Can You Freeze Watermelon? Yes, but Eat It Frozen
Watermelon freezes, but thawed chunks go soft. Freeze cubes on a tray and use them frozen for smoothies, slushies and granita.
Can you freeze watermelon? Yes, including watermelon chunks, but it thaws soft and spongy. Freeze cubes on a tray and use them while they're still frozen, in drinks, slushies and granita, not as fresh fruit. Frozen cubes taste best within about a month.
Can you freeze watermelon?
Yes. NCHFP's guide to freezing melons applies: pick firm-fleshed, ripe fruit, remove the rind and seeds, cut it up and freeze it, packed with or without syrup. The catch is texture. Watermelon is mostly water, so it loses much of it when it thaws and goes sunken and spongy (Simply Recipes). The sweetness drops a little too (HGTV).
So the answer to "can you freeze watermelon chunks" is yes, if you plan to eat them frozen or blend them. Start with a ripe one, and our guide on how to tell if a watermelon is good helps you pick.
How can you freeze watermelon?
- Cut off the rind and remove the seeds. Seedless is easiest (Better Homes & Gardens).
- Cut the flesh into cubes, slices or balls.
- Spread the pieces in one layer on a parchment-lined tray so they don't touch, and freeze until solid.
- Pack the frozen pieces into freezer bags or containers, press out the air and label the date.
NCHFP gives two ways to pack: unsweetened, or covered in cold 30 percent syrup. A 30 percent syrup is 1 3/4 cups sugar to 4 cups water, which makes about 5 cups of syrup (NCHFP). Chill the syrup first and leave headspace. For smoothies, you can also purée the fruit and freeze it in ice cube trays.
Don't freeze a whole melon. It takes up a lot of room, can burst and is nearly impossible to cut once solid (Better Homes & Gardens).
How long does frozen watermelon keep, and how do you thaw it?
The sources disagree, so start with the cautious one. USDA's FoodKeeper lists 1 month for frozen melon balls (it also has a separate watermelon entry at 12 months). Simply Recipes says to use frozen cubes within a month. Better Homes & Gardens suggests 6 months for cubes and 3 for purée, and NCHFP's general range for frozen fruit is 8 to 12 months, with the shorter time for best quality. Watermelon's texture fades fastest, so for the best result use it within about a month. These are quality windows only: food kept at 0°F stays safe indefinitely (USDA FSIS).
You don't need to thaw it. If you do, use the refrigerator (USDA FSIS) and expect something close to a purée. Thawed watermelon is soft, so don't put it on a fruit tray. When in doubt, throw it out: toss it if it smells fermented or sour.
What changes when you freeze watermelon, and what should you make with it?
| Use | How |
|---|---|
| Snack | Eat the cubes frozen, like an ice pop |
| Granita | Pulse frozen cubes in a food processor until fluffy |
| Drinks | Blend in place of ice for slushies, lemonade or margaritas |
| Smoothies | Blend with citrus or berries |
| Sorbet | Pulse with a squeeze of lemon juice |
What foods are like watermelon for the freezer?
Other melons follow the same rules. See can you freeze cantaloupe, how to tell if a watermelon is bad before you cut one, and the full list in Can you freeze food?.
Use up watermelon before it turns
The clock ticks on cut watermelon, so freeze it as soon as you know you won't eat it fresh (Better Homes & Gardens). Add three foods from your fridge to Well Stockd and see what you can cook, with each item sorted by how soon it needs to go. Try it free or read about the best app to track food expiration dates.
FAQ
Can you freeze watermelon chunks?
Yes. Freeze them on a tray first so they don't clump, then bag them. Use them frozen.
Can you freeze watermelon with the rind?
No. The rind gets rock hard and takes up space, so cut it off along with the seeds before freezing.
Why is frozen watermelon mushy?
Watermelon is mostly water. When it freezes, ice crystals break the cell walls, and the water drains out on thawing.