How to properly freeze watermelon for the winter

The large summer berry, which decorates August and September with its juiciness and bright colors, is not known to everyone as a diversely useful product. And some of us still don’t know that watermelon is a berry, not a fruit, which, however, does not detract from its value and the reasonableness of the question “is it possible to freeze a watermelon for the winter.” Let's look at whether it is advisable to do this, how exactly to do it and what to use the frozen workpiece for in the end.

Freezing for the winter is essentially the same as canning, only better! It is universal for any diet and extremely natural. After all, we do not add sugar, salt or vinegar to our products.

At the same time, more valuable nutrients are retained in the original product, including watermelon. Let’s compare the numbers: canning will preserve for us a maximum of half of what is useful, home freezing – up to 60%, and industrial blast freezing – as much as 80%.

However, melon and watermelon are foods that lose texture after defrosting. So can you freeze them? In general, yes.

How exactly and for what purpose we will do this is another matter. After all, if we have already decided to freeze the unstable pulp of a watermelon or melon, then on winter days we should extract full benefits from them, and not just limit ourselves to drinks.

For example, fruit ice can be used in home cosmetology. Thus, melon cubes are an excellent remedy for morning skin toning, and frozen watermelon pulp can become the basis for a mask with an anti-inflammatory effect.

Frozen watermelon: reviews

Is it possible to freeze watermelon? After all, not every berry lends itself easily to this process. This is why you can hardly find frozen watermelon in supermarkets. But the desire to enjoy the wonderful taste of the berry did not stop enthusiasts. There are quite a lot of people who have tried to freeze watermelon. Their reviews can be divided into two groups: positive and negative.

Those who were able to enjoy the frozen watermelon rushed to brag about it on the Internet. They demonstrated frozen berry slices and gave many recipes. They all say that when frozen, the watermelon retained its juiciness and taste. Unfortunately, rave reviews did not always contain important freezing rules, so not everyone was able to repeat the successful experience.

The second group consists of negative reviews. Without knowing all the features of freezing, people simply ruined the watermelon. After thawing, it was very different from its original appearance. The watermelon resembled a jelly-like mass that quickly melted and turned into either water or jelly. The seeds spoiled the whole impression even more. The product was practically impossible to use for confectionery purposes: watermelon was practically not used as water with a slight characteristic aroma. Unfortunately, the number of people who left their negative reviews is greater than the number of those who speak positively about the result. This is the reason for the prevailing opinion that watermelon should not be frozen. But that's not true. It's important to do everything right.

Is it possible to freeze watermelon for the winter?

Of course, you can freeze a watermelon, but in order not to be disappointed with the result, you need to know some of the subtleties of the process. Since watermelon is largely composed of water, freezing it destroys the delicate fibers of the pulp. After defrosting, such a berry loses its taste and original shape, turning into either tasteless water or an unsightly jelly. Therefore, frozen watermelon is not used as an independent dish, but it is great for making cocktails, smoothies, and decorating cold desserts.

That is why you can find both positive and negative reviews about freezing it. If everything is done correctly, then it will be possible not only to surprise guests and family by offering an unexpected treat, but also to preserve the beneficial properties of the large striped berry.

Watermelon should be stored in the refrigerator for no more than 12 months.

Important: long-term storage significantly worsens the taste of the striped berries - the sugar simply freezes out under the influence of low temperatures

It is best to eat it no later than 2 months after freezing. Although there are data on the use of the product after 8 and even 12 months of storage.

Watermelon freezing process

In order to get a product whose taste can be enjoyed in any season, you need to know how to freeze watermelon. The process is simple, but it is important to follow each step. So, can you freeze watermelon? Yes. To do this, do the following:

• The watermelon is cut into the usual pieces.
• The entire crust, including the entire dense part, is cut off from the fresh product.
• All seeds are removed.
• The pulp is cut into small pieces (preferably in the form of cubes).
• The baking sheet is covered with foil or parchment paper.
• The cubes are laid out on it so that they do not touch each other. There is no need to cover the pieces.
• The sheet is placed in the freezer.
• Once the watermelon has completely frozen, it is carefully placed in bags or small containers.
• The bags and containers are sealed and placed back in the freezer.

Secrets of freezing watermelon

How to freeze watermelon? At first glance, it seems that the process is very simple, but there are also secrets here.

1. It is important to do everything quickly, as the berry releases water, which can significantly complicate the cooking process.
2. If a container is chosen as a storage container, then you do not need to completely fill it with berries. It's worth leaving some free space. During the freezing process, the watermelon begins to expand.
3. The plastic bag must be sealed; air must be completely removed from it before adding pieces of berries. This is due to the fact that watermelon, like any other liquid-rich product, absorbs odors well. In order to feel the characteristic aroma after defrosting, and not the smell of another product, this feature should not be neglected.
4. Packaging should only be plastic. Glass will not withstand sudden temperature changes.

