One of the most beloved berries in humans is watermelon. They sell it at a fairly affordable price until the end of the first month of autumn. After that, its cost rises several times.
However, people know how to save the berry for the winter. But how long can a watermelon be stored in a refrigerator? Here we will talk about this and how to prepare it in our article.
How long can I store a whole watermelon in the refrigerator?
In order for the New Year's table to be decorated with this particular berry, it is necessary to be more demanding when buying a product.
So, there are several recommendations on how to choose a good watermelon:
- shiny peel, and strips - bright and contrasting color;
- the surface of the fetus without roughness, without damage;
- the tail should not be completely dry;
- the size of the berry is small;
- thick peel;
- the sound when tapping should be ringing;
- late ripening grade.
Subject to all the rules, the berry must be unripe. So how long can I store watermelon in the refrigerator? For about three months. But with fruits in which the tail is completely dried, this will not work. Because they will be overripe.
In addition to the fact that it is necessary to choose the right watermelon, you must also ensure the correct conditions for its storage.
In the room where the fetus will lie for some time, there should be a fairly high level of humidity and temperature conditions within 1-4 degrees. Accordingly, the berry is stored in a dark place.
The ideal room for a watermelon is, of course, a cellar. But if you do not have it, then it does not matter. A balcony and a dark corner in the apartment will do. In this case, the berry should be wrapped in paper and placed on a soft litter. In such conditions, the watermelon will last about a couple of months. Remember to check the freshness of the product and turn it over every few days.
How much can you store watermelon in the cut refrigerator?
Having seen this fruit in the market or in the store, we acquire it. And, as a rule, we choose quite large sizes. It seems to us that a small berry is not enough for the whole large family. But, since this product quickly saturates, we leave the second half the next time.
How many days can a watermelon be stored in a refrigerator in this form? First you need to pack it correctly. The pulp should be wrapped with cling film. Due to this, the product will not absorb odors. Putting the berry should be so that the incision is at the bottom. In this case, more juice will remain.
Eat a product should be within a couple of days, as it is a favorable environment for the propagation of harmful bacteria.
Is it possible to store sliced berries and how?
Oh sure. But unfortunately, the safety of this product is minimal. It is already impossible to eat pieces in a couple of hours after you cut them, since during this time all the juice flows out.
It is possible to slightly increase the shelf life of these pieces if you place them in a vacuum container. Or put in the freezer.
And best of all, cut yourself as much product as you think is possible to eat. Then you don’t have to think about what to do with the remaining watermelon.
How is a berry frozen?
Having learned the answers to the question “How long can a watermelon be stored in a refrigerator?”, We will deal with other ways of preparing it.
Most housewives freeze the product. To do this, it should be cut into layers without a peel. Then they are placed on a special tray and sent to the freezer. As soon as they freeze, they can already be put in packages. And how long can I store watermelon in the refrigerator? It turns out a whole year.
But one of the disadvantages of this method is that when defrosting the product does not retain its previous shape and turns into porridge. Therefore, it should be eaten frozen. Get fruit ice. An interesting treat for children, is not it?
How to salt a watermelon?
Billets are made, as a rule, from tomatoes and cucumbers, but is it possible to do this from these berries? It turns out you can.
To do this, cut the watermelon into small slices. Place them in a sterilized glass container. Cook brine. Pour salt and sugar into boiling water. Cook until they are completely dissolved. Add vinegar at the end. Then the banks are poured with brine. After they need to be sterilized again in boiling water for 15 minutes. Then roll up, turn the cans upside down, cover them with a cloth. In this position, they should stand for several days. Then they are cleaned in a room where the temperature should not be more than 10 degrees. Salted watermelons can be stored for about a year.
How to store a berry in water?
This method is very original. It was used when there were no refrigerators. This method is not popular among modern housewives, but is common in southern countries.
The fetus is moved into the aquatic environment, and it should completely cover it. The fluid should be changed several times during the month. It is necessary to take into account the fact that the watermelon should not be in contact with air.
The water in which the berry is stored must not freeze. In this case, the product will deteriorate and it will be impossible to eat it. Thus, watermelon can be stored for several months. Unfortunately, in Russia, not everyone can afford this method. Therefore, people use the above methods of storing berries.
How to understand that the fruit has deteriorated inside?
It all depends on the variety, conditions of transportation and cultivation of berries. In order to understand that the fruit has deteriorated, it is not necessary to cut it and taste it. It is enough to pay attention to some characteristics of the product. The presence of dents and cracks, spots of rot indicates that the watermelon is no longer suitable for eating.
It also happens that the berry becomes soft in any place or an unpleasant odor emanates from it. Sellers immediately throw out these species, since a buyer of this type may have serious health problems if, of course, he eats it.
Answering the question “How long can I store watermelon in the refrigerator?” and having examined his methods of harvesting, I would like to give advice: be careful when choosing a berry and enjoy its excellent taste in any ordinary or gala evening.