We bought a non-sweet watermelon - 8 recipes for what to do with it

Watermelon season is in full swing! But unfortunately, sometimes it happens that the purchased watermelon turns out to be not at all sweet. Both children and adults will most likely refuse to eat it. But don't throw away your purchase?

Of course not! Even if the purchased watermelon turns out to be not sweet, you can prepare a large number of different tasty and healthy dishes from it. Moreover, in most of them the sweetness of this berry does not play any role.

Therefore, you should not throw away a purchased watermelon that is not sweet. Today I will tell you about what you can cook from it. And you can choose for yourself what you like best.

Not sweet grilled watermelon

Typically, meat, fish, poultry or seafood are cooked on the grill. But few people prepare watermelon in such a simple and at the same time tasty way. But if you bought it not sweet, then this recipe can be called a real salvation.

What you will need:

• Watermelon – 1 kg.
• Lime or lemon juice - one and a half tablespoons.
• Honey - one and a half tablespoons.
• A tablespoon of vegetable oil.

How to cook

A piece of watermelon weighing 1 kg must be cleared of seeds and then cut into triangles, the thickness of which will be about one and a half centimeters. There is no need to peel the skin of the fruit.

Mix all the ingredients for the marinade in a bowl. They should turn into a homogeneous mass. The most convenient way to do this is with a whisk.

We heat up the grill, place all the necessary components, which is the watermelon and the marinade, in close proximity.

Coat each watermelon slice with marinade using a silicone brush and place it on the grill on this side. Fry without turning for about 10 minutes.

Then brush the other side with marinade, turn over and fry for another 10 minutes.

Serve hot immediately after preparation.

This kind of watermelon is just for the trash!

Do you think that watermelon is tasteless because it is unripe or picked at the wrong time, and taste is its only problem? But not always. My nephew’s wife, an infectious disease specialist, told me how people are often poisoned by watermelons pumped with chemicals. Even people are in intensive care. So these watermelons can be identified by taste. Although they are red, they are completely unsweetened, with large veins, watery, with a taste of acetone or something unpleasant, sour. It’s better not to cook anything with them, but to throw them away immediately (I don’t even recommend using them in a compost bin).

It goes without saying that all of the dishes listed can be prepared from ripe and juicy watermelon. It will turn out even tastier. But personally, I don't see the point in this. Sweet watermelon is simply ideal fresh, straight from the refrigerator, and in the heat... mmm. But the tasteless one is perfect for cooking.

Unsweetened watermelon salad with feta cheese

Salads can be different, including with watermelons. I suggest you prepare one of these wonderful and tasty options that will not leave indifferent anyone who prefers light and low-calorie dishes.

What you will need:

• Watermelon – 500 g.
• Feta cheese – 200 g.
• Basil leaves.
• Olive oil – a tablespoon.
• Balsamic vinegar.

How to cook

Peel the watermelon pieces from seeds, remove the rind and cut into cubes.

Wash the basil leaves and chop finely.

Place in a salad bowl, drizzle with olive oil and drizzle with balsamic vinegar.

Cut the feta cheese into small cubes, place in a salad bowl, and mix.

Place the finished dish in the refrigerator for 20 minutes, and then serve immediately.

How does nitrate poisoning manifest?

Nitrates are used as fertilizers for rapid plant growth and fruit ripening. But if the watermelon is not yet ripe, the nitrates do not have time to be processed and end up in the stomach. A small amount of nitrates will not harm a healthy adult, but severe intoxication can occur if the digestive system is malfunctioning or in childhood. And if there are a lot of nitrates in watermelon, no one can avoid poisoning.

When nitrates are retained in the body, they combine with hemoglobin. The result is methemoglobin, which is unable to carry oxygen. The result is oxygen starvation (hypoxia). Nitrate poisoning can cause reactive pancreatitis and exacerbation of chronic diseases.