Features of freezing watermelon for the winter

Can it be frozen and what is its shelf life? Frozen fruit can be stored for no longer than twelve months. But the peculiarity of this particular berry is that the longer the product is stored, the more taste it loses. Watermelon will be much sweeter if eaten within a month of storage. For long-term freezing, it is better to choose varieties where the flesh is loose and sweet. As a rule, Krasnodar varieties of berries have such characteristics.

To ensure that the duration of storage does not affect the taste of watermelon, housewives resort to various tricks. Sugar or syrup is often added to the recipe. This can be done both before and after freezing.

The berries should be frozen at sub-zero temperatures (from eighteen to twenty-three degrees). The berry is stored better if the temperature is not higher than eighteen degrees. Once defrosted, the fruit will be good for four days. It cannot be frozen again.

It’s easy to get a quality product if your freezer has a quick freeze function. This feature is very important for the structure of watermelon. It is important to adhere to a certain technology so that you have delicious frozen watermelon in winter. The recipes will be presented to your attention below.

Recipe No. 1

How to properly freeze watermelon? Everyone knows that sugar crystallizes well and helps retain water. Thanks to this property, watermelon after defrosting remains as sweet as fresh. If five kilograms of pulp are sprinkled with sugar (half a kilogram), you can get not only the desired taste, but also help retain aroma and water. By the way, sugar does not dissolve on the surface of a watermelon.

If the watermelon is not very sweet, then the amount of sugar can be increased to four hundred grams per two kilograms of pulp.

Recipe No. 2

In addition to sugar, you will need syrup. Both ingredients are added to taste, but too much of them can ruin everything. The syrup is prepared separately. This could be the classic combination of water and sugar. Instead of water, watermelon juice or orange juice will do.

The freezing process is no different from the previous recipe. After a day, the watermelon is removed from the freezer. The syrup is poured over already frozen berry cubes and placed in a container. Two days later it opens. Warm water is poured into it, which washes off the syrup a little. Each cube is wrapped in film and placed in the freezer.

Recipe No. 3

Instead of sugar and syrup, you should choose sweet fruit or berry juice. Pineapple and orange juices are best. You can choose instead. Juices that are too sweet or sour should be avoided, as they will not taste well with watermelon.

Fruit cubes are cut in the usual way. They are placed in a container and completely filled with juice. The pieces should not rise above the juice level. For these purposes, it is placed on their surface. After this, the container is closed and placed in the freezer. But the resulting product is stored for no more than six months.

Recipe for freezing watermelon juice

If you need to freeze a very juicy watermelon containing a large amount of water, then you won’t be able to do it the usual way. Liquid will constantly leak from the fruit, and the frozen pulp will resemble tasteless ice. In this case, it is better to freeze the watermelon juice. It is poured into ice-freezing containers and placed in the freezer. Then the cubes are transferred to a container.

To improve the taste, grapefruit or orange juice is often added to watermelon juice. Their pulp crystallizes well, which allows them to retain water in the form of cubes.

Preface

Freezing melon is a great way to bring a summer treat to the winter table. Imagine what it would be like to celebrate the New Year with melon desserts? However, in practice, many are disappointed in freezing for the winter - the melon turns into mush and loses its taste. After reading this article, you will get a completely different result!

Methods for freezing watermelon at home

There are different recipes, but the initial preparation of watermelon is always the same. It is first washed. Use detergent and a sponge. Be sure to wipe the skin dry. First cut the fruit in half, then each half in half again. Some of the seeds are removed immediately, the rest during cutting. The peel is completely peeled off. Next, choose a freezing method and begin the main work.

Whole in the freezer

There are already experimenters who have tried to freeze a whole watermelon. But it’s unlikely to find positive reviews about this freezing option. The whole fruit is definitely not worth freezing. The reasons are quite clear:

• takes up a lot of space in the camera;
• it will take a long time to freeze;
• when thawed, it will turn into porridge, which will be difficult to find use for.

Frozen watermelon pulp pieces

A simple, time-consuming freezing option. The washed, peeled and seeded watermelon is cut first into large pieces, then into smaller slices. If the watermelon is not overripe, then its flesh is dense.

It’s easy to make neat balls out of it using a teaspoon (table spoon). For originality, some of the pulp should be cut into cubes, some into balls. To ensure that the slices freeze quickly, they are placed in the upper section of the freezer for several hours.

Before sending to the refrigerator, the slices are laid out on a tray (cutting board) covered with cling film. When laying out, you need to make sure that the pieces do not touch each other. When the watermelon slices are frozen, they are poured into a previously prepared container (bag). Pack tightly so that odors do not penetrate and are absorbed into the pulp.

With sugar

To make it tasty to enjoy watermelon in winter, add a small amount of sugar to the preparation. Bags are suitable for storage, but plastic containers and glasses are more convenient options for storage and further consumption. Freezing ingredients:

• sugar - 1 glass;
• watermelon slices (balls) - 500 g.

