My mom and my 4 year old have a couple of things in common: they are both affectionate and determined, and they both love watermelon. Eva is so obsessed with the summer staple that if you placed bowls of Hershey’s Kisses (chocolate is her other passion) and watermelon side by side, she would probably go for the fruit at least as often as she did the candy. And while serving it fresh, in chunks of in wedges, will always be the most popular way to eat watermelon, there are so many other ways to serve this versatile fruit. I’ve made watermelon slushies, watermelon juice, and watermelon pops, and growing up, one of our favorite ways to eat watermelon was with feta cheese – an unexpectedly delicious combination. (I even managed to grow a small “sugar baby” watermelon plant this summer, from seeds, that produced one tiny, fist-sized fruit, which I picked last week. There was enough for each of the girls to have one teensy slice.) I’m always looking for new ways to serve it. National Watermelon Day is August 3, but I couldn’t wait to share these tips and recipes (including a watermelon and feta salad!) from Dawn Bryan, founder of The Qualipedia
DAWN’S TIPS
SELECTION:
- To find your juiciest watermelon you first must look at the coloring: it should have bright firm skin, be symmetrical, and free of cuts, major bruises and scars
- Pick up the watermelon to feel whether it is heavy. The heavier the melon the more water it contains, which translates to a very luscious fruit
- Make sure that you pick a melon that is the right size for your needs — you don’t want to waste any juicy bite
- The last test you need is the thumping method. You want to hold the watermelon close to your ear, thump it, and listen for a hollow sound. This means that you’ve got yourself a good melon
HOW TO RIPEN AND STORE:
If your watermelon isn’t quite ready to cut open and serve, make sure that you store it at room temperature, giving it time to reach its prime ripeness. However, if you have a melon that’s ready to eat you can cool it off in your fridge for a couple of hours so that when you’re ready to serve it, it’s ice cold and delicious. Be sure to wrap all your leftovers in plastic and keep them in the refrigerator.
USES AND RECIPES:
There are a variety of ways you can eat– and drink—this tasty fruit. While biting into an icy chunk of watermelon is very refreshing, there are also new recipes you can try to spruce up the ways you enjoy this summertime staple. Here are a few recipe links to help you cool off on these hot summer days:
- Watermelon Mojito Popsicles so you can cool down and cut loose
- Watermelon Keg great for those late evening outdoor soirées
- Watermelon Smoothie that help brighten your skin and your day
- Watermelon and Feta Salad a light and refreshing summer meal
And while you’re enjoying a drink from the watermelon keg (how cute is that), don’t forget your skin. Luxury skincare line Repechage has formulated a new collection, Biolight, that uses watermelon extract as an active ingredient to “protect DINA in skin cells from damage caused by UV-light induced free radicals.” The collection includes a Brightening Overnight Cream, $110, and Brightening Skin Correct Serum, $70. At repechage.com.
The Wonders of Watemelon
The Wonders of Watemelon
Winnie says
Enjoyed reading your watermelon post. It is one of my favorite things about summer. I can’t wait to make those mojito pops! I just got molds the other day, perfect timing.