Did you know you can freeze our melons? We are often met with surprise when we tell customers this… But we promise, it’s true! Muskmelon and watermelon (particularly seedless watermelon) both freeze well, and are such a treat to enjoy on a hot summers’ day, or during the winter season as a sweet reminder of the warmer months.
To freeze melon, simply follow these easy breezy steps:
Slice melon, remove flesh from the rind, and then dice into chunks.
Spread out melon chunks on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Set prepared tray in the freezer for at least 2 hours, to allow the melon to firm up.
Transfer the mostly-frozen melon chunks to a labelled freezer-friendly bag, and return to the freezer for storage.
Remove from the freezer and enjoy whenever you’re craving a little bit of sunshine!
There you have it! With just 5 simple steps, it really is that easy to freeze muskmelon and watermelon. The process is very similar to that of freezing our berries, with the exception of lining the baking sheet with parchment paper. This step is important for melon chunks, as they are much juicier than whole berries, and would stick if they were placed directly on the tray.
Having frozen fruit from the summer months on hand during the winter is a great way to ensure your intake of healthy fruits doesn’t stop just because the season comes to an end. Like all fruits, muskmelon and watermelon are not only delicious, but also packed full of nutrition! Muskmelon is known for its incredibly high amount of Vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant also important for our immune system, bone, teeth, and skin health. Muskmelon is also a superstar when it comes to Vitamin A, which helps us maintain normal vision, and also contributes to healthy immune systems, bones, teeth, and skin, just like Vitamin C! Like muskmelon, watermelon is also known for these two vitamins, as well as a neat little micronutrient called Lycopene, a pigment also found in tomatoes that gives some fruits its lovely red colouring. Like Vitamin C, lycopene doubles as an antioxidant, and its consumption may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and some cancers.
Frozen melon chunks can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. Some of my favourites are listed below:
On top of plain Greek yogurt, with a sprinkle of lime juice for a tropical breakfast option
In a smoothie, mixed with coconut water, lime juice, and mango
As an addition to a tropical fruit salad featuring pineapple, mango, and strawberries!
Swap out ice cubes for frozen melon chunks in a glass of sparkling water for a refreshing, delicious, and healthy drink (pictured below). Add some mint & splash of lime juice to make it even more exciting!
Do you have any other ideas for using frozen melon? I’d love to hear them!
Alex Chesney, RD