The following signs indicate nitrate poisoning:

• The skin and mucous membranes turn pale, become bluish, and in severe poisoning - purple.
• Hands and feet are cold.
• Pulse is weak.
• My head is spinning.
• Convulsions may occur.
• Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea appear.
• There are pains, cramps and colic in the abdomen.
• The most dangerous symptoms are yellowing of the whites of the eyes, bitterness in the mouth and fainting.

During the off-season, the risks of buying a watermelon full of nitrates are much higher, but even in August you should carefully inspect the fruit before purchasing and eating it.

The following signs indicate that the watermelon is not ripe:

• Watermelon with nitrates will not crack when squeezed.
• A good watermelon should have a dry stem and a clear yellow spot on the side - a sign that the fruit has been lying on the ground for a long time and ripened. In a “nitrate” watermelon, the spot may be absent or white.
• Inside, the fruit of an “unhealthy” watermelon is riddled with thick yellow veins. The color of the pulp may be too bright and even have a purple tint.
• The pulp of a good fruit should be “sugar” when cut, and a “nitrate” watermelon should be smooth when cut.
• If you dip a piece of pulp into water and it turns bright pink, you have a “nitrate” watermelon.

Symptoms of bacterial poisoning

Bacteria penetrate into the watermelon pulp through holes or multiply in it as a result of spoilage of the product.

Symptoms are similar to other food poisoning:

• Nausea appears, leading to vomiting.
• There is discomfort, seething, and gas formation in the intestines.
• Diarrhea develops.
• Blood pressure decreases and pulse slows.
• Body temperature rises.
• Headache.
• There is pain in the abdomen in different places.
• Weakness and chills occur.
• Aching joints.

To avoid poisoning from spoiled watermelon, it is important to follow the following rules:

• You need to purchase the aromatic delicacy away from roads and only in reliable places where there is a canopy. Fruits should be stored on racks.
• The peel of the fruit should be intact, there should be no holes or cuts on it. Do not buy already cut fruits and do not ask the seller to cut the watermelon to check its ripeness.
• Watermelon should not be soft.
• Smell the fruit; it should not have a sour smell.
• Remember that you can store sliced ​​watermelon in the refrigerator for no more than 1-2 days.

Fruit jelly made from watermelon pulp with an interesting presentation

A very interesting option for those who accidentally bought a non-sweet watermelon. And we will serve the finished fruit jelly in the watermelon rind itself. Therefore, you will not feel any disappointment from such a purchase.

What you will need:

• One watermelon.
• Chocolate chips or chocolate bar.
• A packet of gelatin.
• 100 g sugar.

How to cook

Cut the watermelon into two parts. Remove all the pulp, but in such a way as not to damage the crust. The easiest and most convenient way to perform this manipulation is with a spoon.

Place the pulp in a saucepan, after removing all the seeds. Sprinkle with sugar and put on fire. Once the mixture is hot, add the gelatin packet. Mix everything so that the gelatin dissolves.

Pour the hot mixture over the prepared watermelon crusts, then put it in the refrigerator to harden completely. Before serving, sprinkle grated chocolate on top.

Terms and conditions for storing watermelon

The harvest can be stored in the refrigerator, room conditions or cellar. The shelf life of the product depends on the option chosen:

1. Fridge . In general, at a temperature of +3...+6°C, the fruits are stored for 1.5 to 3 months. However, storage in this format requires rather refrigeration chambers. If the product has already been cut, it can only be stored in the refrigerator. The shelf life in this case is no more than 3 days.
2. Room conditions . In its entirety, the product will last 4-5 weeks. The berries require a low air temperature of +16...+18°C. Storage rooms are ideal. It is better not to keep the cut fruit at room temperature for more than 4 hours.
3. Cellar . The harvest is stored in a dark basement for 3-4 months. Before storing it, it is important to adjust the microclimate in the room. Keep the temperature at +3...+6°С, humidity 65–85%. There must be a ventilation system in the cellar to avoid fungal infections.