A few tablespoons of granulated sugar are poured into the bottom of the vessel and watermelon cubes are placed. They are sprinkled with sugar. This is how the watermelon is laid, alternating sugar and pieces. The filled container is placed in the freezing compartment.

Freezing watermelon juice

Squeezing the juice out of a watermelon is not difficult; the pulp is all liquid. To speed up the process, it is crushed with an immersion blender directly in the pan or poured into the jug of the device. To obtain juice, take gauze, fold it in several layers and squeeze the juice out of the watermelon pulp.

It can be poured into cups of various sizes or into containers. The latter can be taken not disposable, but plastic. If the inside is lined with cling film, then after freezing the ice briquette can be easily removed and placed in a bag for further storage. You can add sugar to the juice to taste.

Cubes in syrup

Many housewives prefer to freeze watermelon in syrup. In their opinion, it absorbs foreign odors less and better preserves the natural taste. To prepare the syrup, take 1 liter of filtered water and 2 cups of sugar.

The syrup is boiled until the granulated sugar is completely dissolved. Set the pan to cool. The liquid must be cold. The watermelon pulp is cleared of seeds, cut into pieces, and placed in containers for freezing.

The cooled syrup is poured into containers, but not to the very top. Liquid expands when it freezes, this must be taken into account, otherwise the containers will burst. Containers filled with watermelon and syrup should be tightly latched and placed in the freezer.

Freezing pulp in fruit juice

Typically, they prefer to freeze watermelon slices in apple, pineapple or orange juice. These fruity flavors combine harmoniously and will remind you of summer in the cold winter. You can store treats in plastic cups and containers.

The watermelon is cut into pieces with a knife or formed into balls of pulp with a spoon. The resulting slices are transferred to the prepared container, filled with juice not to the very top, and then sent to the freezer for storage.

Experimenting with melon - is it worth freezing?

Having tried to freeze melon without prior preparation, many received results that were far from expected. Thawed pulp does not have even a tenth of the taste and aroma of fresh melon. It's all about the standard mistakes that newcomers to this business make.

Mistake 1. Choosing a berry

Melons with dense, crispy pulp are best suited for freezing. These varieties are produced by a dense peel with a pattern of cracks. Perhaps the most suitable for such preparation is cantaloupe - a special type of melon with bright orange pulp, reminiscent of pumpkin pulp. Cantaloupe has a dense peel, as if divided into segments - by this external feature you can easily find this variety on the market.

These melons have a very strong aroma that is not lost even when frozen. The sweeter the chosen fruit, the better. Varieties with soft, watery pulp are absolutely not suitable for freezing - as a result, they will turn into a tasteless mush after defrosting.

Mistake 2. Freezing method

Some people try to freeze the whole berry - this method should be eliminated immediately. At a minimum, it should be cut into two parts, the seeds removed, or even better, peeled and cut into cubes. The fact is that the pieces will freeze faster than the whole fruit. In addition, a whole melon may crack completely.

Error 3. Freezing technology for the winter

The most important mistake is freezing melons for the winter using the same method that is used for. The trouble is that the melon pulp contains too much water - during standard freezing, the liquid inside the cells forms too large crystals that literally tear the intercellular membranes and plant vessels. That is why, after defrosting, the workpiece turns into mush.

However, in the case of quick freezing, which uses dry ice, the water in the cells crystallizes, forming small structures that do little to no damage to the cell membranes. After defrosting, you will receive pulp identical to fresh, and the taste and aroma will not be affected.

Mistake 4. Using melon

Don't demand too much from the workpiece! It is best to use thawed melon pulp for making desserts and cocktails. Or, in hot weather, replace ice cream with it! The children will only be happy.

The work on the errors has been completed, now let’s proceed directly to a detailed review of freezing methods and technologies.

Melon for the winter - standard method

So, you've found the right variety and you have some free space in your freezer. Prepare in advance the necessary materials and utensils - a tray, cellophane bags or plastic containers, sharp knives. After washing the melon, cut it into two parts and remove the seeds. Then peel and cut the pulp into cubes that are convenient for you.

Place the cubes on a tray so that they do not touch each other and place them in the freezer, turning on the fast freeze mode if available. The best temperature for harvesting berries, which, despite their size, includes melon, is considered to be -18 °C.

Once the cubes are properly frozen and hardened, transfer them to plastic containers or bags.

Pre-freezing on a tray will prevent individual cubes from sticking together. Distribute the preparation so that there is a portion in one container that you will immediately eat or use to prepare dessert. Thawed melon cannot be re-frozen - it will lose all taste and aroma.

Another freezing method takes a long time, but is reliable, and besides, it allows you to prepare whole melons! Its essence lies in the gradual cooling of the berries - every day the temperature is lowered by only 0.5 °C until the mark reaches at least -8 °C. In this case, the liquid in the fetal cells will form small crystals that will not violate their integrity. True, in apartment conditions it is unlikely to be possible to organize such a delicate process.

