Get the info you need about freezing watermelon and learn how to use it, like in Watermelon Popsicles, the perfect refreshing healthy summer treat.
Did you buy a giant watermelon at the store and realize after a few days there’s no way you and your family can eat it all fresh? Don’t throw out that leftover watermelon! I’ve got everything you need to know to enjoy wonderful watermelon even when the summer is long over.
Can You Freeze Watermelon?
Yes, you can! Freezing watermelon is a great option so that none of this delicious fruit goes to waste. A large whole watermelon is often a lot to get through, especially if you have a small household. But it’s usually a much better deal than buying already cut melon at the store.
Once cut, you only want to keep fresh watermelon in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. If the flesh starts to get slimy or have an off smell, it’s time to toss it. But go ahead and buy that giant melon, then freeze part of it in the first couple days to enjoy a taste of summer later on in the year.
Keep in mind though that because of the high water content (about 92%!), it won’t be the same after freezing if you were to thaw it. It will end up more of a pureed texture if thawed completely, which is fine if you’re throwing it into a smoothie, but not if you wanted a nice fruit salad.
How To Freeze Watermelon
First, think ahead to how you’re going to be using it. That will determine how you cut the fresh watermelon. You can freeze the fruit in chunks, use a melon baller to create evenly sized balls, or simply cut them into wedges like I’ll show you for popsicles.
Whatever shape you decide on, you’ll want to remove the rind and any black seeds you find before they go in the freezer.
Start with a flash freeze to make sure your watermelon doesn’t end up a solid frozen chunk. To do this, lay out your watermelon pieces in a single layer on a baking sheet. Lining the tray with parchment paper can be helpful so they don’t stick. Put in the freezer for 2-4 hours till they are partially frozen.
At this point, remove the melon from the baking sheet and move them into freezer bags or a freezer-safe container for long term storage. The frozen watermelon will last in the freezer for about 8 months.
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Uses For Frozen Watermelon
There are lots of great options! You can partially thaw your melon in the fridge for easy snacking, but it won’t have the same texture as when fresh. You can also partially thaw your watermelon if you are just throwing it in the blender to enjoy as watermelon juice.
If you cut your melon into balls or small cubes, you can add them still frozen to a drink to act as delicious fruity ice cubes.
One of my favorite options is to blend frozen watermelon chunks into a refreshing watermelon smoothie or frozen cocktail. Try this Watermelon Slushie that has options to add alcohol or maybe watermelon mint margaritas.
You could also turn the melon into a dessert like a sorbet or watermelon granita.
And of course, there’s watermelon popsicles which I explain below.
How To Make Watermelon Popsicles
If you’re like me, you want something healthy, easy, and satisfying for snacks for the kids. I came up with frozen watermelon on a popsicle stick. While there are popsicle molds available to make frozen treats of any flavor, this makes it even simpler for you.
Cut watermelon into slices, trim off the rind, insert stick, and freeze. No sugar or anything else added (except the popsicle stick, of course).
I hesitate to actually give a recipe since that’s all there is to it. But in case you want really explicit instructions on how to cut the watermelon, the recipe is below.
Podcast Episode About Freezing Watermelon
Listen to me explain briefly about how to prepare watermelon to be frozen, along with some other great tips, by clicking the play button below:
Listen to more Recipe of the Day episodes here.
Print
Frozen Watermelon Popsicles
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 24 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Freezer
- Cuisine: American
DESCRIPTION
So easy! Put watermelon onto sticks and freeze. Easiest popsicles ever.
Ingredients
- Half of a seedless watermelon
- Popsicle sticks
Instructions
- From your watermelon, cut off one half moon of a slice about 3/4 inch thick. Trim off the rind, poke off any pale seeds that are showing and then cut the slice into 3-4 triangles.
- Lay one triangle of watermelon on a cookie sheet. Slide a popsicle stick in at least halfway (I slide mine into the curved edge where the rind used to be but it doesn’t really matter where you stick it as long as it goes at least halfway in and is completely surrounded by watermelon).
- Repeat with remaining watermelon until you have as many popsicles as you’d like (note that they can’t be touching while they freeze or they become hard to break apart. So only make as many as you have space for on cookie sheets in your freezer).
- Spread the slices out on the cookie sheet so that they’re not touching. Freeze on the cookie sheet for 3-4 hours, until frozen through.
- Eat or wrap watermelon popsicles individually in plastic wrap and return them to the freezer where they’ll keep for 5-7 days.
