How Long Does Honeydew Last? Keep Honeydew Melon Fresh

A honeydew melon, also known as green melon, is a fruit that’s rich in flavor and packed with vitamins and minerals. It’s similar to a cantaloupe, but honeydew is much sweeter tasting. Due to their high sugar content, honeydew doesn’t last very long once harvested.

So how long does honeydew last? At room temperature, a whole honeydew will last 2 to 4 days. Cut or sliced honeydew will last no longer than 4 hours at room temperature. In the fridge, whether it’s cut or whole, honeydew will last about 5 to 7 days. The freezer will keep them fresh for about 10 to 12 months.

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Honeydew Melon Shelf Life

	Room Temperature	Refrigerator	Freezer
Whole Honeydew	2 to 4 Days	5 to 7 Days	Not Recommended
Cut or Sliced Honeydew	4 Hours	5 to 7 Days	10 to 12 months

How Long Does Honeydew Last?

At room temperature or in the pantry, a whole honeydew melon will last for about 2 to 4 days. Of course, the temperature will be a big factor in how long they can last. The hotter it is, the faster they will go bad.

For honeydew that has been cut or sliced, at room temperature, they will last for about 4 hours. Again, the warmer the temperature is, the quicker they will go bad.

In the fridge, honeydew will last about 5 to 7 days. The melon fruit should be stored in an airtight container or a resealable freezer bag. Also, you can store them as whole fruit, but store them in the crisp section of the fridge and away from other fruits and vegetables.

As for the freezer, honeydew will last approximately 10 to 12 months. It’s not recommended to store the entire fruit in the freezer as they could take up a lot of space and it turns slushy when it thaw. Therefore, it’s best to cut or slice honeydew before putting them in the freezer.

How To Store Honeydew

If you’re planning to store them at room temperature, keep them somewhere that’s cool and dry, and away from any heat source. A good place to store honeydew is in the pantry. If not, it can be stored anywhere in the kitchen that’s doesn’t have the fruit in direct sunlight. Storing them at room temperature doesn’t last very long. As soon as they begin to turn yellowish, it’s best to transfer them to the fridge to extend their shelf life.

When storing honeydew in the fridge, you’ll need to store them in an airtight container or a resealable plastic bag. Not only will the container keeps the fruit fresh, but it will prevent other foods from being destroyed by the honeydew. Honeydew is one of the fruits that produce ethylene gas. This gas will prematurely ripen other fruits and vegetables you may have in the fridge.

Since honeydew takes up a lot of space in the fridge, it’s best to cut or slice them and store them in the airtight container. However, if you still want to store the entire fruit, store them in the crisp section and away from other fruits and vegetables.

Can You Freeze Honeydew?

Honeydew freeze very well in the freezer. Freezing them can extend their shelf life by a year. This is great for those people who love to eat honeydew, especially during the colder season when the fruit isn’t available.

Whole honeydew is not recommended for freezing due to its thick skin and the size of it. Due to their size, it will take up a lot of space in the freezer.
Additionally, it will take a long time to freeze and require a steady temperature of 0 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent it from going bad.

When it thaws, you’ll end up with a mess too. Instead of being firm, the honeydew will be soft and slushy. This is great if you’re planning to use it for smoothies and other fruit drinks. Otherwise, it won’t taste very good.

To store them in the freezer, honeydew should be cut or sliced first. By cutting or slicing them into smaller pieces, they will take up less space in the freezer.

After it’s cut or sliced, always store them in an airtight container or a freezer bag. If you’re storing them in a freezer bag, make sure to squeeze out as much air as possible before sealing the bag.

If there is a lot of air in the bag, the longer they are stored in the freezer, the more they are prone to freezer burn.

The last way to store honeydew in the freezer is to blend them into a puree first. After it’s blended, place it into an airtight container and seal it tightly. This makes a great addition to any fruit smoothie or other drinks that require honeydew puree.

How To Freeze Honeydew

Freezing honeydew is very simple and doesn’t require a lot of prepping. There are two ways to freeze honeydew and below are the instructions:

Freezing cut or sliced honeydew melon

Wash the honeydew with water.
Scrub the fruit with a soft brush to remove any debris.
Cut the honeydew in half.
Use a spoon and carve out all the seeds from the fruit.
Slice the rind of the honeydew.
Cut or slice them into smaller pieces.
Put the pieces of honeydew into an airtight container or a freezer bag.
Leave about an inch of space at the top of the container. If using a freezer bag, squeeze out as much air as possible before sealing it.
Label the container or freezer bag with the date it was prepared.
Put them into the freezer.

Freezing honeydew melon puree

Wash honeydew with water.
Use a soft brush and scrub the fruit gently to remove any debris.
Use a sharp knife to cut the honeydew in half.
Take a spoon and scoop the seeds out.
Take a knife and carefully peel the rind of the honeydew.
Place the fruit into the blender.
Start blending it and check the consistency. If it seems too thick, add some water to it and blend it again.
Once you’re satisfied with the consistency of the puree, pour it into an airtight container or freezer bag.
Label the container or bag and place it in the freezer.

How To Keep Honeydew Melon Lasting Longer

Keeping honeydew lasting as long as possible will depend on when you’ve purchased it and how you handle it. Below are more in-depth on how you should purchase honeydew and how to handle them correctly so they’ll last a long longer.

Purchasing Honeydew

When purchasing honeydew melon, always pick a quality one. You’ll want to choose one that is about to ripe. Choosing honeydew that has ripped already will have a short shelf life when you take it home.

A good quality honeydew should be spherical and well-shaped in appearance. The skin shouldn’t have any tears or scars on it either. Turn the honeydew and inspect the stem of it. There should not be any tears or scars. If there are some, it means the honeydew was harvested too early. When it’s harvested too early, it will not ripen correctly and will lack the flavor and taste.

As for the color of the honeydew, it should be a tinted gold base color. If it’s any other color, it’s not riped yet.

Once you’re satisfied with the appearance, check the weight of it. Honeydew should be heavy. If it feels light or really easy to pick up, the melon is probably bad inside or it’s underdeveloped.

The last thing to check is the smell. Good honeydew should smell sweet and musky.

Handling Honeydew

Honeydew can get damaged easily and by handling them properly, this will ensure they last as long as possible.

After purchasing them, rinse them with clean water first. Then use a soft brush and scrub the honeydew melons until it’s cleaned of debris.

If you’re planning to store them in the pantry, gently place them somewhere that it will not get bumped by other products or objects. Once the skin is bruised, the honeydew will start going bad.

When you are ready to cut the honeydew, always wash your hand with warm water first. Place the melon on a clean cutting board and uses a clean knife to cut it.

How To Tell When Honeydew Is Bad

When honeydew goes bad, there are signs that it will exhibit. Honeydew is made up mostly of water so when it goes bad, you can easily tell by its appearance and the odor that it gives off. Below are the things to look out for when honeydew is bad or about to go bad.

Appearance– The color of the honeydew will turn dark yellow. The rind will also be soft and collapse. When you see this, most likely, it has gone bad and should be discarded. It may also start developing mold on it. If you see any of these, throw the entire fruit away.
Odor– Honeydew that has gone bad will have a foul smell to it. Good honeydew should smell fresh and musty. If it has an off smell or smells something that you’re not familiar with, throw it away.
Flavor– Bad honeydew will taste bland and will have a vinegary taste to it. If it tastes anything like this, discard the entire fruit.