Watermelon how long does keep

The good news is that the shelf life of watermelons is pretty long: about three to four weeks from when it's picked off the vine, according to the experts at the National Watermelon Promotion Board. The easiest way to store a whole watermelon is probably on your kitchen counter, at or just below room temperature. That's also probably the best way to do it to preserve both texture and quality. But you need to remember that window includes the amount of time spent shipping the fruit to the grocery store—so once the watermelon is on your counter, you only have about a week to use it.

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. But there's also some research that indicates a watermelon stored in the fridge has a slightly lower nutritional content than one that's been consistently stored at room temperature.

So you don't necessarily worry about making space in your fridge for a whole watermelon, especially if you're going to use it in a day or two. You should, however, definitely refrigerate a watermelon once you slice into it.

That's because the fruit's shelf-life shortens dramatically once you cut it. How long does cut watermelon last in the fridge? Properly stored, cut watermelon will last for 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator.

Can you freeze cut watermelon? Yes, to freeze: Place in airtight containers or heavy-duty freezer bags. How long does cut watermelon last in the freezer? Seal the jars, let them cool down at room temperature, and store them in the pantry. Cut cubed rinds and immerse them into a sugar syrup. Simmer them until reducing the mixture to a thick, jam-like consistency. Add cinnamon to enhance the flavor and let the mix cool down.

Making watermelon jelly is not a complicated process at all. Simmer the fruit juice until getting a thick, clear mass. Consuming spoiled watermelon can quickly lead to food poisoning. The first signs that something is wrong will appear within a few hours and include:.

In some severe cases, the patient experiences a higher temperature, joint aches, and cramps. An additional issue is food poisoning caused by Listeria that may grow on the watermelon rind and infect the flesh after cutting.

You should also be careful if you have diabetes since this fruit contains a high natural sugar level. Watermelon may cause an allergic reaction in rare cases, followed by difficulty breathing and swelling after consumption.

Plus, the role of lycopene it contains and the way it affects human health is not entirely clear. Nevertheless, it would help if you avoided watermelon with yellow fiber pulp and the glossy, polished-like pulp that smells sour. Since watermelon contains a high percentage of water, freezing is not the best choice for its storing. In fact, it is not the freezing process that is problematic but the appearance of the fruit after thawing.

Once you thaw it, you will get a mushy red part without the desired color and taste. However, you can use frozen watermelon to make fruit infused water and smoothies. When you decide to make a refreshing summer drink, you can use watermelon cubes in the water instead of regular ice cubes. Thaw the watermelon cubes by leaving them in the fridge overnight. If you have a smoothie blender that can grind ice, you can freely use frozen cubes to get a delicious and refreshing beverage.

Watermelon can quickly go bad, but it is not too complicated to notice the signs of spoilage. Always check the exterior appearance and watermelon flesh before purchasing it. Then, take care to store fruit appropriately to extend its life.