How to Store Watermelon the Right Way—and Make It Last Twice as Long

Ripe, juicy melon is something we all look forward to every summer, and watermelon is the undisputed fan favorite. But there is the issue of how to store watermelon. It’s big and bulky, and takes up a lot of counter or refrigerator space. Whether you’ve bought a giant watermelon to cut into wedges, spears, or cubes for an outdoor party or a smaller piece to snack on, there is a right approach to storing it to keep it fresh for as long as possible. We spoke with a food technologist to get her expert insight on storing whole vs. cut watermelon and learned how the watermelon changes once it is cut—and how important the melon’s rind is.

How to Store Watermelon

The first thing to know is that watermelon is a non-climacteric fruit, which means it does not continue to ripen once it’s harvested from the vine. Watermelons are (ideally) picked at peak ripeness, so while climacteric fruits like bananas and avocados will simply get better before they start to lose their freshness, watermelons begin that process as soon as they hit the grocery store shelves. So, how do you store these non-climacteric fruits so that they stay fresh as long as possible? We asked Isabella Maczko, a senior food technologist at Parker Development, Inc.

Whole Watermelon

“Once you slice into a watermelon, the amount of time it will last changes,” says Maczko. The watermelon’s rind acts as a protective barrier that prevents the fruit from being exposed to oxygen, which is what will eventually make a melon go bad, she explains. 

Long story short, leave a watermelon whole for as long as you can. If you don’t plan to enjoy it right after it’s purchased, wait until just before eating to slice it up.

Cut Watermelon

Once the watermelon rind is cut, things change. Maczko says the inside fruit becomes an easy target for spoilage due to the high-water content of the fruit. So when you cut into a watermelon, even if it’s just cutting it in half to make it more manageable, storage is of the utmost importance. 

Any cut watermelon needs to be covered and refrigerated immediately to prolong its freshness to the extent possible. It's easy with smaller pieces; wedges and cubes can be stored in airtight containers. But harder with larger pieces, such as a half or quarter of a melon, where there is a large exposed area. The good news is that you only need to cover the cut area, not the rind. Plastic wrap is a good option since it clings tightly to the melon. Beeswax wrappers provide a similar seal, and even something like a clean shower cap can work in a pinch.

How Long Does Watermelon Last

• Whole: A whole, uncut watermelon can sit comfortably on the countertop at room temperature for one to two weeks. Refrigerating it—if you have the shelf space—can extend its shelf life by another two weeks. 
• Cut: The way the melon is cut will change its shelf life slightly. Once cut, Maczko says the melon will last in the refrigerator for between three and seven days. Larger pieces of watermelon will last closer to seven days, while you might start to see signs of spoilage on cubes or wedges after three.

The Difference Is In the Rind

If you want the watermelon to last longer, leave the rind on even when you cut into the fruit, recommends Maczko. “Leaving the rind on helps reduce exposure of the fruit to air and acts as a protective barrier," she explains. This could mean leaving the melon in halves or quarters as long as possible or keeping the rind attached when slicing the melon into snackable wedges.