🍉 Classic Sweet Watermelon Rind Pickles 🍉

This recipe transforms the white part of the watermelon rind—the part usually discarded—into a crunchy, sweet, and tangy preserve.

🍴 Yields: Approximately 3 Pints

⏳ Prep Time: 1 hour (plus overnight soaking)

⏱️ Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

❄️ Chill Time: 2 weeks (minimum)

Ingredients

I. The Rind Preparation

• 1 medium watermelon (to yield about 8 cups of rind cubes)

• 3 quarts (12 cups) cold water

• 1/4 cup pickling lime (calcium hydroxide) OR 1 tablespoon pickling salt

II. The Syrup Brine

• 4 cups granulated sugar

• 2 cups water

• 1 cup white vinegar (5% acidity)

• 2 teaspoons whole cloves

• 3 inches cinnamon stick (broken into pieces)

• 1 lemon, sliced very thin

Instructions

Phase 1: Preparing the Watermelon Rind