Recipes for making watermelon juice for the winter at home, how to make

Watermelon has many beneficial properties.The juice contains various microelements necessary for the normal functioning of the body. Those looking to get healthy vitamins and minerals throughout the cold season can use recipes for making watermelon juice at home for the winter.

Subtleties of cooking

The quality of the resulting juice directly depends on the condition of the watermelon. It is not recommended to purchase wilted or unripe berries for making the drink.

For The preparation will require watermelon Weighing no more than 7 kilograms, with light spots on the skin and a dry stem. When tapped, the fruit should produce a dull sound. Berries with visible damage or unclear skin patterns are not suitable for harvesting.

It's also necessary to sterilize the containers in which the drink will be stored. To do this:

• the jars are processed over steam for several minutes;
• The lids are boiled in boiling water for 5 minutes or more.

If desired, jars can be sterilized in the oven or microwave. For the former, heat the jars to 100 degrees Celsius. For microwave sterilization, fill the jars one-third with water.

Preparing watermelon

The watermelon must be rinsed under warm water. Any dirt that gets inside the jar will trigger processes that will soon cause the container to explode or the drink to ferment.

Next, remove the peel and green rind. Cut the fruit into small pieces, and remove all the seeds. Finally, grind the pulp (usually a meat grinder is used, but a juicer will also work), and strain the resulting mixture through a sieve. Press the residue through 3-4 layers of cheesecloth.

It's recommended to squeeze the juice immediately. If the pulp begins to shrink, or if flies begin to hover over the berry, discard the juice. It's also not recommended to preserve watermelon that has been exposed to sunlight for a long time.

Cooking methods

There are several ways to prepare watermelon juice suitable for canning. Regardless of the method chosen, it is important to follow the instructions and recipe. Failure to follow any of the instructions will result in the juice spoiling and the jar exploding. After sealing, turn the container upside down and cover it until it cools completely.

A simple recipe for the winter

To make a watermelon drink using the classic recipe, you'll need 7 kilograms of watermelon pulp. You'll also need citric acid (5 grams or a teaspoon) and sugar (200 grams or a cup).

After preparing the watermelon pulp, bring it to a boil. Then, skim off any foam that appears and reduce the heat, adding citric acid and sugar. Stirring the juice, bring the liquid back to a boil. Afterward, simmer the mixture for no more than 7 minutes, pour into jars, and seal.

The containers should be stored indoors at room temperature for approximately 1.5 weeks. If the watermelon juice hasn't darkened and the jar hasn't cracked, move the containers to a dark place.

A blended drink is prepared in a similar manner. To create the latter, you'll need 5 liters each of watermelon and apple juice.

In a blender

It's easier to make watermelon juice in a blender. To do this, place the pulp, a small amount of honey (or powdered sugar), water (or ice), and other fruits (optional) in a suitable container.

A blender is suitable for making drinks. If you plan to preserve juices for the winter, the device is used to crush the pulp. After that, drinks can be prepared using other suitable recipes.

In a juicer

A juicer significantly simplifies the process of preparing ingredients for subsequent canning. In addition to crushing the pulp, the device also pasteurizes the juice. This ensures that the juice is ready for canning after the juicer.

To make watermelon juice for later storage, pour 3 liters of water into the juicer's reservoir and add the pulp to the top. The amount of sugar you add depends on personal preference. You can omit this ingredient if desired. Juicing produces a very concentrated drink, so adding additional sugar will make the juice too sweet.

Place the device and ingredients on the stovetop. Once sufficiently heated, the drink will begin to flow through the tube and should be immediately poured into sterilized jars.

Without sterilization

Watermelon juice cannot be stored for long without sterilization. This process removes the microorganisms that cause fermentation. To obtain a delicious drink without sterilization, you must:

1. Trim the bottom of the watermelon so that the berry can stand on a flat surface.
2. Remove the top of the berry where the tail is.
3. Use a spoon to scoop out the pulp.
4. Strain the pulp through a sieve.
5. Drill a hole no more than 1 centimeter in diameter at the bottom of the fruit and insert a tap.
6. Pour the liquid obtained by pressing it through the sieve back.

For this recipe, it's recommended to use seedless fruit. If the drink's flavor begins to change, discard it.

If desired, the resulting mixture can be frozen in small containers. Yogurt cups or ice cube trays are suitable for this purpose.

How to store juice?

The optimal storage location for the preserved beverages is in the basement. The drink will remain fresh and the jars will remain intact if they are stored in ventilated, dark, and cool areas. When the ambient temperature rises, fermentation begins inside the jars, causing them to explode.

Watermelon drink stored in glass containers will keep for several months if all the above recommendations are followed. However, due to the delicate nature of this preserve, the container should be opened before winter.