Important! During long-term storage, turn watermelons periodically. It is better to stack them so that the fruits do not touch each other.

Unfortunately, there is no point in leaving unripe berries to ripen at home. However, the problem can be avoided - you just need to know the distinctive characteristics of ripe watermelons. Having studied the above recommendations, the reader will definitely make the right choice and enjoy the juicy fruit.

A simple watermelon drink, even if it's not sweet

Watermelon is refreshing, mint is cooling, and frozen banana tastes like ice cream. This smoothie is not only refreshing, but also rich in vitamins.

For two servings you will need:

• 2 cups chopped watermelon
• 8 medium sized strawberries
• 1 banana, sliced ​​and frozen
• mint leaves

If you don’t have strawberries, it doesn’t matter, you can do without them. You may need to add water in this case. Or you can experiment and add, for example, cherries to your smoothie!

If you want your drink to become a real vitamin bomb, add spinach leaves - however, in this case you won’t get a beautiful pink color.

The preparation process is incredibly simple - put all the ingredients in a blender, mix until smooth, pour into a beautiful glass and enjoy!

Features of preparation

Barrels are made of plastic, wood, stainless steel, and durable glass. It is better to use wooden containers. They need to be washed with water and scalded with boiling water.

Use watermelons weighing no more than two kilograms

The fruits should be placed in even rows two-thirds full in the barrel. The brine should be poured a couple of centimeters above the stacked watermelons. The fruits are covered with a wooden circle to prevent them from floating.

After preparation, the barrels should remain in the house for several days. Juice will be released from them, which will mix with the brine. You can top up the brine that has evaporated and cover the barrel with gauze and then a lid.

Watermelon and redcurrant jam

If this year you weren’t able to harvest a large enough harvest of apples or berries, but you still have red currants, then you can safely prepare a real yummy treat with just three ingredients!

What you will need:

• A kilogram of watermelon pulp.
• A kilogram of red currants.
• 600 g sugar.

How to cook

Wash the currants well, pour into a saucepan with a thick bottom, add sugar, stir.

Peel the watermelon pulp from seeds and peel, cut into cubes and mix with currants in a saucepan.

Place on the stove and bring to a boil. Cover with a lid and simmer over low heat for about 40 minutes, stirring from time to time.

Transfer to the table and let cool. Then pass through a sieve to remove all the red currant seeds.

Pour into sterile jars and roll up. Store exclusively in the refrigerator.

Did you buy an unripe watermelon? Dont be upset. You are very lucky!

And the sellers tell legends about how hot this summer has turned out to be everywhere... And we believe - we also have temperatures of over 40... But still, it seems like it’s too early. It seems like they can’t ripen so quickly. Yeah, we know they can’t. But I want to... And so we buy, buy... We ate one, threw the other away, ate it again, threw it away again...

And how would it be... not cheap, however, you understand. And suddenly I started scolding myself. Lord, how many tasty things can be made out of tasteless things! How could I forget about such an opportunity!

And things started to boil. The whole family got involved - everyone wanted to feel like cooks.

Photo: Depositphotos

Salted watermelon is an excellent snack to go with vodka (I don’t drink, but I have a husband, and he has friends!).

I made the brine the same as in the recipes for pickling cucumbers, and now it’s ready. Don't pull your ears! And we ate everything with potatoes. The children said that it tastes much better than cucumbers and tomatoes.

Moreover, they themselves brought me from the garden:

• horseradish leaf and its root;
• cherry leaves (4-5 leaves);
• currant leaves (4-5 leaves);
• oak leaves (1−2 leaves);
• they pulled the garlic out of the garden and put it together with the “head” in a three-liter jar;
• salt was taken from a jar on the table (2-3 tablespoons);
• they threw allspice;
• well, and some cold water from a well...

The watermelon, which was still tasteless, was cut into beautiful red cubes 5 by 5 centimeters. Greens were placed at the bottom of the jar, watermelon on top, filled with water, pressed with a weight (you can insert, for example, a glass of water into the neck of the jar, or you can pickle it in a large saucepan or even in a barrel). Well, we wait 2-3 days, after a day we put our jar in a cold place.

