Watermelon is a refreshing, juicy fruit that is enjoyed by many during the warm summer months. While watermelon can be eaten on its own and enjoyed just as it is, some people like to pair it with other foods. However, there are certain foods that do not complement watermelon well and should be avoided when eating this fruit.
Dairy Products
Dairy products like milk, cheese, yogurt, and ice cream tend to coat the tongue and make it difficult to properly taste the sweet flavor of watermelon. The creaminess of dairy overwhelms the delicate watermelon flavor. Additionally, the cold temperature of dairy dulls the senses. Watermelon should be consumed at room temperature or slightly chilled in order to fully experience its crisp, sweet taste.
Here is a list of dairy products that should not be eaten with watermelon:
- Milk
- Cheese
- Yogurt
- Ice cream
- Cream cheese
- Sour cream
- Butter
- Whipped cream
It’s best to avoid pairing any of these dairy products with fresh watermelon. The dairy fat coats the tongue and masks the subtle flavors of the melon. Watermelon is best experienced on its own, without the distraction of dairy.
Milk
Milk is one of the worst offenders for pairing with watermelon. The creamy texture and high fat content completely overwhelm the juicy watermelon flesh. Even reduced fat milk contains enough fat and protein to coat the mouth and mask watermelon’s delicate sweetness.
Ice Cream
Ice cream is another dairy product that is far too heavy and rich to properly enjoy with watermelon. The high sugar and fat content makes it impossible to taste the nuanced flavors of the fruit. Additionally, the frozen temperature of ice cream numbs the taste buds, making the watermelon taste bland in comparison. Watermelon is best consumed chilled, but not frozen.
Meat
Meat is another food category that does not pair well with watermelon. The heavy, fatty textures of meat are incompatible with the light, refreshing quality of watermelon. Additionally, the savory umami flavor of meat competes with and overwhelms the sweetness of ripe watermelon.
Here are some types of meat that should be avoided when eating watermelon:
- Beef
- Pork
- Chicken
- Turkey
- Lamb
- Duck
The rich, fatty qualities of these meats diminish the bright, crisp notes of fresh watermelon. The juiciness of the melon gets lost when paired with chewy, savory meats. For the optimal watermelon experience, it’s best to avoid eating it with any kind of meat.
Beef
Beef is one meat that is particularly overpowering when consumed with watermelon. Whether it is a grilled steak or a hamburger patty, the smoky, umami flavors of beef tend to completely mask the taste of watermelon rather than complement it. The fat in beef also coats the tongue, leaving no room for appreciating the subtle sweetness of watermelon.
Chicken
Like beef, chicken is too savory and meaty to properly enjoy with watermelon. Even if the chicken is boneless and skinless, it does not have the light flavors needed to pair well with juicy watermelon wedges. The texture of shredded or diced chicken is also incompatible with the crisp watermelon flesh.
Spicy Foods
Fresh watermelon has a very subtle sweetness and flavor profile. When you eat watermelon, the melon itself should be the star of the show. For this reason, spicy foods like hot sauce, chili peppers, curries, and salsas do not make good pairings for watermelon.
Here are some spicy foods that overpower watermelon:
- Hot sauce
- Chili peppers
- Curry dishes
- Salsa
- Cajun seasoning
- Chili powder
- Horseradish
- Wasabi
The intense heat from these foods makes it impossible to properly taste the melon’s flavor. Your taste buds become overwhelmed by the spice rather than experiencing the subtle sweetness of the watermelon. Avoid pairing watermelon with anything spicy so the melon can be the star.
Hot Sauce
Drizzling hot sauce like Tabasco or Sriracha over watermelon creates an unpleasant experience for the taste buds. The vinegary heat and intense spiciness completely overpowers the watermelon, making it difficult to appreciate the melon’s nuances. Just a few drops of hot sauce can render watermelon unpalatable.
Chili Powder
Like hot sauce, sprinkling chili powder on watermelon overwhelms the delicate fruit. Whether it’s cayenne, ancho chile, or red chili flakes, the intensity of chili powder leaves your mouth on fire rather than tasting the juicy sweetness of watermelon. Just a pinch of chili powder can dominate the entire watermelon eating experience.
Citrus Fruits
Citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruits have very strong, tart flavors that tend to overwhelm watermelon rather than complement it. The sour acidity of citrus overpowers the subtle sweetness of watermelon, making it impossible to properly appreciate the melon flavors.
Here are some citrus fruits that should be avoided when eating watermelon:
- Oranges
- Lemons
- Limes
- Grapefruits
While the juiciness of citrus fruits is similar to that of watermelon, the intense tartness throws off the melon’s delicate flavor balance. Even just a small squeeze of lemon or lime juice can make the watermelon taste unnaturally sour.
Lemon Juice
Adding lemon juice to watermelon, whether squeezing it over top or mixing it into a watermelon salad, creates an unpleasant clash of flavors. The tart, acidic lemon juice makes the sweet watermelon taste sour and metallic. Just a teaspoon or two overwhelms the delicate melon.
