Here’s some sweet news: Fresh watermelon season is quite long, spanning from April through September. So from late spring to late summer, when the ultra-hydrating fruit is at its freshest and most flavorful, I find myself stocking up on another melon nearly every grocery store run. (In case you missed it, here are our top 4 tricks for picking a perfect watermelon.)
Even with all of these sweet and savory fresh watermelon recipes in my repertoire, sometimes I get a bit ahead of myself, and can’t make it through all of our fresh melon before it’s past its prime. Whole watermelon lasts up to 10 days in the refrigerator. Once the fruit has been sliced, the clock really starts ticking. Cut watermelon can usually hang out for about 4 to 7 days in the refrigerator before it starts to noticeably degrade in quality, according to the National Watermelon Promotion Board.
Recently, as I looked at a crisper drawer full of an almost-full food storage container full of watermelon, I wondered, “can I freeze watermelon?” Unsure of how to freeze watermelon—and if I should—I called up my friends in the Test Kitchen.
- Sarah Brekke, M.S., Better Homes & Gardens Test Kitchen brand manager
Can You Freeze Watermelon?
According to Sarah Brekke, M.S., Better Homes & Gardens Test Kitchen brand manager, “yes, you sure can freeze watermelon!”
This answer is true for both red and yellow watermelon; seeded or seedless. Your easiest option will be to freeze seedless watermelon, and you must remove the rind and seeds before freezing. (Both get rock hard once on ice.)
The flesh inside a fresh, ripe watermelon freezes beautifully, and if stored properly, “watermelon will store well in the freezer for about 6 months,” Brekke says.
How to Freeze Watermelon 3 Ways, According to Our Test Kitchen
There are solutions for how to freeze watermelon: In pieces, as juice, or as a fruit purée. Since the timer ticks on the melon’s lifespan with each passing hour after it has been cut, it’s wise to freeze watermelon as soon as you know that you won’t be consuming it fresh.
How to Freeze Watermelon Cubes or Balls
Freezing watermelon in pieces works well for most frozen watermelon recipes. Brekke coaches us through how to freeze watermelon cubes or balls:
- Wash the melon under cool running water. If any dirt or grime is stuck on, use a clean vegetable brush to scrub the surface.
- Using a clean kitchen towel or paper towels, pat the watermelon rind dry.
- Using a sharp chef’s knife, trim ½ inch off one of the watermelon ends so it sits flat on the cutting board.
- Slice the watermelon in half, then in half again.
- Trace the knife between the flesh and the rind to separate the two.
- Use the knife to cut the watermelon into cubes or use a melon baller or small ice cream scoop to form spheres.
- Remove any black seeds, if present.
- Line a sheet pan or tray with parchment paper (this makes it easier and cleaner to remove the frozen pieces), then freeze for at least 4 hours or until sold.
- Transfer the frozen watermelon pieces to a zip-top freezer bag, then label and date before placing the bag in the freezer. Use within 6 months.
How to Freeze Watermelon Purée
For smoothies, cocktails and spirit-free drinks, and desserts, you may want to freeze watermelon in as a puréed mixture. To do so:
- Follow steps 1 through 5 above.
- Use the knife to cut the watermelon into chunks.
- Remove any black seeds, if present.
- Place the watermelon pieces in a blender pitcher.
- Add about ½ tablespoon sugar per cup of fruit.
- Blend until smooth.
- Pour the watermelon purée into ice cube tray wells, then freeze for 4 hours or until solid.
- Transfer the frozen watermelon purée cubes to a zip-top freezer bag, then label and date before placing the bag in the freezer. Use within 3 months.
How to Freeze Watermelon Juice
Watermelon juice is another excellent option for freezing the fruit. If you plan to thaw the watermelon before using, this is your best option. To freeze watermelon juice:
- Follow steps 1 through 5 above.
- Use the knife to cut the watermelon into chunks.
- Remove any black seeds, if present.
- Place the watermelon pieces in a blender pitcher.
- Blend until smooth, then pour the mixture through a fine mesh sieve to separate the pulp from the juice.
- Transfer the watermelon juice to a freezer-safe container, leaving 1 inch of headspace at the top to allow the liquid to expand as it freezes. Label and date, and use within 3 months.
Test Kitchen Tip: Feel free to employ a juicer or extractor if you have either of these two tools instead of a blender if you have one of those handy. Since either will allow you to skip the straining step, it will save you a bit of time.
The 1 Way You Should Never Freeze Watermelon
Don’t attempt to freeze whole watermelon. Not only will this take up a lot of precious real estate, but it could also burst due to the pressure of the flesh freezing inside the rind. Frozen whole watermelon will also be extremely difficult or impossible to slice, and allowing the full fruit to thaw will render it mushy and unpleasant. Stick to pieces, purée, or juice instead.
Do You Need to Thaw Frozen Watermelon?
“Thawed watermelon will be quite soft, so we don’t recommend using it on a fruit tray or in a salad,” Brekke says.
Thawing frozen watermelon is not necessary, but you may want to thaw it for some applications (such as drinking watermelon juice or adding purée to a drink), she confirms. If you opt to thaw frozen watermelon, keep in mind that its texture will be much softer than its fresh form. To thaw, simply transfer the container of frozen watermelon to the refrigerator and allow it to thaw overnight or until thawed to your desired level.
The Best Frozen Watermelon Recipes to Try
Now that I know how to freeze watermelon and have put my initial batch on ice, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed snacking on frozen watermelon cubes straight from the freezer. They’re like all-natural ice pops!
Beyond enjoying the pieces as-is, Brekke recommends the following frozen watermelon recipe ideas:
- Blend frozen watermelon cubes into a frozen cocktail, such as a Watermelon Margarita.
- Stir thawed watermelon purée into lemonade to create a refreshing watermelon lemonade.
- Add a few large handfuls of frozen watermelon cubes to the blender pitcher as you blitz up your favorite gazpacho recipe to make watermelon gazpacho, or blend it into this summery Watermelon Soup with Fresh Mint.
- Incorporate frozen watermelon pieces or thawed watermelon purée into a melon sorbet, sherbet, or granita.
- Use frozen melon pieces as dilution-free ice cubes to infuse water or enhance other drinks like mimosas, sangrias, and spritzes.
- Use a grater or microplane to make fruit shaved ice, a la recipe developer and TikTok creator Frankie Gaw.