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Watermelons in a barrel for the winter โ€“ step by step recipes with photos

This step-by-step guide provides readers with an exciting approach to winter food preservation. The detailed directions and accompanying pictures allow for the easy preparation of watermelons in a barrel -- an unique and delicious winter storage option. The end result will offer readers a refreshing and nutritious accompaniment to their otherwise dull winter dishes. This convenient and low-cost food preservation method combined with it's amazing health benefits make it a must-have for anyone looking for a flavorful way to add to their winter recipe rotation.

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Salting watermelons for the winter is a great way to preserve the berry for a long time. To give interesting, and sometimes spicy, aromatic and flavorful notes, the dish is supplemented with apples, honey, cabbage and even mustard with garlic. To make the food tasty, stored for a long time, it is important to choose the right watermelons and strictly follow the salting technology.

Preparing for salting

One of the important points of successful salting of watermelons is the selection of quality fruits:

  • Give preference to slightly unripe pink berries with dense flesh, otherwise after pickling they will become viscous, tasteless.
  • Carefully consider the peel, for souring, fruits with only a holistic surface, without spots, dents and visible damage, are suitable.
  • For salting watermelons in barrels, whole berries should be selected small (weighing approximately 2 kg) with a thin skin, only these will be well salted.
  • It is better to choose fruits grown by your own efforts, or those of which you are sure. If nitrates are present in the berries, they will certainly enter your body..

The second important point of successful salting of berries for the winter is the preparation of barrels:

  • You can salt watermelons in ceramic, salted and plastic containers, but better โ€“ wooden (oak) barrels.
  • They are washed well with cold water, removing dust and dirt, which can provoke the processes of decay of products inside barrels.
  • Next, the containers are scalded twice with boiling water for disinfection, covered with a clean towel or linen cloth and cleaned in a closed room for a week to dry..

Whole pickled watermelons in a barrel at home

For fermenting berries for the winter, according to this recipe, you should choose fruits with a diameter of not more than 15 cm. The taste of the dish will turn out to be salty-sweet, but if you want a more salty taste, put 600 g less sugar and 300 g more salt.

Ingredients:

  • watermelons โ€“ how much the barrel holds;
  • sugar โ€“ 1 kg;
  • salt โ€“ 0.5 kg;
  • water (cold, not boiled) โ€“ 10 l.

Cooking method:

  1. Fill prepared barrels with whole washed berries.
  2. Pour in brine made from the remaining ingredients. It should cover the fruit on top by 10 cm. If there is not enough liquid, take another serving.
  3. Put oppression โ€“ a wooden lid and a load. Put the workpiece for 2-3 days in a room with room temperature, but not in the heat.
  4. After the time, the barrel is corked, rearranged for storage until the winter in the cold (cellar), time โ€“ 2-3 weeks.

Whole pickled watermelons

Salted slices in own juice

In this recipe from spices, only salt is present, but if you want to add piquancy to the preparation, put a little ginger, coriander or a few leaves of currant, cherry, oak.

Ingredients:

  • watermelons (small) โ€“ 10 kg;
  • watermelon pulp โ€“ 5 kg;
  • salt โ€“ 60 g.

Cooking method:

  1. Puree the pulp with a blender until smooth.
  2. Add salt, mix until crystals are completely dissolved.
  3. Prepare the barrels, lay the whole berries on the bottom, and salted pulp on top. Continue to alternate layers until the components run out, the last must be salted pulp.
  4. Cover the container with linen cloth, put in a cold for a week.
  5. Periodically check the workpiece โ€“ remove mold (if it appears) and add salted pulp (if necessary).
  6. Then cork pickles, store for six months. You can eat a month after clogging.

In own juice

Soaked with apples

To add apples soaked in watermelon to this recipe, choose ripe, not wormy, not rotten fruits, better than later varieties. Wooden barrels do not come in handy; three-liter glass jars are used to preserve berries for the winter.

Ingredients:

  • watermelon, apples, rye straw, currant or cherry leaves โ€“ as needed;
  • salt, sugar โ€“ 1 tbsp. l .;
  • vinegar โ€“ 30 ml;
  • water โ€“ 1 liter.

Cooking method:

  1. Cut the berries into slices. Peel the apples, core, cut into slices.
  2. Fill the sterilized three-liter jars with watermelon slices first, then straw, apples. Repeat layers until the container is filled, shifting leaves of plants.
  3. Pour boiling water, let it brew for 10 minutes. Drain and pour the brine from boiled water, salt, sugar, vinegar. The number of components is given for 1 three-liter jar.
  4. Cork, store until the winter in the cellar.

With apples

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Comments: 6
  1. Piper

    Can you provide any tips or instructions on how to properly store watermelons in a barrel for the winter? Iโ€™d love to see some step-by-step recipes with photos to ensure I do it correctly.

    Reply
    1. Riley Phillips

      To store watermelons properly in a barrel for winter, follow these steps:

      1. Choose a sturdy, food-grade barrel that can accommodate the watermelons without overcrowding.
      2. Clean and sanitize the barrel thoroughly to prevent any bacteria or mold growth.
      3. Line the bottom of the barrel with straw or sawdust to create a cushioning layer.
      4. Place the watermelons in a single layer on top of the straw, ensuring they do not touch each other.
      5. Separate each layer of watermelons with additional layers of straw or sawdust.
      6. Continue layering the watermelons and separating them with straw until the barrel is full, leaving some headspace for airflow.
      7. Cover the top layer of watermelons with a thick layer of straw or sawdust.
      8. Seal the barrel tightly to prevent any pests or moisture from entering.
      9. Store the barrel in a cool, dry place, like a basement or cellar, with a consistent temperature around 50-55ยฐF (10-13ยฐC).
      10. Check the stored watermelons periodically for any signs of spoilage or rotting.
      11. If you notice any damaged or rotting watermelons, remove them immediately to prevent the spread of mold or bacteria.

      Unfortunately, as a text-based AI, Iโ€™m unable to provide photos. However, following these steps should help you store watermelons successfully.

      Reply
  2. Waverly

    Can you please share how to properly prepare watermelons in a barrel for the winter? I would love to see step-by-step recipes with photos to ensure I do it correctly. Thank you!

    Reply
  3. Delaney

    Can you provide step-by-step instructions and photos on how to store watermelons in a barrel for the winter?

    Reply
    1. Elijah Walker

      To store watermelons in a barrel for winter, follow these steps:

      1. Choose a clean, dry barrel with a tight-fitting lid. Make sure it is large enough to hold the watermelons comfortably.

      2. Line the bottom of the barrel with a layer of straw or newspaper to provide insulation and prevent the watermelons from touching the cold surface directly.

      3. Place the watermelons in the barrel, leaving a little space between each one to allow air circulation.

      4. Cover the watermelons with another layer of straw or newspaper to protect them from damage and to keep them insulated.

      5. Close the lid tightly to seal the barrel and prevent any moisture from entering. Make sure the barrel is stored in a cool, dark place to keep the watermelons fresh.

      6. Check on the watermelons periodically throughout the winter to ensure they are still in good condition. If any watermelons show signs of spoilage, remove them immediately.

      7. When youโ€™re ready to enjoy your stored watermelons, remove them from the barrel, allow them to come to room temperature, and enjoy their sweet, juicy goodness!

      Reply
  4. Ellie Carter

    Can you provide detailed instructions and step-by-step photos on how to store watermelons in a barrel for the winter? Iโ€™m curious to learn the process and ensure the preservation of watermelons during this season. Thank you!

    Reply
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