Kirbie's Cravings

Watermelon Thirst Quencher Juice

Watermelon juice is so easy to make at home and a healthy way to stay hydrated during the summer. In this post, I share how to make watermelon juice plus recipe tips including how to pick the best watermelon.

photo of glasses of watermelon juice

I’ve noticed watermelon juice on menus at cafes and restaurants here in San Diego and I’m always surprised at how much they charge. I’ve been drinking watermelon juice at home for as long as I can remember and it’s super easy to make at home.

My mom introduced me to watermelon juice as a kid and it was our favorite drink during the summers because it really quenches your thirst. It makes sense, watermelon has a high water content (about 91%), healthy antioxidants, and its natural sweetness makes it a perfect fruit to serve as a thirst-quenching drink.

We loved it as kids and I make it now just like she did. So, when I see it at restaurants, I never order it because it’s easy and cheaper to make at home. It’s so refreshing and you can make a big batch of this watermelon juice recipe and keep it in the refrigerator.

Ingredients

  • Small watermelon -you can also use larger ones to make a bigger batch of juice and adjust the other ingredients.
  • Fresh lime juice
  • Sweetener – you can use granulated sugar, simple syrup, agave syrup, or even honey.
  • You can also add ice cubes if your watermelon isn’t cold, but I find the ice dilutes the juice too much so I usually skip it.

My mom’s watermelon juice has just one ingredient: watermelon. I like to add a little fresh lime juice to mine because it gives it a fresh citrus twist.

You don’t need any added sugar as long as you are using fresh in-season watermelons. They are plenty sweet as they are, but you can always add sugar to suit your tastes.

My mom’s watermelon juice is a little different from others I’ve seen online because she uses both the flesh and part of the watermelon rind, which is full of nutrients and edible. Since the fruit and rind are blended together the watermelon juice is more like a smoothie since the rind makes it a little thicker.

overhead photo of a glass watermelon juice garnished with lime

Instructions

Place the watermelon chunks and lime juice in a blender. Blend until the watermelon is pureed.

You can strain the juice through a fine-mesh strainer, but I prefer to drink it as it is.

Give it a taste and, if needed, add sugar, to taste.

How to Pick a Sweet Watermelon

Before you make watermelon juice you will need to pick out a watermelon. I learned how to pick perfect watermelons from my mom who is pretty much a watermelon whisperer. She’s so good at picking them people ask for her help at the store.

The key to picking a ripe and sweet watermelon is the sound it makes when you rap on the bottom. When you hit the watermelon with the palm of your hand, you want to hear a hollow-like sound and you should hear a sound like water swishing through it. If you hear a very dull thud, those watermelons are usually mushy.

How to Cut a Watermelon

Cut the watermelon in half with a sharp knife and then cut each half into slices.

Cut the slices into cubes, including the white portions of the rind. Slice as close to the skin as possible. You will have some all flesh cubes and some with the white portion (see the photo above). You can use both to make your watermelon juice.

If you don’t want to use the rind, you can cut chunks out with a knife or use a melon baller to scoop out the flesh.

How to Store the Juice

What I like about this watermelon juice is that I can make a big batch and keep it in the refrigerator. You can keep it in a large pitcher with a lid, but what I think is even better is to portion the juice out in mason jars. That way I have single-servings ready to go.

watermelon juice in mason jars

Also, since the pulp in the juice will settle, the mason jars make it really easy to just shake the juice up before I drink it since you can fit the jars with lids.

Fresh watermelon juice will keep in the refrigerator for up to three days. A big batch doesn’t last long at our house because we have some at every meal.

Recipe Variations

Melon: You can use this method to make any kind of melon drink. Yellow watermelons, cantaloupe, and honeydew melons are other kinds that would work well. You can also do a blend of melons to change the flavor.

Add-Ins: Feel free to add fresh mint leaves or grated ginger to dress up your watermelon juice. You can also swap the lime juice for lemon juice.

Cocktails: You can use the juice to make cocktails, too. Try watermelon margaritas, rum mojitos, vodka drinks, or mix the juice with your favorite alcohol to create your own cocktail. For cocktails, it is better to strain the juice through a fine-mesh sieve before you use it.

More Watermelon Recipes

Watermelon Thirst Quencher Juice

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: Asian
Growing up, during the summer months, my mom made us fresh watermelon juice to go with our meals. Watermelon contains more water than any other fruit, about 91% water. That makes it ideal for a fruit juice that will actually quench your thirst.
5 from 1 vote

Ingredients

  • 1 personal sized watermelon you can also use larger ones, just adjust the ingredient portions
  • juice from 1 lime
  • sugar optional, to taste

Instructions

  • Slice open watermelon and cut into slices. Cut watermelon slices into cubes, including the white portions, as close to skin as possible (see the photo in the post). Save the sweet red portions for eating if desired, otherwise you can juice it as well.
  • Add watermelon, lime juice, sugar if needed, into blender and blend at high speed until smooth. The pulpy portions may sink to bottom if juice is not consumed right away but you can always shake it again before drinking.

Notes

Tips for Picking Watermelons
My mom taught me the key to picking a ripe watermelon is the sound. When you hit the watermelon with the palm of your hand you want to hear a hollow-like sound, where you can hear the water swishing through it. If you hear a very dull thud, those watermelons are usually mushy.

The nutrition information provided are only estimates based on an online nutritional calculator. I am not a certified nutritionist. Please consult a professional nutritionist or doctor for accurate information and any dietary restrictions and concerns you may have.

Did you make this recipe?I'd love to see it! Mention @KirbieCravings and tag #kirbiecravings!

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2 comments on “Watermelon Thirst Quencher Juice”

  1. I can not wait to make. I am diabetic and this sounds so quenching