If you don't properly wash the melon before you cut it, you might introduce E-coli to the inside of the melon. The bacteria will attach onto the knife blade from the surface of the dirty melon and travel through the melon, once the cuts are made, it contaminates every slice.
1. Wash the watermelon. Watermelons are handled a lot from field to farmers' market, so washing them is important in order to keep bacteria out of the edible flesh.
Melons would be another good example," says Murad. "You want to make sure that you wash them well before you cut into them. Because, if they are not washed, you'll be introducing the bacteria that are on the outside of them into the fruit or vegetable."
Before cutting the melon, thoroughly wash and scrub the entire melon with warm water using a clean produce brush. Bacteria from the outer rind can transfer to the inner flesh of the melon if you cut into it before washing. There is no need to use anything other than water when washing melons.
You can reduce and often eliminate residues on fresh fruits and vegetables by following these simple tips: Wash produce with large amounts of cold or warm tap water, and scrub with a brush when appropriate. Do not use soap or chlorine bleach water solution.
Melon: Melons, including watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew, should be kept at room temperature until you cut into them to ensure they have the best flavor. Once they've been cut into, store them in the refrigerator and be sure to eat within four days.
Gently rub produce while holding under plain running water. There's no need to use soap or a produce wash. Use a clean vegetable brush to scrub firm produce, such as melons and cucumbers. Dry produce with a clean cloth or paper towel to further reduce bacteria that may be present.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says washing your produce under running water can prevent you from becoming infected with food-borne illnesses like norovirus, which is the country's leading cause of disease outbreaks from contaminated food.
Salt is a great way to enhance these fruits' natural sweetness. Salting watermelon also improves the fruit's texture. A little sprinkling of salt brings all the liquid to the surface of the water-rich fruit. As a result, each bite is guaranteed to be juicy and sweet.
According to the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), you should wash raw fruits and vegetables very well before you peel, cut, eat or cook with them. Washing reduces the bacteria that may be present on fresh produce.
Watermelon will keep for 7-10 days at room temperature. After two days at 32°F, watermelons develop an off-flavor, become pitted and lose color. Freezing causes rind to break down and produces a mealy, mushy texture. Once a melon is cut, it should be wrapped and stored between 9-36°F.
So, how long does cut watermelon last? Whole watermelons keep for approximately a week at room temperature and two weeks in the refrigerator. In the fridge, cut watermelon will last between 3 and 5 days. Make sure it's tightly wrapped, so it doesn't dry out.
Hold the fruit or vegetable under flowing water in a strainer. This removes more pesticide than dunking the produce. The FDA does not recommend washing fruits and vegetables with soap, detergent, or commercial produce wash. They have not been proven to be any more effective than water alone.
BAKING SODA VERSUS VINEGAR
Use apple cider or white vinegar for a 10-15 minute soak. Then rinse the fruit well. The benefit of baking soda (besides not having any kind of vinegar smell or taste lingering) is that it removes pesticides.
The bacterium that causes fruit blotch of watermelon is Acidovorax avenae subsp. pseudoalcaligenes subsp. citrulli).
They explain that watermelon continues to produce some nutrients even after being picked up. Refrigerating the fruit slows down or stops the whole process. In fact, at refrigerated temperature they might start decaying in a week (whereas usual shelf life of a watermelon is 14 to 21 days).
If harvested prematurely it can be dull and flavorless. If harvested too late it can be mushy, gritty, and gross. Unfortunately, being able to tell when a watermelon is ripe by looking at the fruit before it's been cut can be challenging and the ripening process does not continue after it's harvested.
Water melon has a lot of water in it. Due to the presence of water in a water melon, it has high specific heat capacity and therefore thus does not heat up easily. It stays cool.
Turn the melon face down on the cutting board (so that the larger, fully cut side is flat against the board. Starting at the top, stem end, hold your knife at an angle and gently cut down towards the cutting board so that you remove a strip of the rind.
Is watermelon good for dogs? Not only can your dog eat watermelon safely, but it can make a refreshing, hydrating treat for them. This said, like many other fruits and vegetables, watermelon should only be given to your dog in moderation and shouldn't replace a healthy balanced diet.