Turning Watermelon into Candy

My kids just love watermelon. But they always leave a mess when they eat it, and making melon balls just gave me the opportunity to make my own mess. I wanted a cleaner way to let them eat it, and have a large supply of the fruit available for them to eat. So a few years ago, I decided to try out dehydrating watermelon. I wasn’t sure how well it would work, due to the large water content, but the end result was a treat for the taste buds comparable to candy. Here is how I did it:

Slice watermelon about ¼ inch thick, and place in the dehydrator. Dry the fruit for about 12 hours, then turn it over. At this point, it may be extremely sticky or soggy, but don’t fret – just continue to dehydrate another 12 hours on the other side. Once the melon is dry, pull it off, it may be stuck and similar to the consistency of a fruit roll-up.

I found that dried watermelon was passable as candy when I tested it on a few children in the neighborhood. Not only was it a hit, but the parents asked me where to buy it! They couldn’t believe that it was just dried watermelon – but they were sure impressed.

You can grow your own watermelon in the spring, summer, and fall - dehydrate anything you don't eat, and save it for winter. This is an excellent way to enjoy the flavor and healthy benefits of real watermelon all year long, without worrying about high supermarket prices or seasonal shortages!