If you thought watermelon was a treat, wait until you try watermelon pickles!
Every few years, my mom makes a batch of watermelon pickles. In recent years, I’ve started making them too.
Watermelon pickles are made out of watermelon rind. They’re sweet, zesty, and addictive. While they go perfectly with sloppy joes and salty meats, I like eating them straight out of the jar.
Another reason to consider making watermelon pickles? Reducing food waste.
Did you know that every part of the watermelon is edible? Additionally, watermelon rind is healthy, containing ample amounts of vitamins B and C, and citrulline.
Watermelon rind can be stir-fried. You can even juice it! With these ideas in your back pocket, you’ll never throw watermelon rind away again.
WHAT DO WATERMELON PICKLES TASTE LIKE?
Watermelon pickles are sweet and tangy. Pickling spices are added to give them traditional sweet pickle flavor. The actual watermelon rind adds very mild flavor.
The texture of the watermelon rind is somewhere between crunchy and chewy. Once the rind is cooked in the pickling liquid, it softens it up and begins to turn translucent.
These pickles are cooked for about 30 minutes – the perfect amount of time to soften them up, but not too much!
HOW TO MAKE WATERMELON RIND PICKLES
Scroll down for the complete watermelon pickle recipe. Here are step-by-step photos to guide you through the process.
Step 1: Once you’re done eating the pink watermelon fruit, save the rind. Cut and peel the watermelon rind. You’ll take off most of the remaining pink flesh.
Tip: Peeling watermelon rind can be time-consuming. I find it easiest to cut the rind into long, narrow pieces (see below) and using a paring knife (not a vegetable peeler) to peel off the green rind.
Step 2: After you have peeled the watermelon rind, cut it into bite-sized pieces.
This size is preferable because they’re easy to fit into the jar, but some people cut them smaller, some cut them into long spears, etc. Any way will work.
Step 3: Soak the watermelon rinds in salt water. Make sure you use pickling salt, as it doesn’t have any additives that could make the pickle brine cloudy.
Step 4: Cook in a brine of vinegar, sugar, and pickling spices for 30 minutes.
Step 5: Proceed with the canning process: Boil jars and lids, pour in hot liquid and watermelon rinds, screw on lids, and put in a hot water bath for 10 minutes.
ARE WATERMELON PICKLES DIFFICULT TO MAKE?
I wouldn’t say watermelon pickles are difficult to make – but they are time-consuming.
If you’ve canned before – or if you’re generally familiar with the canning process – this recipe should give you no problems.
If this is your first time canning, read the recipe through a few times.