Wow and Wow! Crunchy, strong, salty! Delicious! The husband, he says, his friends conveyed their respects for the noble snack with vodka - they relaxed here on Saturday in the bathhouse, as expected. Try it and you will thank you!

Everything goes into use - both the pulp and the rinds Photo: Depositphotos

And I also felt sorry for throwing away the crusts... Well, that’s how we made these candies! Candied fruit. How to cook them?! Yes, easily! Remember the recipe, friends. You will delight the children with homemade sweets for tea.

Trim off the top green layer, cut the rest into cubes, add cold water, bring to a boil, boil for 15-20 minutes.

Make sugar syrup in ratio to the weight of the crusts 1:1.2. That is, a little more sugar. Boil the syrup and dip the crusts into it. Cook over low heat after boiling for 15 minutes, then turn off the gas and let the candied fruits steep for 8-10 hours.

After 8-10 hours, turn on the gas again and boil for about 15 minutes. And insist once more so that they are well soaked, and boil again (repeat 2-3 times).

Now place on parchment paper, sprinkle with sugar and let dry. Store in a jar with a lid to prevent it from drying out too much.

Photo: pixabay.com

Bon appetit! I wish you to buy a not very tasty watermelon!

Today we will buy oranges and make homemade sweets from orange peels. Well, of course, we’ll definitely tell you later. Honestly!

Tags: watermelon, candied fruits, recipe, pickles recipes, homemade sweets

Why you can’t eat watermelon until it’s crusty

Melon farms have officially opened in Moscow. In total, there are about 230 retail outlets in the city, and more than 400 in the region. Juicy fruits will be brought to the capital from Astrakhan, Rostov, Krasnodar and Dagestan. A kilogram of watermelon will cost an average of 30–40 rubles, melon - from 50–60 rubles, depending on the variety.

Experts advise not to be too overzealous when eating watermelon. Most fruits are grown using pesticides. These are chemicals used to control plant pests and diseases. In large quantities they can cause poisoning.

Toxins are most often stored in the peel, affecting the pulp itself. Typically, the lesion extends 2–3 centimeters from the edge of the crust. Therefore, it is better not to finish eating the watermelon. Ilya Filin, an infectious disease doctor at the 2nd department of Infectious Clinical Hospital No. 1, spoke about this.

Some pet owners give the crust with leftover watermelon pulp to their beloved dog. You can't do this! Pesticides and nitrates in large quantities cause intestinal infections not only in humans, but also in animals.

Ilya Filin

infectious disease physician

To maintain health, you should also not cut an unwashed watermelon. The rind of the berry may contain hazardous chemicals. Therefore, before eating, the fruit must be rinsed under running water using a sponge or stiff brush.

For the same reason, you should not try watermelon at the market. Do not agree if the seller offers you to cut it “for testing”. Do not buy fruit that has already been cut. Most likely, the peel was not washed before cutting ,” said Ilya Filin.

Advisor to the head of Rosselkhoznadzor Alexey Alekseenko, in a conversation with News.ru, gave another piece of advice on choosing a watermelon: it is better to buy medium-sized fruits than very large ones.

A watermelon that is too small may not be ripe. Large - there is a possibility that it was grown with a large amount of nitrates. The optimal fruit size is 3–4 kilograms. Most likely, it will be more natural.

Alexey Alekseenko

Advisor to the Head of Rosselkhoznadzor

You can get poisoned from watermelon even if you initially bought a high-quality fruit. It may become hazardous to health during storage. Experts say: cut watermelon should not be kept in the refrigerator for more than 12 hours. Sweet pulp is an ideal environment for bacteria to multiply, and you can easily get an intestinal infection. The best option is to eat the entire watermelon at once.