How to freeze watermelon with sugar

Watermelon can be frozen along with sugar

Photo: Depositphotos

As an alternative to frozen cubes, you can coat the watermelon with sugar or syrup and freeze in a container. Use granulated sugar or simple syrup to sweeten the watermelon. This is a good option if you plan to use the pulp for desserts or need drinks for a party after watermelon season is over.

Watch the video on how to choose watermelons and melons:

To freeze watermelon with sugar, follow these steps:

• Cut the watermelon into pieces and remove all seeds.
• Place the pieces in a plastic container, leaving some room at the top (the watermelon will expand as it freezes).
• Coat the watermelon with sugar or simple syrup.
• Seal the container and store it in the freezer.

Note: Use about 1/2 cup granulated sugar for every 500g of watermelon. Mix well until all pieces are coated with sugar.

The sugar syrup should completely cover the watermelon slices. To cook it, you need to mix water and sugar in a 1:1 ratio, bring to a boil so that the crystals are completely dissolved, and cool.

You can also use pineapple, orange, and other fruit juices to add extra flavor to the watermelon. This is an interesting option for cocktails and smoothies.

Let us remind you that we previously told you how to make a watermelon and feta salad. Today.Lifestyle also shared recipes for watermelon cocktails with vodka.

All the details in the special topic: Preparations for the winter: step-by-step recipes

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We work with taste – freezing with a twist

If quick freezing in dry ice is not possible, sugar syrup will help preserve the melon pulp in its original state. It is very simple to prepare - mix sugar and water in equal proportions. You can do this on low heat until the sugar is completely dissolved, but then it is important to cool the syrup. Place the melon pieces in a container, fill them with syrup and then place them in the freezer. In this case, if the flesh was crispy, it will remain so after defrosting, although the taste may suffer somewhat.

Often, a thawed melon lacks sweetness, but freezing in powdered sugar can correct this deficiency. The preparation process is practically no different from the standard one, only at the stage of freezing individual cubes they should be rolled in powdered sugar or, in extreme cases, sprinkled generously.

To improve the taste of frozen melon, place berries with a bright taste and aroma in the same container with it. It could be raspberries, strawberries or peach slices - in fact, a ready-made fruit salad!

If you don’t have time to bother, and the melon turns out to be too soft, place the peeled slices in a blender and beat thoroughly. Distribute the finished puree into plastic cups and freeze in this form. Do this with one glass first - if the puree is not too sweet after freezing, you can sweeten it with honey or sugar. If you decide to experiment with melon, you will most likely be interested in ways to freeze other fruits and vegetables - you will probably like this article.

The watermelon season is very short and lasts only 2–3 months, but it is possible to enjoy their taste during the rest of the year. To do this, you need to know how to freeze a watermelon. In this article we will reveal all the intricacies of preparing aromatic berries.

Knowing how to freeze watermelon, you can prepare a delicious natural dessert even in winter.

Is it possible to freeze watermelon?

The appearance and taste of frozen berries will differ significantly from fresh ones. During the freezing process, the taste will also suffer. The main goal achieved through the use of this method is the creation of semi-finished products from pulp. They are added to cocktails, desserts and smoothies are prepared based on them. You can make popsicles from watermelon pulp, which can just as successfully be stored in the freezer for several months.

Attention! The berry does not lose its beneficial properties when stored in the freezer for a year; the main problem is a change in taste characteristics.

When using separate storage methods, the products are created with the addition of granulated sugar. This method is considered no less relevant and does not harm health; it produces sweetened watermelon puree, but women who are watching their figure should remember to increase the amount of calories.

How to freeze watermelon in the freezer

It is worth keeping in mind that as a result of freezing, the pulp will lose its structure. Therefore, after defrosting, it will not look like a fresh, crispy watermelon. But it can be added to cocktails, baked goods, jellies and other desserts, as well as made into popsicles or ice cream.

There are many options for freezing watermelons. Let's talk about the simplest ones.

• Freezing watermelon into cubes or balls is one of the fastest ways. Wash the watermelon thoroughly and wipe dry. Cut into 2 or 4 parts. If you decide to make cubes, you need to remove the peel and chop the pulp. As you cut, it is advisable to remove any seeds that come across. If you want to make watermelon balls, you will need an ice cream scoop. The finished pieces should be laid out on a cutting board or tray so that they do not touch each other, and placed in the freezer for 2-4 hours. If your refrigerator has a fast freeze mode, you need to use it. When the pieces are frozen, they need to be separated from the board or tray with a knife or wooden spatula and transferred to a plastic container or bag. In this form at a temperature of –18°C, watermelon can be stored for up to 12 months.

• Freezing with sugar will preserve the sweetness of the watermelon. The prepared watermelon pieces should be sprinkled with regular white sugar at the rate of 200 grams of sugar per 1 kilogram of berries. Mix gently with your hands or a spoon. There is no need to pre-freeze the watermelon. You can immediately put it in a bag or container and put it in the freezer.