This post originally appeared in May 2012 and was revised and republished in August 2022.
I’ve never thought to turn watermelon into popsicles, but I do like using frozen watermelon for blender drinks.
I love freezing watermelon. We use it for so many things throughout the summer, and can still enjoy into the fall.
That’s fantastic, Dawn! Thank you for sharing.
A perfect summer cooler!
I think so too, Angie! Enjoy!
Great! I’ll make this popsicle as soon as I can!
Fabulous! Hope you enjoy them!
I am grateful for the explicit instructions on how to get triangle wedges.
Planning a birthday party last minute and trying to figure out how to make them the right shape was becoming a challenge with everything else going on. THANK you!
I thought it was pretty good! I hope TB does more innovate freeze flavors. If they will take a big gamble and do a pumpkin spice freeze. Or even apple pie freeze. Maybe peppermint freeze flavor!
This is a genius idea! I don’t know why I didn’t think of this, especially since I LOVE eating frozen fruit. Watermelon is my favorite. I can’t wait to try. I wonder if it works to soak the popsicles in an adult beverage before freezing hehe! ?
Melissa, I bet it would work! If you try it, let me know :)
My kids love to eat fruits. This recipe is something new to them and I think they will love this. thanks for sharing!
Why do people have to be so mean?
Hi Christine ~ Some people get grumpy when they are overheated. It’s an awesome idea and if you make money per view GOOD FOR YOU. I googled it and found you. I pureed watermelon and froze it. I did the same with fresh strawberries; and fresh pineapple. Super easy; fresh fruit; puree in blender, pour into molds, freeze. No added sugar or preservatives; Low cal and perfect when it’s so hot you can’t eat other food. The pineapple, watermelon or strawberry pops are 18 calories each @ 9 calories per ounce of puree. Canned fruit in 100% fruit juice works too. So does unsweetened or cinnamon applesauce. When you consider what frozen fruit bars cost at the market this is also extremely economical. I live in So CA and hate summer but love frozen popsicles, all year round. Cheers!
Theresa, thanks for the great ideas!
i can’t believe you made a “recipe” for putting sticks in fruit. i’m so very glad that i have an adblocker and you get no money from my view.
Actually, there is a bit more to it than that. First of all, not just any fruit works this way. Some freeze solid such that you can’t even bite them. Discovering that watermelon slices freeze to exactly the right icepop consistency was pretty cool. Also, I timed how long they took to freeze. And after they were frozen, I wrapped them up and tested them every couple of days to see how long they continued to stay tasty. Anyhow, my kids really love this treat and every time we have a summer party I make these for the kid guests and they all love them too. It might just be fruit on a stick but it’s fruit on a stick that kids really love and I thought it was a neat discovery.
Chris, where do you get popsicle sticks?? I’ve been looking for them for our homemade “corn dogs” as well, and the best I’ve been able to substitute are coffee sticks (same shape as a popsicle stick but flimsy).
These come from the craft section of Target. I bought them ages ago for a craft, threw away the packaging and kept them in a ziplock bag. Now I find myself wondering if they were even food safe!?!?! But I bet Michaels and Joannes have them too, and they’d definitely have food safe ones. Worth trying Walmart also.
Why have I not thought of this? So easy, so good, and it should make the watermelon last longer, right? (I sometimes end up throwing some away because after a few days in the fridge we just get watermeloned-out.)
That’s EXACTLY what made me think of it. I was pureeing watermelon to make juice to freeze into popsicles because I knew we weren’t going to get through it all. And then I was like, “It’d be so much easier if I didn’t have to puree it first. Hey wait. Do I have to puree it first.” Inserted sticks and had popsicles a couple of hours later. Yay!
Love this idea—I have to give this a try the next time I buy a watermelon!
I haven’t tried it myself but I’ve heard that soaking the slices in a bit of rum before freezing is a nice twist! I think you guys would like that :).
Now that is one refreshing summer treat!
For sure!
Ok, if there was any doubt (which there really wasn’t) about your sheer brilliance then this recipe has settled it. Will ‘make’ these tonight!
I’m usually pretty modest but I have to agree that discovering this felt like sheer brilliance. I was amazed at me. I even googled around and couldn’t find anything like them online so I felt even more amazing. But then after posting it I’ve heard from many people about how they’ve been doing this for years. I even found an alcoholized version online. So brilliant, maybe. Original, not as much as I thought! Oh well. They’re still delicious and still make both J and me happy so all is well.