How To Keep A Watermelon Fresh Before The New Year Without Preservation

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 12:53

Watermelon on the New Year's table: how to keep it fresh until the New Year

Sweet, juicy, aromatic watermelons are an exceptionally summer treat. If they appear on store shelves in winter, it is better to pass by, because it is not known where they were grown and what they were stuffed with for growth and preservation. At least that's what the grandmothers say at the entrances. And if you try to save a watermelon bought in the summer, right in season, right up to the New Year? Do you think this is impossible? And we will prove to you otherwise.

Several methods for keeping watermelon fresh for a long time

It would seem that watermelon is not suitable for storage longer than a couple of weeks due to its juiciness. The abundance of moisture in itself does not contribute to the safety of any product. But there are ways to preserve a watermelon for a long time so that not a drop of its qualities are lost. You just need to strictly follow certain rules.

You can save summer watermelon until New Year's holidays if you follow the rules

Choosing a watermelon

For long-term storage, it is better to select varieties of medium and medium late maturity. But if you want the watermelon to reach the festive New Year's table without damage, pay attention to:

• Chill with a shelf life of 3 months;
• Monastyrsky Plus with a shelf life of 90-100 days.

However, choosing the right variety does not guarantee a good result. Select each copy carefully. Please note that you only need to take:

• large watermelons weighing 4 kg or more;
• with a smooth skin without sunburn, chips, dents, cracks, visible scratches;

• fully ripe, the tail of which is at the stage of drying out.

  

  Variety, weight, size and appearance are important criteria for long-term storage of watermelon

The necessary conditions

Provide suitable conditions to keep the watermelon as long as possible. Temperature should be 5–10 ° C, humidity 85–90%. A decrease or increase in these indicators will certainly harm the fetus. In addition, the watermelon should not be exposed to direct sunlight and the storage should be well ventilated.

Storage in a private house underground

Prepare the fruit before storage. There are two ways to do this.

1. Spray the surface of the watermelons with a 2% lime solution. It has a drying effect and removes any bacteria and fungi that cause rotting from the crust.

2. Cover the bottom and top of the fruit with wax, paraffin, or plasticine. Through these places, moisture evaporates, due to which the berry begins to wither and dry.

   

   Watermelon can be filled with paraffin completely, 1 cm thick layer

There are 3 most popular storage methods:

1. Cover the shelves in the basement with a dense layer of dry sawdust, moss or straw. Spread the watermelons on top of them.

2. Place each fruit in a separate cloth or plastic bag. Hang them close to the ceiling, at a short distance from each other.

   

   Watermelon can be hung in a string bag, covered with lime or paraffin.

3. Place a large wooden container in the basement, cover it with dry sand. Bury the fruits of the watermelons in it so that they do not touch each other on their sides. The sand can be replaced with wood ash from the stove.

Storing watermelons in an apartment

1. Place wooden crates in the pantry, line the bottom with dry straw or moss, and spread out the fruits.

   

   Wooden boxes - a convenient container for storing watermelons

2. If you have a glazed balcony or loggia, store the watermelons in the same place as in the pantry. It is advisable to provide additional insulation by wrapping the boxes on the outside with blankets or felt material.
3. Watermelon can be stored by placing it in the vegetable section of the refrigerator, wrapped in several layers of newspaper or paper. True, you cannot prepare more than 1-2 fruits in this way.

Video: learning how to store a fresh watermelon until the New Year holidays

Reviews of Internet users about storing watermelons

As you can see, watermelons can be kept fresh almost all winter, and not only in the form of jam, juice and other preserves. Choose the most suitable way for you and meet the New Year in an original way! Bon Appetit!