• Freezing in syrup is another tasty option for preserving watermelon. You need to add 400-450 grams of sugar to 1 liter of water. Bring to a boil over moderate heat and wait for the sugar to completely dissolve. After this, leave the syrup to cool to room temperature. At this time, prepare the watermelon pieces. Place them in a container, pour syrup so that it completely covers the watermelon. Close the container with a lid and place in the freezer.

• Freezing with juice will give the watermelon a piquant flavor. Place the pieces in a container and pour in orange or pineapple juice so that it completely covers the watermelon. It is better to use freshly squeezed juice without added sugar rather than packaged drinks. Close the container with a lid and place in the freezer.

Frozen watermelon can be stored all year round. The easiest way is to dry freeze the watermelon on a baking sheet. You can also sprinkle sugar on the watermelon to keep it sweet after freezing. If you want watermelon to retain its sweetness and freshness as best as possible, store it in syrup or fruit juice. Although watermelon will lose some of its natural texture when frozen, frozen slices can be eaten on their own or added to smoothies and other dishes.

Freezing methods

Depending on the method of further use for the workpiece, choose the option that is most suitable for the technology. The pieces are good as cooling slices of ice, those with a sweet tooth will love the recipe with added sugar, and methods of freezing watermelon in the form of juice or puree are suitable for making drinks and desserts.

The prepared product for primary freezing is placed in the freezer for 12 or more hours (up to 24) at a temperature not exceeding –25°C.

Entirely

Whole watermelons are rarely frozen - the method is good for industrial scale

when large berries are stored in basements or pantries with suitable temperature conditions. Households usually do not have the necessary freezer space to accommodate large watermelons.

Attention!

The fruits are first thoroughly washed with a soft brush, using a small amount of laundry soap if necessary. Only when the peels are completely dry are they placed in the freezer.

Pieces

After thorough washing, wipe the fruit dry with paper towels. Wash your hands with hot water and soap before cutting. To get beautiful identical slices, the watermelon is first divided into four equal parts.

. Then each piece is laid flat on a board and cut into slices no more than 2-3 cm thick each. Select seeds. The crust can be cut off from the pieces, or you can leave it.

The pulp is used to make interesting shapes using cookie cutters or cut into cubes with a knife. Using a special ice cream scoop you can get balls. The pieces are placed on a baking sheet, previously covered with foil or culinary parchment, then placed in the freezer.

With sugar

The watermelon pulp is cut into small pieces, removing the peel and seeds. Prepare containers with tight-fitting lids. The slices are laid in layers, evenly sprinkling each with granulated sugar.

. For 5 parts of watermelon pulp you will need one part of sugar. The filled containers are closed and sent to the freezer compartment.

In syrup

To prepare such a preparation, you can use syrup boiled in water or watermelon juice.

. Bring the liquid to a boil, add sugar and cook for at least two minutes until completely dissolved. Proportions: one part sugar, two parts water or juice. The syrup is cooled and left in the refrigerator for several hours.

The containers for the preparation are lined with cling film on the inside to make it easier to remove the product later. Place pieces of pulp without seeds, making sure that the top layer can be completely covered with syrup. Cover tightly with lids and place in a freezer.

In fruit juice

The previous freezing recipe can be made more original by replacing the sugar syrup with any fruit juice. Pieces of watermelon pulp, cleared of seeds, are placed in a container. The pre-cooled juice is poured into the workpiece, trying to keep the pulp submerged in the liquid. Filled and closed containers are sent to the freezer.

As a puree

Pieces of berries without crust and seeds are turned into a homogeneous mass using a blender

. You can add sugar to taste if the fruit is not sweet enough. The resulting puree is placed in small plastic cups or ice trays and frozen.

In the form of juice

Watermelon juice is obtained by squeezing the pulp puree through a piece of gauze folded in several layers.

, or using a juicer. The most homogeneous liquid is obtained if the workpiece is allowed to sit in the refrigerator for several hours, then carefully pour into another container, leaving the settled pulp at the bottom. The liquid is frozen in small ice trays.

Steps

Washing and cutting watermelon

Wash the watermelon under running water and dry it.

Before slicing your watermelon, wash off any dirt and debris from it. If necessary, scrub it with a vegetable washing brush to remove any stubborn dirt. After that, dry the watermelon with paper towels.

• Also wash your hands with hot water and soap to avoid staining the watermelon.

Thaw the watermelon pieces in the refrigerator before using them.

When you are ready to use the watermelon, move it from the freezer to the refrigerator. Wait for the slices to soften and then add them to your desired dish. You can often use watermelon pieces before they are completely softened, especially if you want to make something liquid with them, such as a smoothie.

• Thawed watermelon can be kept in the refrigerator for about 4 days. Throw it away if it becomes too soft or has a rancid smell.

Freezing watermelon in sugar

Add sugar to the chopped watermelon pieces.

