Few things complement the summer season as well as a big wedge of watermelon. Just thinking about biting into one brings back memories of family picnics and camping trips. Young and old alike, everyone seems to love the refreshing taste of watermelon.
As wonderful as that sounds, there is another way to enjoy watermelon that not only tastes great, but also reaps the benefits of the entire fruit. Most people are unaware that 95 per cent of the food value is actually in the watermelon rind. However, compared to the sweet and delicate red flesh, the rind is both bitter and tough.
To unlock the nutritional benefits of the rind, juice it together with the red flesh. The resulting beverage is a beautiful reddish-pink, chock full of vitamins and minerals. You will be getting 100 per cent of the food value of the fruit and the best part is, you won't even taste the rind.
Vitamins:
Beta-carotene (A), B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, folic acid (B9), C
Minerals:
Calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, copper, iron, zinc
Calories per 100g:
21
The recipe is simple:
Cut off a slice of watermelon, cut that into strips or chunks, and put them through a juice extractor. A one-inch thick slice, approximately eight inches in diameter, will yield about 16oz of juice. Add some ice cubes and a splash of club soda and you have a delicious and nutritious drink that will rejuvenate and energize you.
Tips for the best results:
- Give the watermelon an ice-cold bath. Scrub away any dirt accumulated during harvesting and transportation.
- Refrigerate the watermelon for an hour or two before using so that the juice extracted is pleasantly chilled.
- Once extracted, the juice begins to oxidize very quickly. Therefore, it's best to drink the juice as soon as possible after it has been made. This is true of all freshly made juices. Storing watermelon juice for any length of time is not recommended.
When selecting a watermelon, here are three things to look for:
- Give it a good thump with your knuckle. It should sound hollow.
- The spot on the watermelon where it was laying on the ground should be a little bit flat and a pale colour.
- Scratch the green skin gently with your fingernail. It should come off relatively easily.
Summer is short as is the time watermelons are in season. Before you know it, they will be gone for another year. So get out there and enjoy them both!
Sources
- Caroline Wheater, Juicing for Health, Thorsons, 2001
- Jay Kordich, The Juiceman's Power of Juicing, Warner Books, 1993
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