from the publishers of: Verywell, Real Simple, EatingWell, Shape, Parents, Health and Allrecipes
Watermelon is a fan-favorite summer fruit for good reason: It’s light and refreshing, and it can be made into a variety of sweet treats like popsicles, slushes, and sorbets. But before you dig in, you need to take one necessary step: According to Stephanie Barlow, the senior director of communications for the Watermelon Board, you should always, always wash your watermelon before slicing into it.
“Anything that watermelon has touched before it got to your counter is directly on the outer rind,” she says. “Watermelons are grown on the ground, packed into cardboard bins, shipped and sold, and then make it to your shopping cart, where I’ve seen people put children and babies. Whatever is on the outside of the melon rind, you will shortly be cutting into… so absolutely wash that watermelon.”
Barlow says because watermelon has waxy skin, it’s not likely every piece of dirt or dust it touches will make it to your kitchen countertops—but you should still wash them for good measure.
The most effective way to wash a watermelon is also the most simple: Wash it with water in the sink. While it may seem awkward to wash a large piece of fruit this way, it’s easier than you think. Start with a clean, empty sink, and place your watermelon inside. Barlow says to wash the watermelon under cool water, taking care to rotate it around to get the entire surface. Barlow says if you notice any spots with dirt, use a sponge or brush to scrub them off. Pat it dry with paper towels.
There’s another quick and easy way to wash a watermelon if you don’t have time to wash it in the sink: “If you’re out at a picnic and you didn’t wash your watermelon first, you can absolutely use cleaning wipes as well,” Barlow says. “Whether they’re hand wipes or surface cleaning wipes, they’ll get the job done. If there’s any dampness, dry off fully with a clean napkin or paper towel.”
Barlow says there’s no need to skip washing your watermelon even if it’s too big for your sink. She suggests using wet paper towels to wipe down the entire watermelon and using a sponge or scrub brush with water to scrub away any dirt. Pat the watermelon dry with paper towels when finished.
Just like washing, it’s very important to cut and prepare your watermelon with care. According to Barlow, the Watermelon Board follows and recommends four core food safety practices: clean, separate, cook, and chill.
The clean principle means cleaning not only your watermelon but also your hands, knives, and other utensils before cutting into and preparing the fruit. The separate principle stands for separating watermelon and other cutting surfaces to prevent cross-contamination.
For the cooking principle, while watermelon isn’t often cooked, Barlow says the rule matters. “Cook isn’t as important for the watermelon itself since it’s fresh produce, but if you’re preparing it with any proteins, the cooking temperatures are important,” Barlow says. Lastly, Barlow recommends chilling cuts of watermelon to keep it as fresh and crisp as possible.