Wash and cut the watermelon as described above, then transfer the slices to a large bowl. Fill them with white granulated sugar at the rate of about 500 grams per 2.5 kilograms of watermelon. Mix the contents of the bowl with your hands or a fairly strong large spoon.

• This method works better with watermelon cut into cubes or balls. Sugar will help partially preserve the sweetness that is lost during regular freezing.

• Place watermelon slices into freezer-safe containers.

  Once you've mixed the watermelon pieces with the sugar, place them in plastic bags or tightly sealed food containers. Leave 1-1.5 centimeters of free space on top so that the watermelon pulp has room to expand. Label bags or containers with the current date before placing them in the freezer.

• With this method, there is no need to pre-freeze the slices before storing them in the freezer.

Storage of workpieces

Watermelon, frozen in slices and other products based on juicy and ripe berries, can be stored in the freezer for about 1 year. The optimal temperature is -18 degrees. It is impossible to ensure such a degree of freezing in the freezer compartments of older refrigerator models, therefore the optimal shelf life is reduced.

Knowing all the features of storing watermelon, everyone will be able to please themselves with its taste in the cold winter, and not just on a hot summer day. It’s easy to freeze berries, but you need to take into account that they will lose some of their taste. A similar method is used to store melons and other summer fruits and berries. Freezing is the optimal solution that allows you to preserve not only the taste, but also the benefits of food.

Freezing is one of the best ways to preserve fresh vegetables, fruits and berries. This method guarantees a beautiful appearance of the product, preservation of smell and color.

Not everyone knows that watermelon can also be frozen, but this option has many advantages. The berry, preserved without adding sugar, salt or vinegar, will be a useful ingredient in the winter when making lemonades, juices and fruit desserts.

The myth that exposure to low temperatures destroys vitamins is no longer relevant

. According to recent studies, only a portion of vitamin C is lost, but the percentage of loss can be significantly reduced if shock (quick) freezing is used. This method allows you to preserve up to 85% of nutrients.

Points for and against"

Canning by freezing allows you to preserve the natural taste, color and smell

. In sugar syrup, during the preparation of jam, these qualities change greatly, as well as in juices with preservatives intended for long-term storage.

For freezing, ripe and sweet berries are selected and washed thoroughly, so the frozen product can be considered no less quality than fresh

. And winter fruits and berries are often brought to retail outlets still unripe or already damaged, rotten; at storage facilities they are treated with chemicals that allow the product not to spoil for months. Such fruits do more harm than good.

Disadvantages: change in product structure

. Even a properly preserved and carefully thawed watermelon will not have the elastic crunch of a fresh one. For many, the difficulty is following storage rules, since a thawed product often loses its natural smell and color.

How the composition and taste changes

Properly frozen berries bring maximum benefit and pleasure. If storage standards are observed, they retain up to 90% of vitamins

, and microelements are not destroyed at all.

The taste of frozen watermelon pulp does not change

: the sweeter the berry was chosen, the tastier the preparation turns out. The aroma remains just as fresh, but the color changes to a more saturated one.

Important rules for home freezing

Since we've started telling you how to freeze a watermelon for the winter, let's first remember the rules for effective freezing. Without them, not a single hero of the procurement efforts will be able to preserve well and enrich the winter menu.

• Freezer with fast freezing mode: only with such an assistant does home freezing become high-quality.

Temperatures ranging from -18 to -23 degrees: in this range, vegetables and fruits are frozen quickly and reliably stored in the freezer for up to a year.

• The preliminary time on the “super frost” mode should be at least 2 hours - before the first batch of preparations goes into the freezer.
• Closed packaging. When stored frozen, any fruit requires packaging in at least a plastic bag made of material that is resistant to contrasting temperatures.
• Ice cubes - in boxes. It is convenient to store fruit juice in the form of ice cubes in separate boxes. This is how watermelon is often frozen for the winter by dedicated fans of cocktail drinks.

For savings and convenience, save your family's ice cream packaging - both plastic containers and paper cans. Also buy large packages of food bags - 200-500 pieces at once.

Let's move on to the rules for freezing watermelons and determine recipes for its use for the winter.

Due to the fact that the pulp of a watermelon completely loses its structure when frozen, it makes no sense to defrost it in anticipation of the same result as from currants or cherries.

However, frozen watermelon can be used in different ways.

Drink cubes

You should freeze the watermelon into cubes - as we do to obtain crumbly berries, placing them separately on a tray so that they can be placed in bags when frozen without sticking.

Pulp in syrup

Initially, place the watermelon in sweet syrup to always have in the freezer the ideal semi-finished product for sweet homemade lemonades.

Read the following links for recipes for refreshing watermelon drinks:

Popsicles and ice cream

And, of course, popsicles on a stick and watermelon ice cream stored in a closed container (!) are two very tasty answers to the question “what to make from frozen watermelon”:

• can be stored for up to 6 months.
• Depending on the ingredients, it can be stored for 3 to 5 months.