Limes
Like lemons, limes also have an intense tartness that does not complement watermelon well. Lime zest, lime wedges, lime juice – they all tend to give watermelon an artificial, candied lime flavor. Fresh watermelon needs no extra flavors when it’s ripe.
Salty Foods
Salt is another flavor that can easily become overbearing when paired with watermelon. A trace amount of salt brings out watermelon’s subtle sweetness, but too much salt overpowers the fruit. Avoid heavy doses of salt and salty foods when eating fresh watermelon.
Here are some salty foods that don’t pair well with watermelon:
- Potato chips
- Pretzels
- Salted nuts
- Olives
- Feta cheese
- Salami
- Soy sauce
- Salted caramel
The high sodium content in these foods ends up masking the delicate natural sugars in the melon flesh. The combination of salty and sweet ends up muddling both flavors. Allow the melon’s simple sweetness to shine by avoiding salty pairings.
Soy Sauce
Drizzling soy sauce over watermelon completely overpowers the fruit’s flavor. Just a teaspoon of soy sauce is enough to give watermelon an unpleasant artificial salty taste. Soy sauce may complement some fruits in small amounts, but not watermelon.
Salted Nuts
Salted nuts like peanuts, almonds, cashews and pistachios do not make good toppings or mix-ins for watermelon. The granular salt and nutty oils cling to the juicy melon, masking its subtle flavors. Keep the salt and nuts away from fresh watermelon.
Rich Desserts
Watermelon itself has a light, refreshing sweetness. Pairing it with rich, decadent desserts tends to create flavor clash instead of harmony. Stick to eating watermelon on its own away from heavy cakes and sweets.
Here are some rich desserts that overpower fresh watermelon:
- Cheesecake
- Ice cream cake
- Tiramisu
- Tres leches cake
- Cream puffs
- Custard
- Pudding
The intense sweetness and heaviness of these desserts compete with the delicate melon flavor instead of working in harmony. The refreshing quality of the watermelon gets lost next to dense, sugary desserts. For the best results, enjoy watermelon solo.
Cheesecake
Cheesecake makes an exceptionally poor pairing for fresh watermelon. The crumbly, dense texture combined with the intense sweetness and fat completely overwhelms the juicy melon flesh. Even just a bite of cheesecake will leave your palate unsuitable for appreciating the subtle watermelon flavors.
Custard
Like cheesecake and ice cream, custard does not complement the flavor of watermelon. The rich, creamy egg and dairy mixture coats the mouth and leaves it impossible to properly taste the delicate melon. Pairing watermelon with custard desserts diminishes the eating experience.
Alcohol
Watermelon’s light, refreshing qualities are best enjoyed on their own. Paired with alcoholic drinks, the subtle flavors become impossible to distinguish. The bitterness and astringency of alcohol tends to clash with juicy watermelon rather than enhancing it.
Here are some alcoholic beverages to avoid when eating watermelon:
- Beer
- Wine
- Whiskey
- Gin
- Vodka
- Tequila
- Rum
The complex flavors of these alcoholic drinks compete with the delicate melon notes, making both the watermelon and the alcohol less enjoyable. Drink alcohol separately from eating watermelon for the best results.
Beer
Carbonated beers create an unpleasant mismatch of flavors when consumed with watermelon. The effervescence and bitterness of beer distracts from the melon’s sweetness. Even light beers contain enough hops to leave a bitter aftertaste that ruins the watermelon experience.
Wine
The astringent qualities of both red and white wine do not make them good pairings for watermelon. The tannins create a drying sensation in the mouth that makes the melon taste bland and flavorless. Even sweet dessert wines overpower watermelon’s delicate sugars.
Pungent Cheeses
Strong, pungent cheeses compete with fresh watermelon instead of complementing it. Soft, mild cheeses can be delicious with watermelon, but avoid intense blue cheeses, aged cheeses, and powerful goat cheeses. The potent aromas mask the melon’s subtle flavors.
Here are some pungent cheeses to avoid when eating watermelon:
- Blue cheese
- Feta
- Goat cheese
- Gorgonzola
- Aged cheddar
- Pecorino
- Romano
- Parmesan
The sharpness and saltiness of these cheeses do not make them good matches for juicy slices of watermelon. Let the watermelon be the star and avoid pairing it with these assertive cheeses.
Blue Cheese
Blue cheese crumbles are far too pungent and salty to be an appropriate complement for watermelon. The potent aroma and sharp taste diminish the melon’s delicate sweetness. Even a small amount of blue cheese overwhelms the watermelon.
Feta Cheese
Briny, salty feta cheese tends to completely overpower fresh watermelon when paired together. The distinctive strong flavor prevents you from properly tasting the subtle melon notes. Try a mild fresh mozzarella or ricotta instead.
Conclusion
Watermelon is a wonderful fruit to enjoy on its own during hot summer days. While many foods can complement watermelon nicely, there are certain ingredients that clash with the melon’s delicate flavors. Avoid dairy, meat, spicy foods, citrus, salt, rich desserts, alcohol, and pungent cheeses when eating fresh watermelon. By keeping the watermelon solo, you can properly savor its refreshing sweetness and juicy texture.