Hi. I posted a question in the "Beginners Fruit" Forum yesterday. Im trying to find out if anyone has ever frozen cantaloupe, honeydew and sugar baby watermelon? I mean after cutting/balling to use later on. I have harvested quite a few cantaloupe and several honeydew. If anyone that has done this could take a moment and read my post in the Beginners Fruit Forum so I dont have to rewrite my questions, I would really appreciate. Thanks for any replies.
This article might help you. It's at http://nchfp.uga.edu/how/freeze/melon.html
Personally I never freeze melons because I don't want the added calories of the syrup. I also think freezing changes the original texture and flavor but that's just my personal opinion.
Hi Shorty_CA. Thanks for the reply. The website link you provided is actually one that I also saw. Im thinking of trying to line mini muffin tins or ice cube trays w/wax paper and scoop some of the mix (melon w/syrup mix) in. Then I can pull out however much I need for smoothies, slushy, etc. I also read on a website that you can use honey or sugar substitute in place of some/all the sugar. I read that if you freeze the fruit w/out the syrup mixture it will only last 1-2 months. If you use the syrup mixture it will last 10-12 months. Im sure there are other ways to freeze/use w/out the sugar for diabetics or people that count calories. Thanks for the quick reply. I appreciate it. Have a good evening.
The only way that worked for me when we had way toooo much melon was to use the tool that cuts it into small balls, place these on a shallow baking try you have covered with baking parchment so the melon cant stick. Place the tray UNCOVERED into your freezer and lay the tray FLAT, this is to help the balls to freeze as separate items, rather than a big solid mass of melon you cant brake up..
After about 1 hour, test to see if the little balls are frozen enough to allow packing into either a freezer container or clear freezer bags packed into the portion size you find more suitable for your needs.
IF the balls are still too soft after 1 hour, leave / give another 30 min's and check again.
As regards the syrup, you either need or don't want, after freezing, when you defrost the balls, you can either place them in a colander / strainer, to let the juice escape or IF you want the juice, as it defrosts the juice with come anyway into your bowl etc..
DON'T leave the melon balls in freezer too long at the start of freezing or the flesh COULD suffer freezer burns because it's uncovered.
When fully frozen, I have had and eaten melon from freezer after several months, but IF your looking for melon to be as newly balled from fresh, I suggest you don't freeze it, the same goes for ALL fruit, they are NOT like newly picked that day, but then again, I don't think veg are the same when frozen either, it's a necessity that's all. we cant live without a freezer in today's busy lifestyle.
Hope this helps you out a bit..
Kindest Regards.
WeeNel.
from the freezer as they are when dug up and
WeeNel Thanks for the reply. Thats a good tip about draining the syrup while/after thawing. So far we've been eating the melons so havent had any to freeze. Im sure they dont taste the same after being frozen. Your right, vegies dont taste the same either. I just didnt want to waste any and thought that if I froze some I could use it later for smoothies or something. And if using for smoothies there would be other ingred in it so hopefully you wouldnt notice to much of a difference. Have a good night. And Thanks again.
Lisa, here's a great tip, freeze some separated balls of melon, package them, label them and stick in the freezer.
Use at Christmas time in some deserts or even drinks, after a few drinks, who's going to notice IF the melon aint the same taste as fresh and, depending how many drinks you have inside you, would they dare mention the taste anyway, other than to say how delicious the desert is, Not a chance, go for it Lisa, Honestly I wont tell anyone !!!!! LOL.
Enjoy those melons Lisa no matter how you use them up.
Best regards.
WeeNel.
