How to understand that a watermelon has gone bad and what to do if this happens

How to understand what watermelon spoiled? In recent years, the number of poisonings of this large berry has increased. This may be due to the use of nitrates to accelerate growth, as well as incorrect determination of the ripeness and freshness of the fruit. In this article, we will figure out whether it is possible to eat a watermelon if it has begun to spoil, and how to determine that the berry has begun to rot.

How to tell if a watermelon has gone bad

To avoid the unpleasant consequences of eating stale watermelon, you need to know what a healthy fruit should look like. This can be determined both by external signs and by taste.

External signs

First of all, it is necessary to evaluate the appearance of the fetus. The watermelon should not have dents, deep scratches or other damage. The skin should be dark green or striped, without any spots of brown or black. The exception is a yellow earthen spot, which is formed due to the watermelon adhering to the soil during ripening.

A fluffy coating indicates possible spoilage of the fruit - infection with mold fungi. Plaque can be of different colors, depending on the type of mold.

The place where the stalk is attached must be dry and hard. If it presses under the pressure of your fingers, most likely the entire watermelon has completely rotted from the inside.

You can accurately determine the freshness of the fruit after cutting it. Healthy flesh has a red or pinkish tint. There are also special varieties with yellow or orange flesh. But if the watermelon has an uneven color, this is a sure sign of the beginning of rotting. Dry pulp with hard veins that separates from the seeds also indicates that the product is stale. As well as a texture that is too soft or mushy.

Before cutting into a watermelon, you should shake it. If the fruit gurgles inside while shaking, it means it is rotten.

Freshness rating by date

If you bought packaged watermelon at the supermarket, you should pay attention to the label. You should not eat berries that have expired.

Taste and smell

Even an uncut fruit will exude a light, pleasant aroma. If you smell a sour or bitter smell, it means the fruit has gone sour. A smell reminiscent of wine or mash indicates the same thing.

Spoiled fruit will taste unpleasantly sour, with sticky pulp.

Signs of a spoiled fetus

If at least one of the signs listed below is observed, it is worth carefully examining the fetus for the presence of others.

Signs of a rotten watermelon:

• gurgling when shaking;
• the presence of spots of yellow, gray, brown, black, not counting the earthen spot;
• mold fluff on the crust;
• soft place for attaching the stalk;
• soft dents on the surface of the peel;
• unpleasant sour or bitter smell and taste;
• sticky pulp;
• hard veins;
• change in flesh color;
• voids around the seeds.

In order not to buy already spoiled fruit, it is better to inspect it on the spot.

But sometimes a watermelon looks quite normal on the outside, but turns out to be spoiled on the inside. This often happens due to improper or too long storage. Nitrates are also the reason why watermelons quickly deteriorate from the inside.

Is it possible to eat watermelon if it has started to spoil?

You shouldn’t eat a sour watermelon; it’s better to make something interesting out of it - mash or an unusual wine cake.

But if small areas have deteriorated, you can cut them off. You just need to do this with a large margin. It is important to determine exactly how healthy the pulp is in other places. But this fruit should not be given to children.

What are the dangers of eating sour watermelon?

Eating missing watermelon risks poisoning. Signs begin to appear after 2-6 hours, including:

• weakness;
• elevated temperature;
• nausea, vomiting;
• diarrhea;
• stomach ache;
• dizziness, sometimes headache.

More serious symptoms may also appear, such as cardiac dysfunction and loss of consciousness.

Reference. You can get poisoned not only due to improper or too long storage of the fruit. Nitrate watermelons can also cause digestive problems. In the human body, nitrates are converted into toxic compounds - nitrites.

Another reason why people get poisoned from eating watermelon is that the fruits are poorly washed. Therefore, it is very important to wash watermelons thoroughly before cutting.

First aid

There is a certain procedure for dealing with poisoning. First you need to rinse your stomach and drink activated carbon or other sorbents.

Gastric lavage at home is as follows:

1. Prepare 1 liter of water at room temperature.
2. The entire amount is drunk in one gulp.
3. After this procedure, the stomach is cleared of its contents on its own - an attack of vomiting occurs.

