How to freeze melon: freezing rules and basic mistakes

Melon is a healthy and tasty fruit

Melon is a pseudoberry cultivated by humans and bred from the wild. The product is considered low-calorie - so, per 100 grams of product there are only 36 kilocalories.

Let's look at the useful properties:

Normalizes the functioning of the central nervous system. Improves mood, prevents the development of apathy and depression.
It has a beneficial effect on human hormonal levels.
Stabilizes the functioning of the digestive system. Reduces the risk of constipation.
Cleanses the body of toxins, waste and other harmful compounds.
Removes harmful cholesterol from the blood. Prevents the development of atherosclerosis. The presence of potassium strengthens the heart muscle.
Has a mild diuretic effect. Removes stones, recommended for use in case of pathologies of the urinary system.
Has a beneficial effect on the appearance of hair, nails, and skin. Has a rejuvenating effect on the body.

In addition to all of the above, melon supports the health of the male reproductive system, female beauty and children's health.

How to freeze melon in pieces and halves for the winter at home, the best recipes

Many housewives are concerned about whether melon can be frozen, since it is not the best berry that can be stored in the freezer. But that doesn’t stop lovers of frozen fruit pieces.

It is quite difficult to carry out this process at home. It is for this reason that it is recommended that you initially familiarize yourself with several techniques on how to properly freeze melon at home for the winter. Let's look at the detailed recipes.

Melon is a healthy and tasty fruit

Melon is a pseudoberry cultivated by humans and bred from the wild. The product is considered low-calorie - so, per 100 grams of product there are only 36 kilocalories.

Let's look at the useful properties:

Normalizes the functioning of the central nervous system. Improves mood, prevents the development of apathy and depression.
It has a beneficial effect on human hormonal levels.
Stabilizes the functioning of the digestive system. Reduces the risk of constipation.
Cleanses the body of toxins, waste and other harmful compounds.
Removes harmful cholesterol from the blood. Prevents the development of atherosclerosis. The presence of potassium strengthens the heart muscle.
Has a mild diuretic effect. Removes stones, recommended for use in case of pathologies of the urinary system.
Has a beneficial effect on the appearance of hair, nails, and skin. Has a rejuvenating effect on the body.

In addition to all of the above, melon supports the health of the male reproductive system, female beauty and children's health.

Which variety is suitable?

To preserve the beneficial nutrients in melon, you need to know how to choose the right product. For this method of storing berries, it is recommended to use melon varieties. They have dense and crispy flesh. Peel with a visible pattern of cracks.

The most suitable variety is considered to be Cantaloupe - melons with bright orange pulp, reminiscent of a pumpkin in color. Based on its external description, it will not be difficult to find it from all the variety presented in stores or markets.

Melon varieties have a strong aroma that does not disappear even after the freezing process. The richer the taste of the fruit, the better.

Varieties with soft and watery pulp should not be used. Once defrosted, they will turn into tasteless mush.

Preparing the ingredient for freezing

At home, you can freeze melon yourself; the main thing is to know how to prepare it correctly.

The melon needs to be thoroughly rinsed under water and dried with paper towels. Cut; Using a large spoon, remove seeds and coarse fibers. Separate the pulp from the skin.

For freezing, it is recommended to use small containers. This is convenient and economical, since you don’t have to defrost a large amount of melon.

For storage, it is recommended to choose the following types of containers:

freezer bags with special fasteners;
food-grade plastic containers with a tight lid.

Wash and dry ripe, juicy and aromatic berries. Divide into two equal parts, remove seeds and fibers that are unsuitable for food, peel off the peel. Chop the pulp into medium slices. You can also use plates, and for a more beautiful aesthetic appearance, you can take a spoon for packing ice cream into balls. Cut out berry balls.

Large pieces cannot be stored in the freezer. They will freeze unevenly and, as a result, the product will turn out soggy.

