Blender Watermelon Juice

One of the simplest things you can do for your health this summer is to hydrate. It’s been a focus for me since I’ve been spending time at Lake Tahoe, where the weather is hot and very dry. If I’m not on my hydration game, I can see it in my energy level (and certainly in my skin). Most mornings I make up a cooler of ice water and throw in lemon wedges, cucumber slices, fruit scraps, or fresh mint to encourage everyone to drink up. And over the past few weeks, I’ve added this Blender Watermelon Juice to the fridge. Since watermelon is 92 percent water, it’s a perfect fruit for a hydration fix.

Use the Whole Fruit

I’ve long preached the benefits of eating whole fruit over juice. Part of this has to do with the fact that you miss out on the fiber and some of the nutrients with juice, but also because it’s a royal pain to use and clean a juicer. This Watermelon Juice bi-passes the downfalls of juicing, since the whole fruit goes into the blender. The result? No loss of nutrients and no pesky juicer to tidy up. A quick clean of the blender under the tap does the trick.

How to Choose a Watermelon

The first step in making this juice is, of course, to get ahold of a watermelon. Choose a seedless one in any variety. Try to find one that feels heavy for its size. You can pick up a few at the market and choose the one that feels most dense. Look for skin that is free of dents or bruises and a buttery yellow ground spot (that’s the paler spot where the watermelon sat on the ground, growing under the hot sun). That being said, even if you get a bit of a dud, blending it into juice is a pretty good way to still enjoy its juicy flavor.

Adjust for Sweetness

Since watermelon can vary in sweetness, you may want to adjust your blended juice. I like to add a squeeze of lime when it’s on the sweeter side. Occasionally you’ll get a melon that comes up short in sweetness, in which case you may want to add a teaspoon or two of honey or agave to the juice and blend again.

Stir Before Serving

Because this juice uses the whole fruit, it separates and can get “pulpy” as it sits. Just give it a good stir before pouring into a glass.

Make it a Cocktail

I mostly enjoy watermelon juice straight up and cold from the fridge, but it also makes a refreshing cocktail. Here’s how:

Pour 3/4 cup Blender Watermelon Juice into a cocktail shaker with an ice cube or two. Add one ounce (two tablespoons) vodka, gin, tequila, or mezcal and one to two teaspoons lime juice. Shake well. Pour into a glass over ice. Garnish with a lime wedge, fresh mint, or fresh basil.

Watermelon Nutrition

To learn more about the nutritional benefits of watermelon, head here.

For other watermelon recipes, you might like:

Watermelon Lime Pops

Watermelon Wedge Salad

Watermelon and Strawberry Salad from Liz’s Healthy Table

Watermelon Gazpacho from Simply Recipes

Watermelon Feta Bites by Pamela Salzman