for storage turn out to be slightly unripe, with greenish tails, white streaks and a slight coating on the peel. The sound from hitting the watermelon should be loud enough. Such fruits will perfectly ripen during storage, and their shelf life will be much longer.
Do not buy watermelons piled on the side of the road, lying directly on the ground and stored without a canopy. Fruits that have been under direct sunlight for a long time, lay on the ground for a long time and absorb exhaust gases, will not please you with either long storage or excellent taste.
It is best to purchase watermelons at certified outlets. The seller is obliged to have a sanitary book and all necessary documents. The fruits must certainly be located on the floor and under a canopy, and it is desirable that the seller store them in one layer, but not in a huge pile.
Don't choose the largest specimens; the weight of the watermelon that you want to save for the winter should be about 4-5 kg.

When growing late-ripening varieties on your own and wanting to save them for the winter, try to correctly calculate the harvest time: about 5-7 days before full ripeness. Remove watermelons carefully, transport them to the storage place as carefully as possible, using a soft bedding for each fruit, and do not leave the berries under the scorching sun.

Cellar storage

If you are wondering how to keep a watermelon for the longest possible time, you can be sure that the cellar or basement will be the best refuge for a watermelon during the winter. How long your fruits will be stored at the same time depends on what conditions you provide them with.

The ideal temperature for storing watermelons in winter is 1-4 ºС above zero. In this case, the humidity should be 70-80%. And do not forget about the organization of good ventilation in the cellar.

Before storing the fruits, it is desirable to process them correctly. First of all, let the berries lie down for 1-2 days under straw so that their bark gets rid of excess moisture. Then treat each fruit with a solution of 2% lime, which will protect them from germs and fungi. Now you can proceed directly to storage in the cellar, using one of the following methods.

On the shelves. Shelves located at a distance of about 1 m from each other must be covered with soft natural material: straw, dry peat or needles. After that, arrange the watermelons, making sure that they do not touch sides. At least once a week, the fruits must be turned over and rotten specimens removed.
Under the ceiling. If the crop is small, during the winter you can store it in nets and string bags, hanging them in the cellar under the ceiling. Arrange the fruits so that they do not touch each other. Before placing the watermelon in the net, it is advisable to wrap it in newspaper or parchment.
In sand. Put a layer of sand on the bottom of a large box, place a watermelon there and fill it completely. It is quite difficult to monitor the condition of a fruit buried in the sand, but if you have chosen and processed the appropriate variety of watermelon correctly, it will be stored for as long as you need, even until February.
In the ashes Instead of sand, you can take wood ash left after burning firewood in a stove: the change of material will not affect the shelf life.
In straw. Lay a layer of straw on the shelves or directly on the floor, place watermelons on it and sprinkle each copy with it. Do not forget to periodically dig out the fruits and check if they have deteriorated.
In the moss You can store watermelons throughout the winter not only in straw, but also in moss. To do this, stock up on this gift of nature in the fall, and make sure that it is dry and clean. Allow the moss to dry in the sun for a few days before storing, and then cover each fruit in the cellar tightly with it.
In a shell. Watermelons are perfectly stored in a shell made of clay, alabaster, wax or paraffin. Coat each berry with a layer of liquid solution (about 1 cm thick) and let it harden. After that, the fruits can be laid out on shelves in the cellar or hung from the ceiling. The shelf life in such an individual cocoon can be 4-5 months.
In water. You can keep watermelon fresh in a large tub of cold water. In this case, the surface of the fetus must be absolutely intact, and the liquid must be changed at least a couple of times a month.
In the ground You can store the fruits right at their summer cottage, in a deep hole. Lay a layer of straw or wood shavings 10 cm thick on the bottom, then put watermelons treated with a 25% solution of lime into the pit, sprinkle them on top and sides with chips and cover with a 30 cm layer of earth. In this way, you can save a very large crop, but keep an eye on its safety is quite problematic.

