As a summer fruit, watermelon is supposed to be sweet, juicy and bursting with flavor. However, it can be disappointing when you cut into a watermelon only to find it is bland and tasteless. While there’s no way to instantly improve the flavor of a watermelon that is already lacking, there are some tricks you can try to salvage a tasteless watermelon and make it a little more palatable.
Why do some watermelons lack flavor?
There are a few reasons why a watermelon might end up being tasteless:
- It was picked too early before the sugars had time to fully develop. Watermelons need plenty of time on the vine to reach peak ripeness and flavor.
- It’s a varietal that is naturally less sweet. Some types of watermelon have been bred to emphasize traits like disease resistance, shape or color over flavor.
- It experienced too much rain or not enough sun while growing. Lack of sunlight can result in lower sugar content.
- It was stored at temperatures that were too cold. Cold storage can degrade flavors and cause watermelons to lose their taste.
- It’s simply past its prime. Watermelons start to lose their sweetness and flavor soon after being cut from the vine.
So while it’s disappointing, a tasteless watermelon is usually due to factors out of your control and not necessarily a sign of poor quality.
Tips for improving a tasteless watermelon
While you can’t miracle a bland watermelon into being sweet and delicious, there are some tricks to mildly improve the flavor:
Add a little salt
Sprinkling a pinch of salt over watermelon can help enhance and bring out the natural flavors. The salt helps mask any bitter notes and makes whatever sweetness there is more perceptible. Just don’t overdo it.
Try a salty-sweet combo
Make a simple watermelon salad with some feta cheese and fresh mint. The salty feta cheese contrasts nicely with the melon and mint adds a fresh pop.
Turn it into a slushy
Blend up watermelon chunks with some lime juice and a bit of honey or simple syrup. The tart lime and touch of sweetener enhances the watery melon. Pour into popsicle molds for a frozen treat.
Pickle it
Pickling watermelon rind can transform even the blandest melon into something new and delicious. There are many recipes out there for things like watermelon rind pickles, or even using the pickled rind in place of cucumbers.
Infuse it with flavor
Make watermelon infused water by adding slices of watermelon plus ingredients like mint, cucumber, berries or citrus fruits to a pitcher of water. Allow to infuse overnight in the fridge. The watermelon will absorb some of the flavors.
Roast it
Roasting concentrated the natural sugars and flavors. Toss watermelon chunks with a bit of olive oil, spices like cinnamon or cardamom, and roast at 400F for about 15 minutes.
Juice it
Watermelon juice can help dilute and mask the lack of flavor. Blend the watermelon with some lime, mint and ice for a refreshing drink. Or add to smoothies along with other fruits and flavors.
Grill it
The dry heat of the grill concentrates the melon’s sugars and caramelizes the surface. Brush slices with honey beforehand to encourage more browning and flavor.
Candy it
Simmer chunks of peeled watermelon rind in a simple syrup mixture for an hour until candied. The sugar syrup soaks into the melon, sweetening it through.
Pickle the rind
While the flesh may be lackluster, the rind can be transformed through pickling. Try quick-pickling watermelon rind with aromatics like garlic, chilies, ginger and spices.
Add texture
If the watermelon is Crack open some raw pistachios, roasted almonds or sunflower seeds. Add a garnish of toasted coconut flakes too. The chewy nutty crunch helps compensate for the unimpressive melon. You can also try adding pops of texture with pomegranate arils or soft sweet cubes of jello.
Choose watermelons wisely
While you can’t guarantee a watermelon’s flavor before cutting it open, here are some tips for picking a ripe, sweet melon:
- Look for a creamy yellow spot instead of white or green. This is where the melon sat on the ground and ripened.
- Pick up the melon and check it is heavy for its size.
- Rap it with your knuckles – a hollow sound means an overripe melon.
- Press gently on the skin – it should give slightly but not be overly soft.
- Avoid melons with bruises, dents or moldy spots.
The variety of watermelon also makes a difference. Some sweeter types include Sugar Baby, Jubilee, or heirloom varieties like Moon & Stars, Congo or Stone Mountain.
Store watermelon properly
Proper storage preserves freshness and extends the shelf life of pre-cut watermelon:
- Refrigerate watermelon immediately after slicing. The cold helps retain moisture and nutrients.
- Rub a little lemon juice on cut surfaces – this prevents oxidation.
- Seal tightly in an airtight container or bag, squeezing out excess air.
- Consume refrigerated slices within 5 days.
- Freeze watermelon chunks or cubes to preserve them long term. Keeps for up to 6 months frozen.
Make the most of tasteless leftovers
If you end up with leftover tasteless watermelon, here are some ideas for using it up:
- Add to smoothies, letting other fruits and flavors mask the watermelon.
- Blend into cold soups like gazpacho or watermelon soup.
- Puree and strain to make watermelon juice.
- Infuse into water or make into frosé (frozen wine slushy).
- Toss into a fruit salad.
- Simmer into a compote with spices and sweeteners.
- Pickle the rind.
- Feed to pets, chickens or livestock who will appreciate it.
Conclusion
While a disappointing watermelon can’t be magically improved, there are small tricks to mildly enhance the flavor. Combining it with salty, sweet, sour or crunchy ingredients helps compensate for the lack of flavor. Proper choosing, storage and using the entire melon can help prevent waste. But sometimes you just end up with a dud – don’t let it discourage you from trying again next time!