Freezing Watermelon and Grapes - Be Frugal and Healthy

Watermelon and grapes are two fruits that tend to get wasted. Why? I think it's because watermelon and grapes come in large quantities. Usually spoilage occurs because the fruits are not used in a timely manner. Can we become more frugal? Yes. By freezing watermelon and grapes. Not only is this going to save you money in the long run, it is also going to provide you with healthy snacks all year!

Freezing Watermelon

After you have cut your watermelon and eaten all that you want, you can freeze it. Freezing watermelon takes little time but it's so easy. You can dice, slice or chunk your watermelon into pieces. I usually just chunk mine. You can also mash it into a slush and freeze it.

You can lay the pieces out on a cookie sheet (covered by wax paper), set them in the freezer and bag the frozen watermelon in freezer bags. Be sure you label and date the bags. I usually don't take time to use this method. I chunk my watermelon into rather large pieces. I loosely fill a quart or pint freezer bag with the pieces. I take them to the freezer and let them freeze solid. Don't stack the bags. Try to spread them out so that they freeze quickly.

Frozen watermelon pieces are meant to be eaten while frozen or partially frozen. The pieces will be mushy if you let them thaw completely before eating them. I grab a bag of frozen watermelon chunks to eat while watching TV in the evening. We also use them when we are sick. The cool chunks are refreshing and healthy when dealing with sore throats, colds, etc.

You can toss the frozen watermelon into a blender and make a great slush. Add a little yogurt or ice cream and a watermelon smoothie is at your fingertips!

Freezing Grapes

Grapes are so easy to freeze. It's a very quick process. I only freeze seedless grapes. I really pay close attention to washing the grapes. Non organic grapes are one of the most sprayed fruits. Here we go!

Remove grapes from stems and wash well. Then set your grapes in a colander or dry them with paper towels. Some people spread the grapes out on cookie sheets. Freeze them hard and then bag them in freezer bags.

Again, I usually just wash and dry my grapes and put them straight into a freezer bag. Label and date. See how easy it is to freeze grapes? Just pull a few out and you have a great snack!

Freezing watermelon and grapes like this helps keep you frugal in the kitchen. Much less waste. It also allows you to take advantage of sales and a plentiful garden. I pack a few watermelon chunks or grapes in my husband's lunch bag. They are frozen hard when I put them in, by first break they are partially frozen and ready to eat!

ALWAYS check with your extension office.

Sources:
my own experience