Wash the wooden cutting board with soap and additionally pour boiling water over it. Cover it with a plastic bag or film, place the slices at a short distance from each other, thereby preventing the product from freezing into a single lump.

After 24 hours, when the ingredient is completely frozen, it is carefully poured into a storage container.

Frozen in sugar syrup

To create a delicious and aromatic dessert you need to prepare:

melon – 1.3 kilograms;
filtered water – 500 milliliters;
granulated sugar – 0.5 kilograms.

Initially, you need to prepare the syrup. To do this, pour the filtered liquid into a container with a thick bottom and add sweet sand. Place on heat and continue cooking until the sweet grains dissolve. Cool the sweet hot syrup.

Prepare the melon, chop the pulp into small pieces.

Place them in a thin layer in a container, where they will freeze ⅔ of the volume. Fill with syrup, but not completely.

We freeze it overnight. That's it - the product is ready for use.

In powdered sugar

In order to preserve the sweetness of the melon, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the following original recipe. Taken:

fragrant melon;
powdered sugar.

Rinse the berries, remove the skin and internal, unsuitable for food, seeds and fibers, chop the processed pulp into cubes.

Place on a cutting board, having previously covered it with cling film. Place the prepared pieces on it and sprinkle generously with powder.

Place in the freezer, leaving to freeze completely for 24 hours. Pour the frozen product into storage bags and put it back in the freezer.

Freezing melon puree

Soft melon can be pureed and frozen for long-term storage. The dessert looks original and unusual.

Prepare the berries: rinse, dry, remove unedible parts and peel. Cut into slices and puree in a blender until pureed. The consistency should be uniform, without lumps.

Pour into serving molds for baking or making ice. Place them carefully in the freezer. Freeze for 24 hours. After the time has passed, carefully remove from the molds, put into freezer bags or wrap each of them in cling film, and put back in the cold.

Frozen halves

It is not recommended to freeze melon halves. Firstly, it takes up a lot of space. Secondly, during the freezing process, it will become covered with ice in the middle, which destroys cells and tissues, and in some cases, the entire fruit.

In addition to these recipes, melon can be frozen as a delicious dessert. You need to prepare:

granulated sugar – 100 grams;
melon – 700-900 grams;
filtered water – 200 milliliters;
watermelon – 700-900 grams;
freshly squeezed orange juice – 50 milliliters.

First of all, you need to prepare all the ingredients. Wash the melon, dry it, remove seeds and unsuitable fibers. Grind the pulp in a meat grinder or food processor. Repeat similar steps with watermelon.

Combine the watermelon-melon mixture and mix thoroughly.

Let's move on to preparing the syrup. Pour the filtered liquid, freshly squeezed orange juice into a suitable container, add granulated sugar. Place on the stove and bring to a boil, stirring regularly. Remove from stove, cool.

Pour the cooled syrup into the puree and stir. Divide the resulting mass into containers. Place in the freezer until completely frozen.

For consumption, the dessert is taken out 10-15 minutes in advance so that the mass has time to defrost a little.

Ice cream pieces

Freezing berries in pieces is easy and simple. Rinse the melon and dry it. Cut into equal parts. Remove seeds and unusable fibers, as well as peel. Chop the pulp into pieces. Place on a food tray, having previously covered it with cling film.

The pieces must be placed at the same distance. Place in the freezer and freeze for 24 hours. Then put it in a separate bag and place it back in the refrigerator.

How to properly defrost melon preparations

It is recommended to defrost at room temperature, after placing it in a colander. If the berry is in a bag, then carefully place it on a plate and put it in the refrigerator overnight, on the lowest shelf.

To quickly defrost, you can use the following method. Having taken out the package with the product, place it in another bag. Place in warm water and defrost until completely softened.

It is strictly prohibited to immerse frozen berries in water without a bag, as the ingredient loses its taste and nutrients.

If the berry is required for cooking, then there is no need to defrost the product first. Otherwise, the ingredient will lose all its positive properties.

