Watermelon juice

Watermelon juice that’s refreshing, naturally sweet and satisfying. It is a perfect beverage on a hot day, after a workout, or any time you want to refresh yourself. With its high water content, watermelon is a perfect fruit for juicing. The fact that it tastes delicious is a great reason you should be making it at home.

Of course, eating watermelon is a great way to enjoy it, and we can’t dispute its great taste, texture and versatility. Turning the fruit into juice is really simple and offers an option for those who are looking for a terrific beverage.

Benefits of watermelon

Watermelon is one of the best thirst quenchers and can be an instant remedy to treat sunstroke & heat during summer. It has a moisture content of up to 92% so it can instantly hydrate us.

It is a great food after exercise or exertion because it is high in potassium which our body needs to recover.

Watermelon is high in lycopene, which gives it its beautiful red color. It’s an antioxidant that protects our body from free radicals which otherwise can harm the healthy system.

Watermelon is also a good source of vitamin C, Vitamin A, biotin and many other nutrients.

About this recipe

While enjoying the pure taste of watermelon in a beverage is nice, my recipe uses lemons, salt, sugar, ground black pepper, mint leaves (optional) and ginger (optional). Beyond flavor, these additions contribute other health benefits.

Lemon, for example, increases the amount of vitamin C, while adding an acidic note that brightens this juice considerably. It is a natural boost for your immune system.

Beyond adding a bit of heat to the watermelon juice, black pepper is believed to enhance the absorption of certain nutrients, as well as further improving digestive health.

Ginger contributes anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It is used to treat a variety of digestive issues, such as nausea, while helping to fight colds and flu.

Fresh mint is also good for digestion and brings a fresh flavor to your watermelon juice while freshening breath.

Cold pressed watermelon Juice vs Blender juice

Watermelon, with its high percentage of water, is a great choice for juice. If you happen to have a slow juicer, this process will be super easy. It is notable that slow juicers retain more nutrient content in the juice since they do not produce as much heat as a fast juicer, making it a great choice for optimal health benefits.

Alternately, you can easily make watermelon juice in your home blender. Simply prepare the fruit and blend on high speed until completely liquefied. You can strain it through a fine mesh strainer if you like, but it really isn’t necessary. It is healthier to consume the juice with its pulp as it has fibre content.

How to pick a watermelon

Selecting a watermelon is quite easy if you look for the following. First of all, the watermelon should feel heavy for its size. This is an indication that it is going to be very juicy when you cut it.

Second, check out the color of the underside of the watermelon. It should have a yellow spot where it rested in the field. This is an indication of how ripe it is. Avoid a watermelon that has a white field spot as this indicates insufficient ripening in the field which will translate to a less-sweet melon.

Third, a ripe watermelon should have a deep sound when you hit it with your hand. If the watermelon has a hollow or flat sound when tapped, it’s likely overripe and should be avoided.

Finally, choose a watermelon that has a uniform shape and has a firm feel. It should not yield to pressure or scratch easily which is an indication that it may be overripe.

How to cut watermelon

I have found 2 easy ways to cut a watermelon. The first method I have shown below in the step wise pictures is also the most efficient way to deseed the watermelon. The second method is good for seedless watermelon.

1. Rinse watermelon under running water and pat dry or air dry. Cut the watermelon to 2 parts. You can also chill the whole melon if you prefer chilled juice.

2. Then cut each part to 4 quarters.

3. Slice each quarter to 2, again roughly running through the lines on the watermelon.

4. Scoop out the seeds gently with a knife.

5. Mine had a lot of seeds, so I had to slice them further and then deseed.

6. You can easily cut the flesh from the rind. If you prefer cold juice, put the cut watermelon in the freezer for 30 mins or in the fridge until chilled.

How to make watermelon juice

7. Rinse and wipe dry the lemon. Cut it to parts and peel a small piece of ginger if you want to use it. Clean mint leaves as well if you prefer.

8. Add all of them to the blender jar along with any sweetener if you prefer. We don’t add any sweetener or ice cubes or water. Some blenders can’t blend without any liquid. In that case start with only a handful of watermelon cubes and blend first or pour half cup chilled water. Then add the rest later.

9. Blend it until smooth & frothy.

Pour watermelon juice to serving glasses and top with black pepper or chaat masala.

The best time to enjoy watermelon is when it is fresh. Enjoying a glass of delicious watermelon juice is a great way to hydrate while replenishing essential minerals. It is something you will feel good making at home and serving to your family and friends.

If you have excess watermelon juice, pour it to freezer safe cups or popsicle moulds or ice trays and freeze it.

Method 2

Begin by slicing the top and the bottom of the watermelon, cutting deeply enough to expose some of the red flesh. At this point, rest the melon on your cutting board on one of the cut ends to prevent it from rolling around.
Beginning at the top with a large knife, make a long cut from top to bottom, following the curved shape of the watermelon. This should remove the outside of the melon (skin & rind) and expose the red flesh.

At this point, continue to make cuts around the outside of the watermelon, from top to bottom, removing the green and white rind so that only the red flesh remains.

Once you have a completely peeled watermelon, you can cut it in half down the middle. This will expose some of the seeds. At this point you can cut the watermelon in order to expose the seeds which tend to run the length of the flesh.

Using a spoon, you can easily remove the seeds. From this point, you can continue to cut the fruit into smaller pieces which can be eaten or juiced, according to your needs.

More Fruit juice recipes
Pomegranate juice
Orange Juice
Grape juice
Apple juice
Amla juice
Dry dates juice

Faqs

Can you freeze watermelon?

One way to keep uneaten watermelon is to cut and freeze it. While the result will not be desirable if you plan to eat the watermelon, you can use it for juice. It is worth noting that it won’t be quite as delicious as fresh watermelon in season.

How to store watermelon?

An uncut whole watermelon can be stored at room temperature for 7 to 10 days in a well ventilated cool place. In order to preserve its freshness, it is best to cut and eat it within a week or two for optimal freshness, flavor, and texture.

How to store cut watermelon?

If you plan to refrigerate the cut fruit, you can also also keep the skin and rind intact and wrap it in a cling wrap. The other way is to cube the flesh of the watermelon and store in an air tight glass containers. This way they keep good for 2 to 3 days.

Can you eat watermelon seeds?

It just so happens that watermelon seeds are edible. While they are low in calories, they do offer small traces of nutrients like zinc, magnesium, and iron.

So we don’t mind including a few seeds in our juice as well. I don’t deliberately add the seeds though but a few here and there are just fine for us. I rarely remove the white seeds as they are too tender and delicate to remove them out.

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Recipe card

This watermelon juice recipe was first published in April 2015. Updated and republished in March 2021.