Melons come in all sizes and colors . Most of us are familiar with the ubiquitous watermelon vine , honeydew and cantaloupe , but have you ever tried the more exotic Galia , Musk or Canary melon ? Even the power of the melon , the ever democratic watermelon , has more than 1,200 different cultivars that range in size , shape , flavor and colouring material . This summertime , adjudicate a fresh - to - you melon vine eccentric or variety every calendar week for the intact summer . Keep a list of your darling , and next year you ’ll know what specialty seeds to pick up to grow in your own garden !
No matter whether you hear a new melon vine sort or stick to the classic , here are some tips on using and storing these toothsome fruits .
1. Refrigerator Storage
When it comes to storing melon advanced from the garden , Fannie Farmer market or grocery store , it ’s more often than not secure to lay in them in the fridge uncut or in pieces with the rind entire . If they agree in your crisper , put them there , as the high-pitched humidity in that part of the electric refrigerator avail to stop them from drying out . If you use half a melon , rank charge plate wrap instantly on the flesh of the other half of the melon and entrepot in the electric refrigerator for two to three day .
2. Easy Freeze
To immobilise supernumerary melon vine , simply musket ball , cube or slicing , and place the pieces on a baking canvass . lease the musical composition freeze individually overnight and then move them all into a freezer zipper - topped plastic grip . flash-frozen melon vine is best enjoyed while still a little wintry and not completely thawed . Citrullus vulgaris is the exclusion to this freezing method , as it will start to get mushy as soon as it comes out of the deep freezer . Enjoy frozen watermelon right out or contrive on using it in summertime soup or smoothie .
3. Melon Jam
Believe it or not , cantaloupe and other similar melon vine make excellent mess . The basic jam - produce techniques apply when you immix refreshful melon , sugar , powdered pectin and a few other factor , and the upshot are sensational . Just look the internet for a recipe or give this popularSalted Cantaloupe Jamrecipe a try . I made it last class with with child succeeder .
4. Grilled To Perfection
Grills are n’t just for meat : grill melon vine is fabulous ! The heat from the grillwork caramelize the outer sugars of the melon , transforming it into something truly unequalled and delightful . Watermelon , cantaloupe and honeydew melon types all work great ! ignore your melon into large hoagy about 2 inch thick , leave the rind attach . Place wedge frame side down on a very hot grill . Let them fix for 2 to 3 minutes per side , until you’re able to see woman - mark on the figure and you start to blame up their sweet perfume . If you want them extra dulcet , scatter both slope with a little brown sugar and a dash of ocean salt before grill . This makes an excellent side for grilled Pisces the Fishes or chicken .
5. Pickled Melon
Watermelon rind are democratic for pickling , but you could also pickle cantaloupe and honeydew flesh . add up 2 cups cubed cantaloupe and/or honeydew flesh ( pocket-size pieces ) , 1/4 minor red onion ( very thin sliced ) , 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt , 2 tablespoonful distilled white vinegar and 1 tablespoonful lucre to a intermediate saucepan . Bring to a low simmer over medium heat energy . admit to simmer for 15 minutes . Chill before do . Pickled melon vine is mythic on top of grill pork chops and grilled lamb hamburger .
6. Simple Granita
Turn watermelon into a dim-witted , stunning sweet by making granita . Granita is a unaccented and fluffy chalk dainty made from fruit , and you do n’t ask special equipment or butter churn to enjoy it . Add 4 cups seedless watermelon , 1/2 loving cup shekels and the juice of one lime to a blender , and blend until smooth . Pour the mixture into a metallic element baking pan and freeze for one minute . Stir with a fork , mashing any chunks of ice . frost for 2 more hours , and grate with a branching to make fluffy ice quartz . Serve directly or return it to the Deepfreeze , treat with foil , and scrape again before you ’re ready to serve well . you may make granita up to three days in improvement .
7. Melon Salsa
Most of us have try peach ormango salsa , and the same theme applies to melons . The sweet and spicy compounding is delicious with just chips or on top of a bed of greens with grilled shrimp . Chopped melon with a little chopped cucumber , blistering white pepper , cilantro , lime juice , and saltiness and pepper to taste is as simple as it is delicious . Perfect your own recipe and become celebrated for it in your region dinner circle .
Melissa Griffiths
