What Is Watermelon and How Can I Use It?
Wondering what to do with watermelon? This guide covers how to pick it, cook it, store it, and swap it, plus 47 recipes to put it to work.
Key Points
- Juicy summer melon, about 92 percent water, with light, clean, sweet flesh.
- Eat it in cold wedges, feta-mint salads, agua fresca, or grilled.
- Its sweetness plays best against salty feta and tangy lime.
- Pick by heft and a creamy yellow field spot; it won't ripen after harvest.
- Whole keeps about a week on the counter; cut flesh lasts 3 to 5 days chilled.
What is watermelon?
Watermelon is the big, water-heavy melon of high summer, all crisp pink flesh and dark seeds inside a hard green rind.
It's about 92 percent water, which is why a cold wedge is so refreshing on a hot day and why the flavor stays light and clean rather than rich.
Most of what you find is seedless, bred to leave only soft pale seed coats you can eat. The flesh runs from pale to deep red, sometimes yellow or orange in specialty varieties, and the best of it is sweet with a faint floral note.
Ways to Use Watermelon
Cold wedges off the rind are the default and hard to beat, but watermelon does far more than dessert duty. A pinch of salt or a squeeze of lime pulls its sweetness forward and is worth trying once.
Its sweetness plays brilliantly against salty and tangy partners. The Watermelon, Mint & Feta Salad with Citrus Dressing is the iconic move, and the Watermelon, Cucumber & Feta Salad runs the same idea cooler and crisper. Cubed with arugula and feta, it makes a fast summer plate.
Blended, it turns into agua fresca or sorbet, as in a Watermelon Sherbet, and the Fresh Watermelon & Low-fat Vanilla Yogurt Ice freezes it into a light treat. You can even grill thick wedges briefly to concentrate the sugars and add a smoky edge.
Pairing and Picking a Good One
Watermelon loves feta, mint, basil, lime, cucumber, and a little chili, all of which sharpen its sweetness rather than bury it. It also takes well to a splash of balsamic or a crumble of salty cheese.
Picking a ripe one is the whole game, since watermelon does not ripen further after harvest. Look for a creamy yellow field spot where it sat on the ground; a white or pale green spot means it was picked early and will taste bland.
Heft is the other tell. A good melon feels heavy for its size, which means it's full of water and juice, and gives a deep hollow thunk when you knock it. A light melon or a high, tinny knock points to a dry, mealy interior.
Substitutes
Cantaloupe or honeydew steps in for fresh eating and fruit salad, sweeter and muskier with a softer, denser flesh. They won't give the same crisp, watery snap but cover the melon role.
In a feta-and-mint salad, the contrast matters more than the exact melon, so cantaloupe or even ripe tomato can swing the same sweet-salty balance. Cucumber alone gives the cool crunch without the sweetness.
For drinks and sorbets, strawberry or other juicy summer fruit blends into a similar refreshing puree. None taste like watermelon exactly, so match by role: crisp and watery, or simply sweet and cold.
Storing It
A whole uncut melon keeps about a week at room temperature, and up to two weeks in the fridge if you have space.
Counter storage actually preserves more of its antioxidants than the cold does, so there's no rush to chill a whole one.
Once cut, the clock speeds up. Wrap the cut face tight or cube the flesh into an airtight container and refrigerate, where it stays good 3 to 5 days. Toss it once it turns slimy, smells sour, or goes grainy.
Watermelon freezes only as cubes or puree for drinks and slushes, never to thaw and eat fresh, since freezing wrecks the crisp texture and leaves it mushy.
Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 1 NLEA serving (280g)Quick facts
Where to find watermelon: Watermelon is usually found in the fruit section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.
Food group: Watermelon is a member of the Fruits and Fruit Juices US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.
- In Chinese
- 西瓜
- British (UK) term
- Watermelon
- en français
- pastèque
- en español
- sandía
How much does watermelon weigh?
| Amount | Weight |
|---|---|
| 1 cup, balls | 154 grams |
| 1 cup, diced | 152 grams |
| 1 melon (15" long x 7-1/2" dia) | 4518 grams |
| 1 wedge (approx 1/16 of melon) | 286 grams |
| 10 watermelon balls | 122 grams |
| 1 NLEA serving | 280 grams |
Related
Fruits and Fruit Juices
Recipes using watermelon
There are 47 recipes that contain this ingredient.
