Preserving watermelon for the winter months ensures you can enjoy the sweet taste of summer all year round. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to prepare watermelon juice and watermelon jam, perfect for stocking up your pantry.
Ingredients:
Watermelon
Baking soda
Water
Sugar
Lemon
Steps to Prepare Watermelon Juice for Winter:
Cleaning the Watermelon:
Wash Thoroughly:
Start by washing the watermelon with baking soda. This helps remove any pesticides and dirt, ensuring the fruit is clean and safe for consumption.
Making Watermelon Juice:
Extract the Juice:
Cut the watermelon into pieces and extract the juice. You can use a blender or a juicer for this process.
Prepare the Juice:
Pour the extracted watermelon juice into a pot. Add the required amount of sugar to taste.
Squeeze in some fresh lemon juice. This adds a tangy flavor and acts as a natural preservative.
Boil the Juice:
Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally. Once boiled, let it simmer for a few minutes to ensure the sugar is completely dissolved.
Sterilize the Jars:
While the juice is simmering, sterilize your jars by boiling them in water for 10 minutes. This step is crucial to prevent any bacterial growth.
Fill the Jars:
Carefully pour the hot watermelon juice into the sterilized jars, leaving a little space at the top. Seal the jars tightly with sterilized lids.
Cool and Store:
Allow the jars to cool completely. Store them in a cool, dark place, such as a cellar or pantry. The watermelon juice will be ready to enjoy throughout the winter.
Steps to Make Watermelon Jam:
Prepare the Watermelon:
Cut the watermelon into small pieces and remove the seeds.
Cook the Watermelon:
In a large pot, combine the watermelon pieces with sugar. The general ratio is 1 kg of watermelon to 500 grams of sugar, but you can adjust this to your taste.
Squeeze in lemon juice to add acidity and help set the jam.
Boil and Simmer:
Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer. Stir frequently to prevent sticking and burning. The mixture should thicken over time, forming a jam-like consistency.
Sterilize the Jars:
As the jam is cooking, sterilize your jars by boiling them.
Fill the Jars:
Once the jam has reached the desired thickness, carefully spoon it into the sterilized jars. Seal the jars with sterilized lids.
Cool and Store:
Let the jars cool completely before storing them in a cool, dark place. Your watermelon jam is now ready to be enjoyed throughout the winter months.
Final Tips:
By following these simple steps, you can successfully preserve watermelon juice and jam, bringing a taste of summer to your winter days. Happy preserving!
Preserving watermelon for the winter months ensures you can enjoy the sweet taste of summer all year round. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to prepare watermelon juice and watermelon jam, perfect for stocking up your pantry.
Ingredients:
Watermelon
Baking soda
Water
Sugar
Lemon
Steps to Prepare Watermelon Juice for Winter:
Cleaning the Watermelon:
Wash Thoroughly:
Start by washing the watermelon with baking soda. This helps remove any pesticides and dirt, ensuring the fruit is clean and safe for consumption.
Making Watermelon Juice:
Extract the Juice:
Cut the watermelon into pieces and extract the juice. You can use a blender or a juicer for this process.
Prepare the Juice:
Pour the extracted watermelon juice into a pot. Add the required amount of sugar to taste.
Squeeze in some fresh lemon juice. This adds a tangy flavor and acts as a natural preservative.
Boil the Juice:
Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring occasionally. Once boiled, let it simmer for a few minutes to ensure the sugar is completely dissolved.
Sterilize the Jars:
While the juice is simmering, sterilize your jars by boiling them in water for 10 minutes. This step is crucial to prevent any bacterial growth.
Fill the Jars:
Carefully pour the hot watermelon juice into the sterilized jars, leaving a little space at the top. Seal the jars tightly with sterilized lids.
Cool and Store:
Allow the jars to cool completely. Store them in a cool, dark place, such as a cellar or pantry. The watermelon juice will be ready to enjoy throughout the winter.
Steps to Make Watermelon Jam:
Prepare the Watermelon:
Cut the watermelon into small pieces and remove the seeds.
Cook the Watermelon:
In a large pot, combine the watermelon pieces with sugar. The general ratio is 1 kg of watermelon to 500 grams of sugar, but you can adjust this to your taste.
Squeeze in lemon juice to add acidity and help set the jam.
Boil and Simmer:
Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer. Stir frequently to prevent sticking and burning. The mixture should thicken over time, forming a jam-like consistency.
Sterilize the Jars:
As the jam is cooking, sterilize your jars by boiling them.
Fill the Jars:
Once the jam has reached the desired thickness, carefully spoon it into the sterilized jars. Seal the jars with sterilized lids.
Cool and Store:
Let the jars cool completely before storing them in a cool, dark place. Your watermelon jam is now ready to be enjoyed throughout the winter months.
Final Tips:
By following these simple steps, you can successfully preserve watermelon juice and jam, bringing a taste of summer to your winter days. Happy preserving!