Candied watermelon rind

Candied watermelon rind is a fun treat and a terrific way to use some of your food scraps and turn them into something you'd want to eat!

I saw this recipe over at Sew Historically and knew I had to give it a try. Watermelon rind is edible, though not especially tasty raw. My kids are watermelon monsters, so I buy one almost every week in the summer, leaving us with A LOT of rinds to compost or throw away. In the past I've canned watermelon rind pickles, but these days I don't really get as much canning done as I used to, so I loved finding a new way to use the rinds.

The process to candy the rind takes about 4 days, but most of the time is completely hands-off. I scaled up the recipe to make more and I added some drying time in the direct sunlight. It's an imperfect process that you have to play by ear; a dehydrator may be helpful here and cut down on drying time, but mine turned out delicious!

Candied watermelon rind is similar to other candied rinds like oranges, lemon, and grapefruits. Watermelon rind is bland in flavor, so the lemon in this recipe adds the flavor. 

These are a fun and tasty treat to eat out of hand for a few days - they are almost like a fruit snack in a way. Their shape and texture also remind me of a gummy worm - sweet, a little tart, and a touch chewy. We eat them out of hand, but you can use them to decorate the tops of cupcakes or other treats as well.

Yield: about 10 servings  
Author: Amy Bartlett (Savory Moments)

Candied Watermelon Rind

Candied watermelon rind is a fun treat and a terrific way to use some of your food scraps and turn them into something you'd want to eat!

Ingredients:

Part 1

• about 6 heaped cups watermelon rind, cut into about 2-inch strips approximately 1/4-inch wide and green portion removed (it's okay to leave some pink, though it takes longer to fully dry)
• 6 cups water
• 1-1/2 tablespoons salt

Part 2

• 3 cups water
• 3 cups sugar
• 1 lemon, sliced

Instructions:

1. Part 1: In a large bowl or container, stir everything together. Cover with plastic wrap/lid and let the rinds soak in the refrigerator overnight. Drain and rinse the rind. Place the rind in a saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil and then reduce and simmer for one hour. Drain again.
2. Part 2: In a saucepan, bring the water and sugar to a boil. Stir and when the sugar is dissolved, add the watermelon rinds and lemon slices. Simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Drain again and then transfer the rinds to a baking sheet lined with parchment or a silicon mat. Let dry for about 36-48 hours, turning halfway through (I put mine out into the sun for about 4-5 hours halfway through to help).

Notes:

You can add other flavorings with the lemon like ginger or cinnamon as well, if desired. The finished product does not taste like watermelon. It tastes like sweet lemon. Store in an airtight container and snack on as desired.

Created using The Recipes Generator

I hope you give these candied watermelon rinds a try! Let me know in the comments below.

Looking for another way to use up your watermelon rinds? Check out these watermelon rind pickles.