Arugula, Watermelon & Feta Salad
Quick and easy to prepare, and very scrumptious combination! Enjoy watermelon with the fresh arugula and greek style feta cheese!
Watermelon, Arugula & Feta Salad
Sweet-juicy watermelon cubes, peppery arugula leaves, salty and creamy feta cheese are tossed with a light balsamic-olive oil vinaigrette. A great summer salad that adds some refresh-ness to your BBQ.
Watermelon Sorbet
Watermelon sorbet with pureed fresh watermelon, lemon juice, and a corn syrup simple syrup for the smoothest, scoopable texture. The summer freezer dessert that captures peak melon flavor.
Summer Watermelon Salad
A fresh and tasty combination of salty, juicy and sweet perfect for a hot day, especially served in the watermelon shell.
A1 Watermelon Salad
A tasty balsamic vinaigrette tossed with watermelon and feta cheese, a fresh and scrumptious salad which works well with any grilled dish!
Watermelon Sherbet
Creamy watermelon sherbet churned with evaporated skim milk, lemon juice, and a touch of gelatin for silky smooth scoops. A lighter frozen treat that captures peak summer melon flavor.
Fresh Watermelon & Low-fat Vanilla Yogurt Ice
Frozen desserts are always welcomed, try this fresh watermelon and low-fat vanilla yogurt ice, very tasty and you no need to worry about calories and fat.
Watermelon, Mint & Feta Salad with Citrus Dressing
Juicy and sweet watermelon cubes are tossed with fresh mint leaves, feta cheese and a light yet tasty citrus dressing made with orange juice, lemon juice, extra-virgin olive oil, and a bit shallots. Use any kind of your favorite greens as a base. A great summer salad.
Chilled Puree of Beet & Watermelon
Slow-cooked beets pureed with fresh watermelon and chicken stock into a stunning chilled soup. Just six ingredients create a silky, naturally sweet cold soup with a vibrant magenta color.
Freddi's Fruit Cocktail Mix
Homemade frozen fruit cocktail mix with watermelon, cantaloupe, peaches, grapes, and blueberries in an orange-lemonade syrup. Freeze in pint containers for up to 8 months of fresh fruit cups.
Fruit Kabobs with Yogurt Dip
Fruit kabobs with yogurt dip: skewers of watermelon, pineapple, grapes, strawberries, and kiwi served with a creamy strawberry yogurt dip. A colorful, no-cook, healthy snack or party platter kids love.
Spicy Maple Fruit Kabobs
Grilled fruit kabobs brushed with maple syrup, brown sugar, cinnamon, bitters, and red pepper flakes. Sweet, smoky, and spicy summer dessert ready in 30 minutes.
Watermelon Punch
Watermelon punch combines fresh watermelon balls and juice with brandy, simple syrup, and lemon-lime soda, served in a hollowed-out watermelon shell. A showstopping summer party drink for backyard crowds.
Ham Mousse with Peaches
Ham mousse with peaches, a savory baked custard of ground ham, eggs, cream, Dijon mustard, and port wine, unmolded and garnished with fresh peaches, pickled watermelon rind, and almonds.
Melon in Mint Sauce
Fresh melon salad with cantaloupe, honeydew, and watermelon tossed in a creamy mint and cardamom sauce. A chilled summer fruit dish with light sour cream dressing.
Watermelon & Pepper Sauce
Watermelon cubes with a spicy lime dipping sauce made from lime juice, salt, and hot pepper sauce. A three-ingredient summer snack ready in 10 minutes.
Melon Balls in Watermelon Sauce
Cantaloupe and honeydew melon balls soaked in fresh watermelon juice with rum and sugar. A boozy, refreshing summer fruit dessert that chills overnight for maximum flavor.
Lime Mold
Retro lime gelatin mold layered with orange sections, grapefruit, pineapple, maraschino cherries, and melon balls. A colorful vintage fruit salad.
Watermelon Chiffon Pie
Light and airy no-bake watermelon chiffon pie in a buttery graham cracker crust. Pureed watermelon, whipped cream, and fluffy egg whites create a cloud-like filling that chills to set.
Gelo Di Mellone
Gelo di Mellone, a traditional Sicilian watermelon pudding thickened with cornstarch, studded with pistachios, chocolate, and candied citron, finished with cinnamon.
