Melons can actually be frozen!? Explanation of freezing methods, storage period, and usage recipes!

Did you know that melons, which are known for their juicy flesh and melty sweetness, can actually be frozen?

It's hard to imagine from the way they are usually sold, but melons can be frozen and preserved.

In this article, we explain how to freeze melons, how to ripen them as trivia, and recipes to enjoy frozen melons with photos.

This is the perfect way to preserve ripe melons for a long time, so read on!

Trivia about melons

Have you ever had the experience of leaving a melon you bought and having it gradually become more fragrant and soft to the touch?

This is a phenomenon called "ripening."

Just as a green banana turns yellow with each passing day, as the fruit ripens, it becomes softer, sweeter, and ready to eat.

Ripening melons is easy to do at home, but there are some minimum rules that you must follow, so I will introduce them in this article.

How to ripen melons

The method for ripening is very simple.

`` Put it in a well-ventilated place in the shade.'' That's all.

The important thing is
1. avoid direct sunlight
2. Place it in a well-ventilated, shaded area that is not damp.
3. Store at room temperature
is.

If you follow these rules, the melon will ripen.

There are some things you shouldn't do.

That is, "store it in the refrigerator."

If you put it in the refrigerator, the enzymes inside the melon will stop working. This will stop ripening and result in a melon with less sweetness.

*Please store melons that have been ripened in the refrigerator or freezer. If you leave it as is, it may become overripe (=too ripe) and lose its flavor.

How to identify a ripe melon

It is difficult even for professionals to tell whether a melon is ripe or not, and there is no 100% reliable method.

However, by making full use of our five senses such as sight, smell, and touch, even we ordinary people can gauge the timing of maturation to a certain extent.

Below are some tips for determining when a melon is ripe.

Appearance:
The water has been removed from the melon vine, making it dry and thin.
(It is preferable that the roots are not completely shiny, but that some green remains at the base.)

scent:
It has a sweet melon scent.

touch:
The side opposite the vine is soft (it feels hard and firm when harvested).

Hitting sound:
When you tap it, it makes a rather low sound (such as a "bom-bon").
(If you hit the melon while placing your ear on it, the sound will be easier to hear.)

Signs like these are key to determining when it's ready to eat.

So far, I have introduced the process of ripening melons. However, there may be some people who cannot eat all the food because it is so large.

If you can't eat all the melons, we recommend freezing them. Here we will show you how to freeze melons with photos.

How to freeze melon

cut and freeze

1. Remove the seeds and cotton from the melon and cut it into appropriate sizes.
2. Freeze in Tupperware or freezer bags.

[Freeze more deliciously]
To freeze it more deliciously, you need to freeze it quickly. For this purpose, use metal trays or aluminum foil.

Line a metal tray with plastic wrap, line up the melons, cover with more plastic wrap, and put in the freezer.

After 2-3 hours, transfer to Tupperware or a freezer bag to store.

Thawing method and storage period

How to thaw melon

It is best to use frozen melons either frozen or partially thawed.

A semi-thawed state is a state where the inside remains frozen and only the surface is melting. Depending on the season, leave it at room temperature for about 10-30 minutes until it is partially thawed.

If it is completely thawed, it will not only become mushy and lose its texture, but also lose its umami and sweetness. Therefore, if you want to thaw it, it is best to stop at half thawing.

Storage period of melon

The approximate shelf life of frozen melons is 2-3 weeks.

Delicious way to eat frozen melon

fresh juice

Source: https://cookpad.com/recipe/4626949

☑材料（2人分）
・冷凍メロン　1/2個
・牛乳　200cc
・練乳（なければ砂糖）　大さじ1

<How to make>
1) Place the frozen melon, milk, and condensed milk in a blender or juicer and mix to complete.

★If you don't have condensed milk, you can substitute it with sugar.
★Add about 10cc of fresh cream to make it richer.

Melon and banana ice cream (using Yonanas)

Source: https://cookpad.com/recipe/4644133

☑材料
・冷凍メロン　1/2個
・冷凍バナナ　2本

<How to make>
1) Peel and freeze not only melons but also bananas.
2) Cut the frozen fruit into pieces that will fit into the Yonanas.
3) Add melon and banana alternately to Yonanas and make ice cream.

★No sugar is used as it brings out the sweetness of the banana (use according to your preference).

melon mousse

Source: https://cookpad.com/recipe/4652287

☑材料（2人分）
・冷凍メロン 1/2個
・砂糖　10g
・レモン汁　小さじ1
・無糖ヨーグルト　50g
◆生クリーム　100g
◆砂糖　10g
●ゼラチン　5g
●水　大さじ2

<How to make>
1) Defrost the frozen melon and puree it using a mixer or blender.
2) Soak the gelatin in water.
3) Add 10g of sugar, lemon juice, and unsweetened yogurt to (1) in that order, add the gelatin from (2), and mix while pouring over a hot water bath.
4) Mix the ingredients ◆ and whip the cream for 8 minutes until stiff.
5) Add the fresh cream from (4) to (3) in three parts and mix thoroughly.
6) Pour into a cup and chill in the refrigerator for about 2 hours.

easy smoothie

Source: https://cookpad.com/recipe/4521509

☑材料（１人分）
・冷凍メロン　150g程度
・無糖ヨーグルト　100g
・砂糖　適量

<How to make>
1) Thaw the frozen melon halfway and mix it with a mixer.
2) When it becomes smooth, add yogurt and sugar until it reaches your desired sweetness.

★In addition to sugar, it is also delicious to add honey.

melon pudding

Source: https://cookpad.com/recipe/4574397

☑材料（180ccのカップ5個分）
・冷凍メロン　1/2個
・牛乳　200cc
・卵　3個
・砂糖　50g

<How to make>
0) Pour about 1cm of water on a baking sheet and preheat the oven to 160℃.
1) Defrost the frozen melon and make it into a coarse puree using a blender.
2) Put milk and (1) in a pot, and once it boils, turn off the heat.
3) Put eggs and sugar in a bowl, add liquid from (2) and mix.
4) Remove bubbles from the surface using kitchen paper and pour evenly into a heat-resistant cup.
5) Place in the oven and bake for about 20-25 minutes, remove from heat, and cool in the refrigerator to complete.

Conclusion

How do you store melons in the freezer?

The method was simple; all you had to do was cut it into the appropriate size and freeze it. If you want to preserve the taste and freeze it, place it on a metal tray and then put it in the freezer.

If you want to thaw it, use it frozen or partially defrost it. The approximate storage period is 2-3 weeks.

Although it is strictly prohibited to cool melons before ripening, melons that have been ripened can be frozen.

``If you don't eat it quickly, it will become overripe, but you can't eat it all.'' If this happens to you, please try freezing.