Sweet pulp is not only tasty, but also healthy. Chief nutritionist of the Moscow Department of Health Antonina Starodubova explained that sweet fruits contain a lot of liquid, but at the same time have a diuretic effect. This is the prevention of edema. Watermelons also contain trace elements - potassium and zinc.

At the same time, the nutritionist warned: it is undesirable to combine watermelon with certain foods. For example, it is better not to eat the pulp with sweets - chocolate, marmalade, candies. It is also better not to eat watermelon in combination with tomatoes.

Watermelon is also a sweet thing. The abundance of simple carbohydrates in one serving increases the risk of digestive disorders. As for tomatoes, they, like watermelons, have a higher content of lycopene. Exceeding the norm of consumption of this substance also threatens digestive problems.

Antonina Starodubova

Chief nutritionist of the Moscow Department of Health

The expert explained that watermelon can be eaten either as a separate dish or instead of dessert. A healthy person can eat 700 grams of pulp at one time. If you have problems with the digestive system, it is better to reduce the single serving to 500 grams.

How to choose the right watermelon and how much to eat so as not to get poisoned?

The 20th of August is the mass start of the watermelon season. If until this moment many were afraid to buy a summer delicacy, fearing unripe or chemical-filled specimens, then towards the end of the month even the most cautious begin to buy striped berries. But are all watermelons safe now? How to choose the right watermelon and how much can you eat without getting poisoned? Let's try to figure it out.

Why are watermelons dangerous?

According to Rospotrebnadzor, so far in Voronezh since the beginning of the season, laboratory analysis has not revealed a single watermelon in violation of hygiene standards. According to the former head of the regional department of Rospotrebnadzor, Mikhail CHUBIRKO , who worked as the chief sanitary doctor of the Voronezh region for more than 20 years, in all his many years of practice, he never encountered a single laboratory-proven pure watermelon poisoning - that is, from those chemicals contained in the berries. Most often, according to him, poisoning occurs if a person bought a watermelon from the ground, did not wash it, cut it with a dirty knife and ate it with dirty hands. However, all doctors agree that nitrates were and remain the most dangerous in watermelons. This is a consequence of nitrogen fertilizers, which many farmers overfeed watermelons so that they ripen faster. Early watermelons contain the most nitrates. The closer to autumn, the safer the berries.

What to do in case of poisoning?

“Nitrates themselves are slightly toxic, but in the body they turn into nitrites, which disrupt the transport function of the blood by binding hemoglobin, the carrier of oxygen to tissues,” says gastroenterologist Alevtina BYKOVA. — Hypoxia occurs—oxygen starvation of tissues. Signs of nitrate poisoning are weakness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea. Blood pressure decreases, breathing quickens, and temperature rises. Symptoms appear 1 to 6 hours after nitrates enter the body. In case of poisoning, call an ambulance. Before her arrival, perform gastric lavage yourself - drink the maximum number of glasses of water (the water needs to be salted) and induce vomiting.

How much watermelon can you eat without harming your body?

The maximum permissible content of nitrates in watermelon is 60 mg/kg. The watermelon you see in the photo, for example, contained 300 mg/kg. But this does not mean that you cannot eat it at all. It all depends on how much you eat. The permissible daily intake of nitrates for humans should not exceed 5 mg per 1 kg of body weight. A human body weighing 70 kg can safely process up to 350 mg of nitrates per day. That is, such a person can eat up to 6 kg of normal watermelon, and about 1 kg of nitrate watermelon (containing 300 mg/kg). But this is provided that, apart from watermelons, the person will no longer eat anything nitrate. And nitrates are found in almost all products, as they are present in the environment, including water.

Remember that nitrates accumulate unevenly in watermelon. The most poisonous pulp is that of the rind, which is about 3 cm thick, so it is better not to eat the watermelon all the way to the rind.

Watermelon calculator “Yo!”

KNOW:

If you bought a low-quality watermelon, you can complain about the seller to the Rospotrebnadzor hotline 8-800-200-47-32.