Can You Freeze Cantaloupe?

Whether you have a fresh bounty of cantaloupe or you are wondering if it's possible to preserve the summer sweetness of melon season, it’s likely you have asked yourself: Can you freeze cantaloupe?

There's good news for those looking to preserve the sweet, juicy fruit for future use.

North Carolina-based chef Fred Tiess tells Southern Living that growing up, he remembers enjoying frozen melon balls "in the dead of winter" as a treat.

"What was interesting was how sweet they were compared to the cantaloupes we had over the summer," Tiess says. "The difference was the concentrated flavor that occurred during the freezing process."

When freezing cantaloupe, Tiess says it is important to freeze it as rapidly as possible after it is harvested for maximum quality using a fast-freezing method. He pointed to a brief on freezing food from the University of Minnesota that explains the importance of fast freezing water-based fruits and vegetables.

"Water and other chemicals are held within the fairly rigid cell walls that give structure and texture to the fruit or vegetable. When you freeze fruits and vegetables you actually are freezing the water in the plant cells," the website states. "In rapid freezing, a large number of small ice crystals are formed. Small ice crystals produce less cell wall rupture than slow freezing, which produces only a few large ice crystals."

Can You Freeze Cantaloupe?

Yes, you can freeze cantaloupe. When you have an abundance of cantaloupe during peak season, consider frozen preparations to enjoy later in the season, such as No-Churn Sorbet, for use in a smoothie, or as a refreshing Agua Fresca.

"Defrosted cantaloupe can also be used with fresh jicama, cucumber, and red onions," Tiess says, pointing to Southern Living’s Cantaloupe Salad with Chile-Lime Dressing.

How To Freeze Cantaloupe

To maintain most of the integrity of the cantaloupe, Tiess recommends: 

1. Wash the cantaloupe first in water to remove any dirt and mitigate the risk of contamination. 
2. Peel the cantaloupe and slice in half, removing the seeds.
3. Dice the cantaloupe and toss with a small bit of lime juice. "The acid will help prevent oxidation, or browning, of the melon,” Tiess says.
4. Place the cantaloupe on a rack or sheet pan and place it into freezer for a rapid freeze.
5. Remove and pack cantaloupe into sealable bags, and store in the freezer below 0°F until needed.

What Is Rapid Freezing?

Rapid freezing, also known as fast freezing, helps to improve the quality of frozen foods.

"Rapid freezing prevents undesirable large ice crystals from forming throughout the product because the molecules don't have time to form into the characteristic six-sided snowflake," the USDA states on their website. "Slow freezing creates large, disruptive ice crystals. During thawing, they damage the cells and dissolve emulsions."

Rapid freezing works best when food is frozen quickly and as low a temperature as possible (0°F, or lower, is recommended).

How To Thaw Frozen Cantaloupe

Though you can freeze cantaloupe, Tiess says it is important to recognize the texture will be much softer when thawed. 

"The cell walls will break down, or rupture, as the cantaloupe freezes," he says. 

To enjoy frozen cantaloupe, Tiess says to remove the melon from the freezer and place it in a serving dish.

"Allow (the cantaloupe) to defrost in the refrigerator for several hours before serving," he says.