How long is it stored?

The quality of the product and its shelf life directly depend on the degree of freezing. At a temperature of -6, storage of frozen fruits is allowed for 7-14 days. If -12 degrees - from 4 to 6 weeks, and at -18 you can preserve melon for up to 1 year.

The lower the temperature in the chamber, the faster you can freeze the berries, therefore, the result after defrosting will be good.

The process of freezing berries and fruits is considered a difficult job, which requires careful preparation. It is important to study in detail all the subtleties and advice from experienced specialists, as well as detailed recipes. Harvesting tasty and juicy berries will delight adults and small children in winter.

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Which variety is suitable?

Melon varieties have a strong aroma that does not disappear even after the freezing process. The richer the taste of the fruit, the better.

Varieties with soft and watery pulp should not be used. Once defrosted, they will turn into tasteless mush.

How to choose the right melon

For freezing, you need to choose a fleshy berry with crispy pulp. The correct melon has a peel with a cracked pattern. The melon should be very sweet and aromatic.

Mistake #1: Freezing watery melon varieties. Such melons do not tolerate freezing well, and as a result turn into shapeless porridge.

To learn how to choose the right melon, watch the video from Svetlana Chernova - Rules for choosing ripe and sweet melon

Preparing the ingredient for freezing

At home, you can freeze melon yourself; the main thing is to know how to prepare it correctly.

The melon needs to be thoroughly rinsed under water and dried with paper towels. Cut; Using a large spoon, remove seeds and coarse fibers. Separate the pulp from the skin.

For freezing, it is recommended to use small containers. This is convenient and economical, since you don’t have to defrost a large amount of melon.

For storage, it is recommended to choose the following types of containers:

freezer bags with special fasteners;
food-grade plastic containers with a tight lid.

Standard freezing option

Large pieces cannot be stored in the freezer. They will freeze unevenly and, as a result, the product will turn out soggy.

Wash the wooden cutting board with soap and additionally pour boiling water over it. Cover it with a plastic bag or film, place the slices at a short distance from each other, thereby preventing the product from freezing into a single lump.

After 24 hours, when the ingredient is completely frozen, it is carefully poured into a storage container.

Frozen in sugar syrup

To create a delicious and aromatic dessert you need to prepare:

melon – 1.3 kilograms;
filtered water – 500 milliliters;
granulated sugar – 0.5 kilograms.

Prepare the melon, chop the pulp into small pieces.

Place them in a thin layer in a container, where they will freeze ⅔ of the volume. Fill with syrup, but not completely.

We freeze it overnight. That's it - the product is ready for use.

In powdered sugar

In order to preserve the sweetness of the melon, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the following original recipe. Taken:

fragrant melon;
powdered sugar.

Rinse the berries, remove the skin and internal, unsuitable for food, seeds and fibers, chop the processed pulp into cubes.

Place on a cutting board, having previously covered it with cling film. Place the prepared pieces on it and sprinkle generously with powder.

Place in the freezer, leaving to freeze completely for 24 hours. Pour the frozen product into storage bags and put it back in the freezer.

Are there any other ways to freeze melons for the winter?

Sugar syrup or sweet fruit juice will help preserve the melon pulp in its original form. To prepare the syrup, take water and sugar in equal parts, heat the mixture, stirring until the sugar dissolves and the liquid boils.

Melon slices, placed in a container for freezing, are filled with chilled syrup, closed and placed in the freezer. The same applies to juice, which is pre-mixed with sugar. Watermelon, pineapple, orange and peach juice go well with melon.

If you want to add sweetness to a melon frozen on a tray using the “dry” method, the slices are dipped in powdered sugar and only then laid out on trays and placed in the cold.

If the melon grown on your own plot turns out to be too soft and juicy, you should not give up the idea of freezing it. The peeled slices are crushed in a blender and the resulting puree is placed in containers for freezing. If the pulp is not sweet enough, you can add sugar or honey. Based on such a product, it is easy to prepare healthy, thirst-quenching ice cream and all kinds of desserts.