Storage in the apartment

How to store watermelons in the basement or cellar is understandable; now let's figure out how to organize their storage at home, in an apartment. To maintain the optimum temperature for these berries at home, you can only in the refrigerator. Some owners, before placing the fruit there, keep it for about an hour in the freezer at a temperature of -10 ºС. Using pre-freezing, you can extend the shelf life of this berry, but it will clearly lose some of its beneficial properties.

Keeping fruits in the refrigerator is the easiest, but how do you keep a whole watermelon when the refrigerator is chock-full of other products? If your apartment has a glazed balcony or loggia, you can organize storage there too: provided that in winter the temperature does not drop below zero. You can keep watermelons at home on the balcony in the same way as in the cellar: on racks suspended from the ceiling, in boxes with sand, sprinkled with straw or moss, smeared with clay or wax ... The shelf life of fruits with properly organized storage will be at least three months.

But I would not recommend storing watermelons at home at room temperature, since they will not be able to lie for a long period of time in such conditions. Although you can try to keep these fruits in the pantry or on the mezzanine, placing them on a soft bedding and constantly turning them over. However, on the balcony or in the refrigerator, your crop will last much longer.

Storing cut fruit

So, we figured out the storage of whole fruits at home or in the basement, but how to save a watermelon if it is already cut? And how long, in principle, can a cut watermelon be stored?

I will say right away: it is best to eat this berry in one sitting, especially when it comes to the summer period. This delicacy can become toxic even after a few hours in the sun. So if you really need to save a cut watermelon at home, it is best to hide it in the refrigerator immediately after a meal.

To do this, put it on a plate with the cut side down, wrap it together with the container in cling film and store in the refrigerator for no more than two days. This period is due not only to the fact that bacteria very quickly start up in the cut watermelon, but also to the loss of its taste by the end of the second day. By the way, make sure that there are no pungent-smelling foods in the refrigerator, since watermelon perfectly absorbs foreign odors.

If you want to keep the cut fruit longer, you can try storing it in the cellar, putting it in a basin and covering it with a lid on top. How long can watermelon be stored in such conditions? Its shelf life can be up to 4 days at a temperature of 1-3 ºС, however, I would recommend eating this delicacy the next day, before it loses its taste and aroma.

Your brownie.

Experienced melon growers are probably able to determine within a few seconds what is in front of them: a ripe sweet berry or an unripe, and even worse, an inedible fruit pumped up with nitrates.

Point of sale selection

First of all, you need to understand where you can, and where you definitely shouldn’t make a purchase:

Roadside improvised stalls, where the fruits lie in a green pile on top of each other, and often even without a canopy, right under the scorching sun, it is better to bypass. Watermelons very quickly absorb toxic substances that enter the air with the exhaust gases of passing cars, which not only impairs the taste, but simply makes them unhealthy. And exposure to sunlight can lead to damage to the fetus in just a couple of hours.

Caution: in no case should you buy cut or opened fruits to demonstrate “ripeness”; there is a high probability of food poisoning after eating them.

Supermarkets, especially large chains, inspire more confidence, but, unfortunately, not all of them and not always can boast of the excellent quality of fruits, vegetables and berries, since such outlets usually make very large purchases of goods that often spend a long time in warehouses . For this reason, no one can guarantee the ripeness of watermelons lying on the shelves of large stores. It all depends on the specific batch, the timing of its delivery from the field and the quality of the choice of the supplier.

Important: these berries do not have the ability to ripen after harvesting from the garden; Sadly, they don't get better.

Equipped markets are considered the most suitable place to buy watermelon, where there is full control over the quality of the product that reaches the consumer. However, even in such a place, you can and should ask the seller for a certificate for his products.

When does watermelon season start?

Varieties for Better Storage

Astrakhan striped,
Astrakhan marble,
Popovka,
Melitopol 143,
Bykovsky 15,
Lezhky,
Chill (can be stored up to 5 months),
Peasant,
Excellent black.

A yellow spot from contact with the soil is one of the signs of ripeness