How to understand that a watermelon has gone bad and what to do if it happened

How to understand that watermelon spoiled? In recent years, the number of poisonings with 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 deteriorate, and how to determine that the berry has begun to rot.

How to know 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 assess the appearance of the fetus. The watermelon should be free of dents, deep scratches or other damage. The rind should be dark green or striped, without any brown or black spots. The exception is a yellow earthen spot, which forms due to the adherence of the watermelon to the soil during ripening.

A fluffy bloom signals a possible deterioration of the fruit - infection with molds. 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 squeezes under the pressure of your fingers, most likely the whole watermelon has completely rotted from the inside.

You can accurately determine the freshness of the fruit after cutting it. Healthy pulp is red or pinkish in color. 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 decay. Dry flesh with tough veins, which separates from the seeds, also indicates staleness of the product. As well as too soft or mushy structure.

Shake the watermelon before cutting it. If, during shaking, the fruit gurgles inside, it means that it is rotten.

Freshness rating by date

If you bought a packaged watermelon from a supermarket, you should pay attention to the label. You shouldn't eat berries that have expired.

Taste and smell

Even uncut fruit will give off a light, pleasant aroma. If there is a sour or bitter smell, then the fruit is sour. A smell reminiscent of wine or mash suggests the same thing.

The spoiled fruit will taste unpleasantly sour, with a sticky pulp.

Signs of a spoiled fruit

If at least one of the following signs is observed, it is worth carefully examining the fetus for the rest.

Signs of a rotten watermelon:

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

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

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

Is it okay to eat a watermelon if it starts to spoil

There is no need to eat sour watermelon, it is better to cook something interesting out of it - a mash or an unusual wine cake.

But if small areas have deteriorated, you can cut them off. Only you need to do this with a large margin. It is important to determine exactly how healthy the pulp is elsewhere. But you cannot give such fruit to children.

Why is the use of sour watermelon dangerous?

Eating a missing watermelon can lead to poisoning. Signs begin to appear after 2-6 hours, among them:

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

More serious symptoms may appear, such as heart failure and loss of consciousness.

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

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

First aid

There is a specific procedure for poisoning. First you need to flush your stomach and drink activated charcoal or other sorbents.

Gastric lavage at home is as follows:

1. 1 liter of water at room temperature is prepared.
2. The whole amount is drunk in one gulp.
3. After this procedure, the stomach clears itself of its contents - an attack of vomiting sets in.

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

Important. Children under 3 years of age cannot wash their stomachs at home, as their protective reflexes are still not working well. Small children may not be able to cope with vomiting and choke. Gastric lavage of babies can only be performed by specialists.

After that, you need to drink plenty of water. This will help flush toxins from the body and help keep the body hydrated.

Even after all the procedures, the condition may worsen, therefore it is very important that someone is constantly with the poisoned person before the ambulance arrives.

You can not take painkillers and antidiarrheal drugs in such a situation. They will only hide the true state, but will not provide proper help.

Terms and conditions of storage

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

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

The cut fruit loses its freshness much faster. In the refrigerator, it is stored for only 2-3 days. At the lowest possible temperatures - 5 days. This is provided that the watermelon has not been cut for a long time on the table at room temperature. For storage in slices, it is best to use a hermetically sealed container.

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

What can be made from overripe watermelons

An overripe watermelon does not have to be thrown away. Very tasty dishes can be prepared from it. You need to take only whole watermelons, without damage. If the integrity has been violated, then lactic acid fermentation takes place 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 icing 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 from them and place on a separate baking sheet.
4. Cut the watermelon pulp into small pieces and place on the rolled dough.
5. Bake alternately the triangles and the layer at 180 degrees until golden brown.
6. In a bowl, combine wine, lemon juice, sugar and gelatin.
7. Simmer the mixture for 5 minutes on low heat, stirring constantly.
8. Remove from heat and cool.
9. Pour the finished puff pastry with the gelatin-wine mass.
10. Refrigerate for 2-3 hours.
11. Remove the cake carefully from the mold.
12. Whip cream with powdered sugar.
13. Put the cream on the cake.
14. Decorate with puff triangles on top and sprinkle with lemon zest.

Fermented fruit braga

This recipe is with compressed yeast, but wine yeast can also be used.

Ingredients:

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

Preparation:

1. Rub the pulp through a sieve.
2. Pour sugar over the resulting puree and leave for half an hour.
3. Mix thoroughly to dissolve the sugar completely.
4. Dissolve yeast in warm water.
5. Pour them into the puree.
6. Mix gently.
7. Pour the mixture into a fermentation vessel. Install 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 a melon be pregnant?

How to preserve garlic for the winter.

Let's sum up

Souring a watermelon is not a reason to throw it away. If you have the time and desire, then you should try to make baked goods or a drink from it. After such treatment, the missing fruit will cease to be harmful to the body of an adult. In an unprocessed form, a spoiled watermelon should never be eaten, otherwise you can provoke serious poisoning.