Homemade melon sorbet

To prepare an original homemade delicacy for all family members, you will need a sweet, ripe melon, which is washed, cut, seeds removed and cut into small cubes.

For 6 servings of dessert take:

1 cup of sugar;
1 glass of water;
4 cups melon pulp, diced;
a little lemon or orange juice, to taste.

Cooking method

A syrup is made from sugar and water, for which, stirring the liquid, bring it to a boil over low heat. Then the syrup is removed from the heat and cooled.
Melon cubes, cooled syrup and lemon juice are mixed in a blender until a smooth, airy puree is obtained.
The resulting puree is placed into containers, leaving a couple of centimeters to the edge, and frozen.
To prevent large ice inclusions from forming in the sorbet, the thickened mass is stirred again as it freezes.

It is better to keep the finished sorbet at room temperature for several minutes before placing it in bowls.

If the delicacy is prepared for adults, you can use sweet varieties of white or sparkling wine instead of syrup.

Little ones with a sweet tooth will love sorbet with creamy yoghurt. In this case, you can sweeten the dessert with powdered sugar, and it would be a good idea to add pieces of candied melon or watermelon to the freezing mixture.

Freezing melon puree

Soft melon can be pureed and frozen for long-term storage. The dessert looks original and unusual.

Prepare the berries: rinse, dry, remove unedible parts and peel. Cut into slices and puree in a blender until pureed. The consistency should be uniform, without lumps.

Is it possible to freeze melon?

You can freeze almost everything: vegetables, fruits, and berries. But watermelons and melons are rarely frozen, since they contain a large amount of moisture. AiF.ru learned from Sergei Sokolov, Candidate of Agricultural Sciences, scientific director of a selection and seed production enterprise for vegetable and melon crops, which melons need to be frozen and how to do it correctly.

“Everything can be frozen for storage, the only thing is that it needs sharp freezing at a low temperature. There are different varieties of melons. For example, in those that have very dense pulp, the cell walls ripen during storage. And there are melons with very tender pulp, they have very delicate walls that contain juice. For them, quick freezing is the only way. If you just freeze it, the pulp will spread and become unsuitable for food,” says the expert.

According to him, it is better not to freeze melons, but to buy varieties with a later ripening period. “There are varieties that stay in the field for 120 days, and then about another 90 must hang in a special container, and only then become edible. That is, for almost 210 days, almost the entire season, you can eat fresh melon. You just need to use and grow different varieties,” adds Sokolov.

The most common melon variety in Russia is Lada. This is a mid-season variety with dense pulp, which makes it easy to transport.

“This variety occupies huge areas in the country. This melon's fruits grow within the range of two and a half to three kilograms. Since the variety has dense pulp, the melon can be transported; this variety turned out to be universal. After harvesting, a week later, it only becomes tastier: the pulp acquires a more juicy and sugary taste,” explains the specialist.

Frozen halves

Airy dessert

In addition to these recipes, melon can be frozen as a delicious dessert. You need to prepare:

granulated sugar – 100 grams;
melon – 700-900 grams;
filtered water – 200 milliliters;
watermelon – 700-900 grams;
freshly squeezed orange juice – 50 milliliters.

First of all, you need to prepare all the ingredients.
Wash the melon, dry it, remove seeds and unsuitable fibers. Grind the pulp in a meat grinder or food processor. Repeat similar steps with watermelon. Combine the watermelon-melon mixture and mix thoroughly.

Pour the cooled syrup into the puree and stir. Divide the resulting mass into containers. Place in the freezer until completely frozen.

For consumption, the dessert is taken out 10-15 minutes in advance so that the mass has time to defrost a little.

How to freeze watermelon in the freezer

It is worth keeping in mind that as a result of freezing, the pulp will lose its structure. Therefore, after defrosting, it will not look like a fresh, crispy watermelon. But it can be added to cocktails, baked goods, jellies and other desserts, as well as made into popsicles or ice cream.