Skin toner

When freezing watermelon and melon, let’s not forget about simple homemade cosmetics recipes. Let’s prepare a light tonic for oily and combination skin in advance for the winter:

• Watermelon juice + cucumber juice = mix in equal proportions.
• Pour into ice cube trays and freeze quickly.
• Place all cubes in a separate container, label them and store with the lid closed.

How to freeze watermelon at home: simple recipes for preparing it for the winter

Recently, thrifty housewives are increasingly resorting to home freezing of various vegetables and fruits. Modern technologies help freeze watermelon or melon without much effort. Previously, these products were prepared only in canned form, but now you can stock up on your favorite delicacy in almost fresh form, without losing most of its beneficial properties. Modern cooks know several ways to freeze watermelon and similar products.

• 1. Preparing watermelon for the winter 1.1. Pulp in sugar
• 1.2. Watermelon juice in the freezer
• 1.3. Watermelon in syrup
• 1.4. Pulp in juice

The juicy summer berry is loved by many and therefore people have learned to prepare it for the winter. Watermelon can be stored in several states: salted, pickled or frozen. It’s worth considering that if you freeze a watermelon at home, it will retain 80–85% of its beneficial properties, while pickled or salted watermelon will retain only 60%.

Freezing watermelon is possible according to several recipes. The most popular winter preparations of the Bashtan native are:

• classic freezing;
• in sweet syrup;
• in berry juice;
• in the form of puree.

Before you start storing watermelon in the freezer, it is recommended to properly prepare it. To do this, the berries are thoroughly washed and wiped dry. After which it is cut into pieces and cleared of skin and seeds.

The classic freezing method involves cutting watermelon into convenient small pieces or cubes. Next, the berry is laid out on a flat surface, it can be a tray or a board for cutting food, and goes into the freezer.

When laying out the watermelon on the board, you need to maintain a small distance between the pieces, then they will not stick together.

If your refrigerator has an emergency freeze function, you can use it. It takes 1–2 hours to process the watermelon product in this mode.

After the watermelon has frozen, its pulp is removed from the board and placed into bags in portions. The following are suitable containers for further storage of berries:

• plastic cups;
• plastic containers.

The watermelon placed in the selected container is put into the freezer. In this form, it is usually stored for up to 1 year.

To easily separate the frozen pulp from the board, you can cover the surface with cling film.

When defrosting a watermelon, first place it from the freezer into the upper chamber of the refrigerator so that it thaws gradually.

Experts do not recommend freezing the whole watermelon. In this case, when defrosted, it will lose its visual appeal and shape, and its pulp will look like an unsightly puree.

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You can prepare watermelon pieces by freezing them with sugar. To do this, prepare the ripe berries and, having cut the pulp in a convenient way, sprinkle it with sugar. Next, the workpiece is sent to the freezer for emergency freezing. After which it is portioned out into bags or other containers and put into the freezer for long-term storage.

When preserving the watermelon product according to this recipe, the proportion is maintained in which about 200 g of sugar is required per 1 kg of pulp.

Quite often, red berries are prepared in the form of ground puree. To do this, watermelon pulp is crushed with a blender and placed in a plastic container with a lid. To make the product sweet, add sugar to taste.

You can also divide the watermelon puree into plastic cups.

If you prepare puree, you can immediately put it in the freezer without resorting to quick freezing. At the same time, you should not put full containers, leaving some distance between the lid and the puree.

It is very easy to prepare frozen watermelon juice. To do this, the berries are crushed and the liquid is squeezed out through a sieve or cheesecloth. The collected juice is poured into containers and frozen in the freezer. In this case, emergency freezing is not necessary.

During the cold season, this juice is added to various tonic drinks or consumed as a dessert. You can also make watermelon ice; for this, the juice is poured into special containers and frozen.

If you pour watermelon juice into glasses and stick wooden sticks into it while it freezes, you will get healthy ice cream.

You can also prepare melons in sweet syrup. For this you will need:

• watermelon;
• sugar;
• water;
• containers for freezing.

Is it possible to freeze melon and why?

Just like watermelon, after thawing, the melon pulp completely loses its texture. In addition, it acquires a bitter taste. Therefore, its pieces are used only in alcoholic cocktails, where minor bitterness is unnoticeable.

Frozen melon juice is a completely different matter! In home cosmetics, this is one of the powerful summer tonics:

• Classic toning for dry skin: walk over the face and décolleté with ice cubes made from melon juice, or a frozen mixture of melon juice and milk in equal proportions.
• For small wrinkles, add refined vegetable oil to the liquid - olive, sesame, sunflower. Proportion = 1 teaspoon per 1 glass of liquid, shake well. After a morning procedure with this tonic, a thin layer of greasy lubricant will remain on the skin. In winter, it will reliably protect you from the street cold and allow you to powder smoothly.

Preparing the watermelon:

• We wash and peel off the crusts, leaving the red pulp for work.
• Remove the seeds from the pulp as far as visible.

