get word how to wash your favorite summertime yield .
Annie Schlechter
Key Takeaways
Watermelon is a fan - favorite summertime yield for good reason : It ’s light and refreshing , and it can be made into a variety of seraphic treat like lolly , slushes , and sorbet . But before you dig in , you need to take one necessary stone’s throw : According to Stephanie Barlow , the senior director of communications for the Watermelon Board , you should always , alwayswash your watermelon vine beforeslicing into it .
" Anything that watermelon has tint before it got to your counter is directly on the outer rind , " she say . " Watermelons are grown on the primer coat , packed into composition board bins , ship and sold , and then make it to your shopping cart , where I ’ve seen people put children and babies . Whatever is on the outside of the melon rind you will shortly be cutting into … so absolutely moisten that watermelon vine . "
Barlow says because watermelon has waxy skin , it ’s not likely every piece of soil or dust it touch will make it to your kitchen countertops — but you should still moisten them for honorable amount .
Credit:Annie Schlechter
Stephanie Barlowis the senior director of communication theory for theWatermelon Board .
Blaine Moats
How to Wash a Watermelon
The most effective way to wash a watermelon is also the most simple : Wash it with water in the sink . While it may seem awkward to wash a great piece of fruit this way , it ’s easygoing than you think . Start with aclean , empty swallow hole , and place your watermelon deep down . Barlow says to wash off the watermelon vine under cool urine , take concern to circumvolve it around to get the entire surface . Barlow says if you observe any spots with dirt , utilise a parazoan or brushwood to scrub it off . Pat it teetotal with paper towel .
There ’s another flying and easy way to wash a watermelon if you do n’t have fourth dimension to wash it in the sinkhole : " If you’reout at a picnicand you did n’t wash your watermelon first , you’re able to absolutely use cleanup wipes as well , " Barlow says . " Whether they ’re hand rub or surface cleaning wipe , they ’ll get the job done . If there ’s any dampness , dry off fully with a fair table napkin or newspaper towel . "
Barlow say there ’s no motivation to skip lap your watermelon even if it ’s too large for your sink . She suggests using wet paper towel to pass over down the intact watermelon vine , and practice a sponge or bush brush with water to scrub away any soil . Pat the watermelon vine wry with paper towels when finished .
Credit:Blaine Moats
How to Cut and Prepare Watermelon Safely
Just like washing , it ’s very authoritative tocut and make your watermelonwith handle . accord to Barlow , the Watermelon Board follow and recommends four corefood safety practices : neat , separate , cook , and chill .
The sportsmanlike principle have in mind strip not only your watermelon vine but also your hands , knives , and other utensil before cut into and preparing the fruit . The separate precept stands for separating watermelon and other swerve surfaces to prevent crossing - contamination .
For the cooking principle , while Citrullus vulgaris is n’t often cooked , Barlow says the prescript matters . " Cook is n’t as important for the watermelon itself since it ’s fresh green groceries , but if you ’re prepare it with any proteins , the cookery temperatures are important , " Barlow says . Lastly , Barlow recommendschilling cuts of watermelonto keep it as fresh and snappy as potential .
