While summer is the perfect season to enjoy watermelons, here are some tips to consume it safely.
Rich in antioxidants like lycopene and amino acids like citrulline, watermelon can help boost immunity, improve blood flow, and regulate blood pressure. Because it is over 90% water, it is an excellent way to stay hydrated when our bodies produce a lot of sweat during the hot summer months.
However, improper storage can turn a watermelon into a potential hazard.
While it’s best to consume watermelon all at once, its large size often leads people to cut it and store it in the refrigerator.
Wrapping watermelon in plastic wrap or leaving it on a tray in the fridge can increase the risk of bacterial contamination.
The Korea Consumer Agency conducted an experiment in 2015 that showed bacteria rapidly multiplying on the cut surface of a watermelon wrapped in plastic.
From the first moment of cutting into the watermelon, the bacterial growth grew from 140 per gram to 420,000 after one week of refrigeration in plastic wrap, amounting to a 3,000-fold increase. The Consumer Agency analyzed that bacteria from the rind likely transferred to the flesh during the cutting process.
“It is safest to consume watermelon on the day of purchase. If you have leftover watermelon, store it in an airtight container,” they advised.
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