Don't throw away the peels! After all, this is an indispensable material for natural marmalade and health juice in.

Frozen watermelon pulp

• We use a large dish/board/tray, where we place pieces of watermelon pulp so that they do not touch.
• Freeze the prepared watermelon cubes. You can pre-roll in sugar.
• After about 1-2 hours, we take out the dish and, using a knife, separate the cubes.
• We quickly put them in boxes/bags and send them to freeze again.

How to freeze watermelon juice

• Puree the watermelon pulp in a blender.
• Squeeze out the juice through several layers of gauze.
• Pour the juice into ice cube trays and freeze.
• For storage, quickly place the cubes in containers or bags.

Freezing watermelon cubes in sugar syrup

• Prepare a portioned plastic container with a lid.
• Place the watermelon cubes in a container and fill the container with cooled sugar syrup.
• The proportion of sugar and drinking water is arbitrary, depending on the drink you plan to prepare in winter.
• You can fill the watermelon with sweet fruit juice - pineapple or orange.

Remember! Leave at least 15% of the container empty to allow additional space for the increased volume of frozen liquid.

We are convinced that you can freeze watermelon for the winter in different ways to enjoy the summer taste, creating a non-boring menu, and also maintain the beauty of your skin. Finally, we advise you to inquire about the properties of other vegetable and fruit juices in home cosmetics. After all, the more ways you can use a frozen product, the more profitable it is to allocate space for it in the freezer.

How to freeze watermelon

Frozen watermelon makes interesting additions to cocktails, desserts, smoothies, and ice cream. It is unlikely that it will be possible to maintain the dense structure of the pulp: after defrosting, it will still spread out. But the freezer can preserve the sweet taste and vitamins.

The best way is blast freezing. The faster the pulp hardens, the more benefits will remain in it; it will not soften too much and will not lose its sweetness. Keep the watermelons at low temperatures for about 2 hours, and then transfer them to a standard freezer at -18 degrees.

The whole fruit is unlikely to fit into the chamber, this is a bad idea, and after removal such a watermelon will have no value. Try cutting the fruit and preparing it in pieces, in the form of puree, juice or in sweet syrup.

Pulp in pieces

Making watermelon slices couldn't be easier. Recipe:

1. Rinse the peel. When slicing, dirt from it easily gets onto the pulp.
2. Divide the fruit in half, then into several more parts.
3. Remove the crusts, capturing the white and light pink areas of the pulp. We will freeze only the bright part of the watermelon.
4. Now cut the berries into cubes, bars, cut out with molds or scoop with an ice cream scoop. Don't forget to remove the seeds.
5. Place everything in an even layer on a baking sheet.
6. The pieces must first be frozen separately so that they do not stick together. Keep the baking sheet in the freezer for several hours, maximum 12.
7. Pack hard watermelon slices into containers or bags. Pack everything tightly, preferably in two layers, and store it. Just be sure to leave some space in the bags, as the watermelon will expand when cold.
8. Freeze in small portions for one meal.
9. You cannot re-freeze watermelon - it will spoil it.

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Advice: The magazine “Miss Clean” reminds that watermelon is negatively known for its high risk of poisoning. Select the pulp only from the center of the fruit: the closer to the peel, the more nitrates.

Watermelon with sugar

Loss of sweetness during freezing is a natural process. To keep watermelon sweet, simply sprinkle it with sugar. Prepare the slices as in the previous recipe, place them in containers and add sugar at the rate of 100-200 g per half kilo of berries.

Watermelon in syrup

Not only sugar, but also syrup based on it will preserve the sweetness of watermelon. Mix water and sugar in equal proportions, melt, cool slightly and pour over watermelon slices. The syrup should not cover the entire container; it will expand when frozen. Don't forget to pack it well before putting it in the freezer.

Tip To prevent watermelon from absorbing foreign odors, store it separately from meat, fish and other strong-smelling foods. Ideally, you should have a separate chamber for vegetables, fruits and berries.

Watermelon juice and puree

Try making pieces of watermelon puree or juice. They can then be used for drinks and ice cream.

The instructions are simple:

1. Cut off the desired pulp and remove the seeds.
2. To make the puree, mash the watermelon with a fork or put it in a blender.
3. It is easy to squeeze the juice out of the puree by placing it in cheesecloth or using a juicer.
4. If desired, add a little sugar to the juice and puree.
5. Pour everything into beautiful ice or baking molds; small plastic cups and containers with a lid will do.
6. Pack into additional bags and place in the freezing unit.

Tip Watermelon ice is an effective and aromatic tonic for the skin of the face and neck.

How to defrost

If you use puree or ice-cold juice, do not defrost, but immediately add the pieces to the cocktail.

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The rest of the treats should be defrosted gradually. First, move them to the refrigerator. After a couple of hours, let the watermelon slices thaw at room temperature. Do not forget that defrosting will not last long, two days maximum. Do not defrost for future use.