During the high season, watermelons from European growing areas are usually relatively cheap. You can pickle them sweet or savory and store them well into the winter.

Do not pickle watermelons too early or too late

So that the pickled watermelons can also have a high taste quality, they must be pickled at the right degree of ripeness. While unripe melons have a shiny green skin and sound dark, fully ripe watermelons have a dull sound and a dull surface. If you can't eat a fresh watermelon whole, don't keep it in the fridge for weeks before worrying about pickling. A watermelon that is already almost spoiled is not worth the effort of pickling, as the result can no longer be satisfactory in terms of taste.

Prepare the glasses for loading

To put the watermelons in, you need mason jars or other jars with a tight-fitting lid. These should be dimensioned in such a way that you can use the contained amounts within a few days when you open them later. While the broth for pickling the diced watermelon is simmering, you should sterilize the jars to kill germs and bacteria that could otherwise spoil the contents during storage. The easiest way to do this is to carefully rinse the jars with boiling hot water and then pour in the finished mixture directly.

Sweet and sour watermelons as a savory side dish

A recipe from Russia allows the watermelons to be processed into a savory vegetable-like side dish. To do this, dice the watermelon and boil it in a mixture of vinegar and water. Also, for a more interesting flavor, add a few more tablespoons of the following ingredients:

  • little salt
  • sugar
  • dill
  • little pepper
  • horseradish

The mixture is poured into the sterilized jars while it is boiling hot. These are filled to the brim and turned upside down for about 10 minutes after sealing. This results in a longer shelf life, since no air bubble can form between the liquid and the lid.

tips and tricks

Standard jars for vegetables and jam can also be used to put in the watermelons. However, you sometimes have to buy new sealing caps, since the old ones usually no longer close completely tightly.

The garden journal freshness ABC

How can fruit and vegetables be stored correctly so that they stay fresh for as long as possible?

The garden journal freshness ABC as a poster:

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Category:

Vegetable garden