Kamal Ghorui
On a warm summer’s day, there is no better experience than enjoying a cold slice of watermelon. Sadly, many people do not have instant access to a fridge due to various reasons, such as traveling, camping out, or having power outages. Luckily, there exists a smart way out which enables you to enjoy fresh watermelon slices in record time without even using a fridge. Using readily available tools and some knowledge of science, you can chill your watermelon in ten minutes.
How to chill watermelon quickly without a fridge
However, the most efficient approach relies on the use of ice, water, and salt:
- To begin with, you should pour cold water into a big bucket or bowl.
- Ice cubes should be added together with some salt.
- Then, the whole watermelon needs to be submerged in this mixture for ten minutes.
Such an approach is efficient because it takes advantage of the fact that the freezing point of water decreases due to the addition of salt. In other words, freezing point depression means that water gets colder due to the presence of salt. As per basic chemistry rules, it enables cooling food more rapidly than using only ice.The rapid cooling of food is recommended through ice baths. Even though this trick is frequently applied to drinks, it proves to be effective when used with foods like watermelons as well.
The science behind this cooling trick
It all depends on the process of heat transfer. When you put the watermelon in very cold salty water, the heat transfers from the watermelon into the water surrounding it. The reason behind this rapid cooling is because of the presence of salt in the ice-cold water, which lowers its temperature significantly.Studies in food preservation and temperature control have revealed that water has better heat transfer properties than air, which explains why the watermelon can be cooled faster when immersed in water rather than being kept in the freezer or in a cool place.Also, the outer layer of the watermelon keeps the water inside while at the same time ensuring that the cooling process reaches all parts of the watermelon.
Simple tips for best results
However, to obtain the desired result, you need to have plenty of ice and submerge your watermelon completely. Turning it halfway through the process will contribute to the uniform cooling of the fruit. Even if ice is scarce, even cold salty water could work.In case you prefer smaller pieces of watermelon, you could easily cut it into pieces and put it into an ice bath with the addition of salt. But remember to store pieces of the fruit in a plastic bag to prevent them from coming into contact with salty water.Another recommendation that needs mentioning is that it is better to eat watermelon right after it is cooled down. Eating fresh fruits is always tastier as their texture and flavour do not suffer from long contact with moisture.As you see, it turns out that modern technology does not have a monopoly on the enjoyment of life. Thanks to simple techniques and knowledge, you will be able to cool down the watermelon in no time.