There are many options for freezing watermelons. Let's talk about the simplest ones.

Freezing watermelon into cubes or balls is one of the fastest ways. Wash the watermelon thoroughly and wipe dry. Cut into 2 or 4 parts. If you decide to make cubes, you need to remove the peel and chop the pulp. As you cut, it is advisable to remove any seeds that come across. If you want to make watermelon balls, you will need an ice cream scoop. The finished pieces should be laid out on a cutting board or tray so that they do not touch each other, and placed in the freezer for 2-4 hours. If your refrigerator has a fast freeze mode, you need to use it. When the pieces are frozen, they need to be separated from the board or tray with a knife or wooden spatula and transferred to a plastic container or bag. In this form at a temperature of –18°C, watermelon can be stored for up to 12 months.

Freezing with sugar will preserve the sweetness of the watermelon. The prepared watermelon pieces should be sprinkled with regular white sugar at the rate of 200 grams of sugar per 1 kilogram of berries. Mix gently with your hands or a spoon. There is no need to pre-freeze the watermelon. You can immediately put it in a bag or container and put it in the freezer.

Freezing in syrup is another tasty option for preserving watermelon. You need to add 400-450 grams of sugar to 1 liter of water. Bring to a boil over moderate heat and wait for the sugar to completely dissolve. After this, leave the syrup to cool to room temperature. At this time, prepare the watermelon pieces. Place them in a container, pour syrup so that it completely covers the watermelon. Close the container with a lid and place in the freezer.

Freezing with juice will give the watermelon a piquant flavor. Place the pieces in a container and pour in orange or pineapple juice so that it completely covers the watermelon. It is better to use freshly squeezed juice without added sugar rather than packaged drinks. Close the container with a lid and place in the freezer.

Frozen watermelon juice is great for cooling drinks. Grind the watermelon pulp in a blender, strain the juice through several layers of gauze, and then pour into an ice tray. Place in the freezer for a day. After this, the pieces can be transferred to a bag or container. Use for drinks instead of regular ice.

Now you know how to freeze watermelon for the winter. If you have a large freezer, then, having mastered these basic recipes, you can experiment on your own, coming up with new recipes for freezing this delicious berry and further use.

Ice cream pieces

The pieces must be placed at the same distance. Place in the freezer and freeze for 24 hours. Then put it in a separate bag and place it back in the refrigerator.

Is it possible to freeze melon for the winter: reviews

Suvorova Ekaterina Vladimirovna, 29 years old, Vladivostok

I used to freeze berries and fruits for the winter. Recently, a friend suggested the idea of making melon-based desserts. Melon sorbet is now in particular demand in our family. It turns out to be a very tasty and natural delicacy. For children I make it based on yogurt, and for adults I can add a few drops of alcohol.

Pilipchuk Irina Nikolaevna, 48 years old, Moscow

Melon is a very healthy product. I often eat it during snacks, and add it to oatmeal in the morning. And in winter I try to cook compotes more often. They are in great demand here. That's why I always have prepared fruit in my refrigerator. After defrosting, it does not lose any of its taste.

Mironov Alexey Mikhailovich, 56 years old, Ekaterinburg

After reading one interesting article, I decided to freeze the melon for the winter. Feedback from people said that the process was not at all labor-intensive. In fact, this is exactly what happened. The only thing I would like to note is that the taste of fresh melon is much richer and more interesting. But for winter this option is quite suitable.

How to properly defrost melon preparations

To quickly defrost, you can use the following method. Having taken out the package with the product, place it in another bag. Place in warm water and defrost until completely softened.

It is strictly prohibited to immerse frozen berries in water without a bag, as the ingredient loses its taste and nutrients.

If the berry is required for cooking, then there is no need to defrost the product first. Otherwise, the ingredient will lose all its positive properties.