Washing can be done 2-3 times in a row.

Important. Children under 3 years old should not have their stomach washed at home, as their protective reflexes still do not work well. Young children may not be able to control vomiting and may choke.Gastric lavage of babies can only be performed by specialists.

After this, you need to drink a lot of water. This will help remove toxins from the body and help avoid dehydration.

Even after all the procedures, the condition may worsen, so it is very important that someone is always with the poisoned person until the ambulance arrives.

You cannot take painkillers and antidiarrheal drugs in such a situation. They will only hide the true condition, but will not provide adequate help.

Terms and conditions of storage

Whole watermelons can be stored at room temperature for 1-2 weeks. In the refrigerator - 3-4 weeks.

Advice. This method will help extend the shelf life: a small fruit weighing up to 4 kg is washed, dried and hung in a net in a cool place.

Cut fruit loses freshness much faster. It only lasts 2-3 days in the refrigerator. At the lowest possible temperatures - 5 days. This is provided that the watermelon was not cut for a long time on the table at room temperature. To store slices, it is better to use an airtight container.

It is not recommended to keep watermelon in the freezer. After you place the fruit on the table and it thaws, most of it juice will flow out of the pulp. Because of this, the taste and structure may change.

What can be made from overripe watermelons

There is no need to throw away an overripe watermelon. You can prepare very tasty dishes from it. You need to take only whole watermelons, without damage. If the integrity has been compromised, then lactic acid fermentation occurs inside, which is harmful to humans.

Baking “Drunk Watermelon”

An original dessert with a light wine note and fruity taste.

Ingredients:

• 1 watermelon weighing no more than 5 kg;
• 500 g ready-made puff pastry;
• 150 g sugar;
• 1.5 glasses of dry white wine;
• 1 glass of cream;
• 1 lemon;
• 40 g gelatin;
• 100 g powdered sugar.

Preparation:

1. Wash the lemon. Squeeze the juice out of it. Grate the zest on a fine grater.
2. Roll out 250 g of dough to the size of a baking dish.
3. Cut the second half of the dough into squares. Form triangles out of them and place on a separate baking sheet.
4. Cut the watermelon pulp into small pieces and place on the rolled out dough.
5. Bake the triangles and the layer alternately at 180 degrees until golden brown.
6. In a bowl, mix wine, lemon juice, sugar and gelatin.
7. Cook the mixture for 5 minutes over low heat, stirring constantly.
8. Remove from heat and cool.
9. Pour the gelatin-wine mixture over the finished puff pastry.
10. Place in the refrigerator for 2-3 hours.
11. Carefully remove the cake from the mold.
12. Beat cream with powdered sugar.
13. Spread cream on cake.
14. Top with puff triangles and sprinkle with lemon zest.

Braga from fermented fruit

This recipe uses pressed yeast, but wine yeast can also be used.

Ingredients:

• 25 kg of seedless watermelon pulp;
• 50 g pressed yeast;
• 2.5 kg of sugar.

Preparation:

1. Rub the pulp through a sieve.
2. Sprinkle the resulting puree with sugar and leave for half an hour.
3. Mix thoroughly until the sugar is completely dissolved.
4. Dissolve yeast in warm water.
5. Pour them into the puree.
6. Mix carefully.
7. Pour the mixture into a fermentation container. Place a water seal or a medical glove with a hole on the neck.
8. Place the bottle in a dark place.
9. Fermentation lasts 5-7 days.
10. Then strain the liquid.

Read also:

Which is healthier, watermelon or melon?

Can melon be consumed by pregnant women?

About how to preserve garlic for the winter.

Let's sum it up

Souring a watermelon is not a reason to throw it away.If you have time and desire, then you should try making baked goods or drinks from it. After such treatment, the missing fruit will no longer be harmful to the body of an adult. Under no circumstances should spoiled watermelon be eaten in its unprocessed form, otherwise it can cause serious poisoning.