Comments on: How to Make Watermelon Rind Pickles – Canning Recipes

By: Karolyn

Karolyn — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 04:44:37 +0000

My grandmother (my mother’s mother) mentioned Pickled Watermelon Rinds this weekend and that she wished she had her mother’s recipe for them. So, being the good granddaughter, I googled some recipes for her. What I didn’t realize until I saw some of the pictures of the pickled rinds, is that my other grandmother (my father’s mother who has since passed on) used to make pickles like these for us, but I never knew they were watermelon rinds! I LOVED those “pickles” as a kid, they were sweet and a bit tangy, I just always thought she had just cut up cucumbers differently and peeled them. They had the same texture. I do believe that the longer they sit, the better they are! Maybe try a different recipe? I know they’re delicious!

By: lynn

lynn — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 20:21:50 +0000

Instead of using salt, try pickling lime — it keeps the chunks crisp, but does not give that salty taste. The chunks do get better with age, but they should taste OK to start with. I grew up boiling cinnamon sticks and cloves in the syrup, and putting a slice of ginger, one small cinnamon stick, and a blade of mace in each jar.

hope this helps.

Lynn

By: kathi bailey

kathi bailey — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 18:42:07 +0000

Hey I love your honesty! I was right there with you…loving the scents in the kitchen. Next time, make the syrup as the recipe calls. No matter how much product you have to put in it, you can always soak another type of fruit in the leftover syrup. Peaches, watermelon, even beets. Have you tried cloves in the syrup? They add another layer of flavor. I found out the hard way to NEVER overcook them, that is disgusting, all that soft, unappealing mush. I hope you tried again, the pickles are great.

By: On Pickling Watermelon | Go Meat Yourself

On Pickling Watermelon | Go Meat Yourself — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 23:28:04 +0000

[...] Tatted dude working his melon, foreals. [...]

By: Cathy

Cathy — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 18:46:20 +0000

Yes, you have to let them sit for a few months first. I’ve made them for years, and my mom did too. Her recipe is much the same as the Bell canning book. But, please process correctly, don’t want anyone getting sick.

By: heather

heather — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 21:19:05 +0000

@Joanna- Thank you SO MUCH for writing that in! Maybe that’s what all of us are doing wrong! At least we know now for next year. I’m going to do another batch and let them sit like you suggest. I never would have thought that might be the problem.

Thanks again!

By: joanna

joanna — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 20:46:24 +0000

+1, Sarah. I made watermelon rind pickles for the first time last year, and didn’t have enough sterilized jars, so I just set the leftovers in a regular jar and stuck ‘em in the fridge. I tried them after they cooled down – and almost threw out the whole batch. Frugality won, however, so I kept them. At least two months passed before I took another stab at them, but somehow, during that 2 month period, they morphed into my childhood. Memories of my grandmother’s relish tray flew into my head. I was content. This year, I put a “do not use until” sticker on the jars.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 21:23:05 +0000

I haven’t made any yet, but my mother always did when I was a child. My recollection was that we made them in the summer (obviously), but we never ate them until Christmas. I remember having them at Thanksgiving one year because us kids begged and they were awful! My mother put quietly put them back in the fridge and said we would have to wait for Christmas because the weren’t ready yet.
They are sweet pickles with a little vinegar taste, and taste nothing like watermelon.

By: Important Lessons in Frugality from The Greatest Generation | The Greenest Dollar

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:06:58 +0000

[...] is, for the most part, far tastier than anything I can buy in a store (well, except for those watermelon rind pickles).3. Time Your Trip to the Grocery StoreMy grandmother had a set weekly budget for food. She [...]

By: heather

heather — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 11:44:32 +0000

@Rachel- Oh NO! I thought it was just me! Wow, I’m so sorry about that. Well, at least we all know. That stinks!