Melon Grape Salad
Fresh melon and grape salad with cantaloupe, watermelon, and green grapes tossed in a honey-lime-Dijon dressing. A sweet-tangy summer fruit salad with a savory twist.
Fourth of July Cocktail
A colorful layered 4th of July alcoholic drink for the adults with the kick of Jalepeno and tequila!
Fourth of July Cocktail
A colorful layered 4th of July alcoholic drink for the adults with the kick of Jalepeno and tequila!
Fresh Fruit Frappe 2
Fresh fruit frappe blended with watermelon, cantaloupe, pineapple, mango, strawberries, and orange juice over crushed ice. A refreshing no-cook summer drink.
Tomato & Watermelon Salad
Tomato and watermelon salad with cucumber, avocado, fresh herbs, and freshly ground coriander seed in an aged balsamic vinaigrette. A juicy, summery side dish that tastes like August on a plate.
Watermelon Ice Drink
Watermelon ice drink blended with crushed ice and garnished with rose geranium leaves. A 2-ingredient frozen watermelon slush with no added sugar, ready in 10 minutes.
Summer Fruit Bowl
Cool, refreshing big-batch fruit salad with watermelon, cantaloupe, plums, nectarines, and grapes tossed in chilled mint-lime simple syrup. A summer party showstopper.
Watermelon Salsa
Watermelon salsa with fresh cilantro, red onion, and balsamic vinegar. Sweet, tangy, and refreshing, served straight from the watermelon shell for a stunning summer presentation.
Watermelon Fire & Ice Salsa
Sweet watermelon meets spicy jalapeno in this no-cook fire and ice salsa with lime, cilantro, and green pepper. A refreshing diabetic-friendly appetizer ready in minutes.
Watermelon Honey
Old-fashioned watermelon honey preserve made from the white rind, slow-cooked with sugar, lemon, and fresh ginger into a thick, golden spread. A heritage canning recipe worth reviving.
Watermelon Ice
Refreshing low-calorie watermelon ice made with fresh melon, honey, lime juice, and a touch of gelatin. A frozen summer treat that's naturally light and bursting with fruit flavor.
Maple Watermelon & Pineapple Popsicles
Try these easy fruity popsicles to cool down the hot summer day.
Cherry Tomato & Watermelon Salad
Another delicious watermelon recipe, and it doesn't take long to have this fresh watermelon salad!
Melon Medley Salad
Four-melon salad with cantaloupe, honeydew, watermelon, and crenshaw balls tossed with pistachios, celery, and a honey-mint sour cream dressing spiked with orange liqueur.
Pickled Watermelon Rind
Pickled watermelon rind in a spiced cider vinegar syrup with cinnamon, clove, and allspice. Old-Southern preserve that turns kitchen scraps into translucent, sweet-tart jewels.
Glazed Pork Chops With Pineapple, Watermelon & Ginger Relish
Pan-seared pork chops glazed with a sweet-tart pineapple ginger pan sauce, topped with a cool watermelon relish spiked with jalapeño and lime. Sweet heat meets smoky crust in 30 minutes.
Watermelon Rind Preserves
Sweet watermelon rind preserves made with a lime water soak, lemon, and ginger in a simple sugar syrup. A two-day heritage canning project that transforms scraps into glistening jars of gold.
Fresh Fruit Frappe
Fresh fruit frappe blends watermelon, cantaloupe, pineapple, mango, and strawberries with orange juice and crushed ice into a frosty, tropical slush. Ready in 15 minutes.
Watermelon Cake
A bundt cake made with real cubed watermelon and fruity gelatin for a pink-hued summer dessert. Topped with luscious cream cheese watermelon icing that tastes like a backyard party.
Watermelon Cake
A bundt cake made with real cubed watermelon and fruity gelatin for a pink-hued summer dessert. Topped with luscious cream cheese watermelon icing that tastes like a backyard party.
Fresh Watermelon with Cool Citrus Mascarpone
Fresh watermelon balls drizzled with a blended citrus mascarpone sauce made from orange, lemon, and grapefruit juices. A light, elegant summer dessert with no cooking required.
Watermelon Muffins
Soft, cinnamon-spiced muffins made with real watermelon juice and pulp, studded with plump raisins. A unique breakfast bake that puts leftover summer watermelon to brilliant use.
