Watermelon is a very refreshing and hydrating fruit. The sweet fruit is the summer favorite for many people. There are many ways to enjoy watermelon, be it cut into cubes or slices, as a salad or processed to juice. I’m going to share with you how to make watermelon juice at home the easiest way: without unnecessary fuzz and without creating a mess in your kitchen.
Contents
What Makes a Good Watermelon Juice?
Picking a good watermelon is what it takes to make the tastiest watermelon juice. Watermelons taste best when they are fully ripe, during peak season. In the Northern Hemisphere, May to September is watermelon season. In warmer climates, the season might already start in April and extend into October. Be sure to select a good, ripe watermelon. Avoid watermelons which are unripe or overripe as they won’t produce the same taste.
For me, a good watermelon juice consists of 100% watermelon. No added sugar, no lemon, no herbs, nothing. Just watermelon.
Like many other fruits, watermelons are naturally sweet and high in water content. In fact, watermelons consist of about 92% water. That said, watermelon juice is a fantastic way to keep you hydrated during hot summer months.
Last but not least, the right technique of processing the vibrant red flesh into delicious red juice is important too. That’s what you’re going to learn today.
Ingredients & Equipment
Here’s a list of ingredients and equipment you need to make watermelon juice at home.
- Watermelon: As mentioned before, all you need to make the best watermelon juice is a good, fully ripe watermelon. Pure juice tastes the best, trust me. Read my tips on how to pick a good watermelon.
- Cutting board: A sturdy cutting board to cut the watermelon on.
- Chef’s knife: A large chef’s knife (e.g. santoku knife) is needed to cut a watermelon. That’s especially true for large watermelons weighing 7 kilos (15 lbs) and more.
- Smoothie maker: The cut watermelon pieces will be processed into juice by machine. I strongly recommend that you use a smoothie maker for this. If you have a food processor, you might have various bowls in your set. Look for the tall one. The lid of a smoothie maker is typically designed to prevent liquids from leaking or spilling while running.
- Fine-mesh colander: During the blending, the flesh and the seeds will be blended into a fine texture. Some of the seeds will be as finely blended that you won’t even notice them. Others will have a coarse texture. For the best watermelon juice, you’d want to sieve them out. To do so, you need a fine mesh-colander.
- Large bowl: Any large bowl that you have in your kitchen will do it.
- Bottle: A glass bottle or smoothie bottle to store and cool your watermelon juice in.
Note: Quantities can be found in the recipe card at the end of this recipe and can be adjusted according to the amount of servings you’d like to make.
How to Make Watermelon Juice
Ready to make delicious watermelon juice at home? Let’s get started!
Step 1: Cut the watermelon in half
There are several techniques to cut a watermelon. Whether you’d like to process the entire watermelon into juice or just half of it (and snack the other half), this technique will work out wonderfully.
Place the watermelon on a cutting board in front of you. Cut off the stem ends and dispose of them. Then, slice the watermelon in half.
Step 2: Cut off the rind
Place the first watermelon half on the cutting board. Slice off the rind by cutting down towards the board. Remove the rind and the white flesh. Make small cuts at a time so you don’t accidentally remove too much of the red flesh.
If you want to use the other half of the watermelon the following day, keep on the stem end and the rind and store the watermelon in the fridge.
Step 3: Roughly chop
You now have one large chunk of peeled watermelon in front of you. To make it easier for your smoothie maker, roughly chop the watermelon into smaller pieces. Since you’ll be processing it into juice, it doesn’t matter how good they look. Make a few cuts lengthwise (horizontally) and vertically to get cubes. Transfer them into your smoothie maker.
Step 4: Blend into juice
Turn on the smoothie maker and let it run for about 2 minutes to make sure all your watermelon chunks have transformed into juice. Keep an eye on the process. It’s important to add small chunks of watermelon to the blender. If they are too large or get stuck, turn off the smoothie maker and break down any large chunks. Always turn off the blender to “troubleshoot” – never put a knife or your hand into the running blender.
Step 5: Sieve
To bring your watermelon juice to the next level, the next step consists of sieving it. During this step, we’ll sieve out any seeds that have a coarse texture after blending. Place a large clean bowl in your kitchen sink. Place a fine-mesh colander on top. Slowly pour the watermelon juice in the sieve. The juice will pass through the colander into the bowl, while the coarse seeds remain in the colander. You might need to stir with your hands or a spoon in between to help the juice flow through. Dispose of the seeds and the flesh in the colander. Pour the watermelon juice from the bowl into a bottle.
Step 6: Cool and serve
To maximize the taste, cool the watermelon juice in the fridge for a couple of hours before serving. It will be even more refreshing when chilled. If you can’t wait, you can also start drinking right away (add some ice cubes).
Make Ahead & Storage
Watermelon juice tastes best the day of juicing it, as well as the next. That’s because the taste and the quality of the juice may decrease over time. It can be stored in the refrigerator for about 3 to 4 days. Always shake well before consuming.
I don’t recommend freezing watermelon (for the sake of the taste), but cut watermelon as well as watermelon juice can be frozen for up to 2-3 months.
Recipes with Watermelon
Watermelon is often enjoyed as a refreshing snack on its own. It also makes a great addition to salads and smoothies. Here are some more recipes with watermelon:
- Watermelon cubes (great for snacking or salads)
- Watermelon feta salad with mint
- Watermelon with grilled halloumi
Any Questions or Feedback?
If you liked this recipe, I’d appreciate it if you could leave a star rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ below. In case you’ve any questions or feedback, please leave me a comment (down the page). I’m happy to help you make delicious Middle Eastern food at home.
Learn Middle Eastern Cooking
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Watermelon Juice
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 watermelon large
Instructions
- Cut the watermelon in half, removing the stem ends.
- Place the first watermelon half on a cutting board and slice off the rind and white flesh. Repeat with the other half.
- Roughly chop the peeled watermelon into smaller pieces. Medium-size cubes are perfect, to simplify the process for your smoothie maker (they don’t have to look good).
- Transfer the chopped watermelon into a smoothie maker and blend for about 2 minutes until it turns into juice.
- Place a fine-mesh colander on top of a large clean bowl in the sink. Slowly pour the watermelon juice into the colander to strain out any coarse parts and seeds, allowing the juice to pass through the colander and flow into the bowl.
- Pour the strained watermelon juice into a glass bottle. Cool it in the fridge for 4-6 hours before serving, or enjoy immediately with ice cubes for a refreshing drink.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is only a rough estimate and may vary depending on factors such as the cooking method, exact weight, type, and brand of ingredients used.
