• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Peak to Plate
  • Spring Favorites
  • Recipes
  • About Me
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Spring Favorites
  • Recipes
  • About Me
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Spring Favorites
    • Recipes
    • About Me
    • Contact
    • Subscribe
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Peak to Plate » Other (Snacks, Dessert, etc.)

    Dehydrated Watermelon (Watermelon Jerky)

    Published: Aug 24, 2020 · Modified: Apr 5, 2022 by Annie Weisz · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Sharing is caring!

    • Facebook
    Jump to Recipe

    Have you ever bought one of those "personal" watermelons in the middle of winter only to be disappointed by their lack of flavor and grainy texture? There's no comparison to the flavor that a fresh, late summer watermelon provides. If you've ever wanted to enjoy that flavor all year long, this watermelon jerky recipe is for you! Watermelon is mostly made of, you guessed it, water. When you dehydrate it, the flavor and sweetness get so concentrated, you'll think you're eating candy. I like to store it in freezer zippered bags to keep it fresh. Watermelon jerky makes a great hunting or hiking snack because it's lightweight and provides the carb boost you need on a long trek.

    watermelon jerky in bowl with green linen
    Jump to:
    • Ingredients:
    • Equipment:
    • How to select a watermelon:
    • How to cut a watermelon:
    • How to dehydrate watermelon:
    • Dehydrated Watermelon (Watermelon Jerky)

    Ingredients:

    • Fresh Watermelon

    Equipment:

    • Dehydrator
    • Parchment Paper

    How to select a watermelon:

    We've all seen someone at the grocery store knocking on melons to see if they make a hollow sound to determine ripeness. I've never been successful with that method. I choose my watermelon by turning it over to see if it has a flat, yellow spot on the bottom. If it does, this means it was ripened in the field and is ready to eat. If it doesn't, I keep looking!

    watermelon on counter
    yellow bottom of watermelon

    How to cut a watermelon:

    Cutting a large watermelon can be a daunting task. But if you have the right tools and a little knowledge, you'll be done in no time! I like to use a large cutting board that fits the whole watermelon. Having a sharp knife makes a world of difference when it comes to cutting a watermelon. We like to sharpen our knives with this sharpener.

    Step 1

    Wash the outside of the watermelon thoroughly. Melons are notorious for harboring listeria. Even though you won't be eating the rind, the bacteria can be transferred from your knife to the edible part of the fruit when you cut it.

    Step 2

    Cut the ends off of the watermelon to make a flat surface.

    watermelon with bottom cut off

    Step 3

    Set the watermelon on one of the cut ends. Cut strips of rind off the watermelon by starting from the top cut end. Keep going until all the rind has been removed.

    watermelon with rind partially removed
    watermelon with rind removed

    Step 4

    Cut the watermelon in half lengthwise. Cut watermelon into thin slices ⅛"-¼" thick. Then cut slices into rectangles about 1 ½" wide and 4" long. The shape and size are less important than the thickness. The thicker the pieces are, the longer it will take to dehydrate.

    watermelon cut in half
    watermelon in thin slices
    watermelon rectangle slices

    How to dehydrate watermelon:

    Since watermelon contains so much water, it takes longer than most fruits do to dehydrate. Depending on your dehydrator and the thickness of your slices, it can take 24-30 hours. Because it loses so much water, the dehydrator can become a sticky mess. That's where parchment paper comes in handy. It takes a little more work in the beginning to cut the pieces to the size of your dehydrator trays, but it saves so much clean up time. If you've ever found bits of jerky stuck to your dehydrator trays multiple uses later, you know what I'm saying.

    Arranging watermelon slices in a single layer with a little space in between slices will help speed up the drying process. I like to check on the pieces a few times to flip them over and rearrange the trays. Some pieces may get done quicker than others so it's important to check.

    When it's all finished, I like to store it in zippered bags in the freezer to keep it fresh and enjoy all winter long.

    watermelon on dehydrator trays
    watermelon in dehydrator
    watermelon on dehydrator tray
    close up of watermelon jerky
    watermelon jerky in zippered bags
    watermelon jerky in bowl
    watermelon jerky in bowl with green linen
    What is watermelon jerky?

    Watermelon jerky is watermelon that has been dehydrated. The removal of the water gives it a jerky-like texture.

    What does watermelon jerky taste like?

    Watermelon jerky is super sweet and delicious! Imagine the best watermelon you've ever had but the flavor is super concentrated.

    How do I store dehydrated watermelon?

    If dehydrated properly, it can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature. But to ensure freshness, store it in an airtight container in the freezer.

    If you make this recipe, please leave a star rating at the bottom of the page! This provides helpful feedback to me and fellow readers. And if you want more delicious, wild game recipes you can subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Instagram and Pinterest!

    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    watermelon jerky in white bowl with green linen.

    Dehydrated Watermelon (Watermelon Jerky)

    Annie Weisz
    Watermelon jerky is an ultra-sweet, chewy version of the summer fruit we all know and love.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe
    Prep Time 30 mins
    Cook Time 1 d
    Total Time 1 d 30 mins
    Course Snack
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8
    Calories 169 kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • Dehydrator
    • Parchment Paper

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 watermelon

    Instructions
     

    • Wash outside of watermelon thoroughly.
    • Cut ends off of watermelon to make flat surfaces.
    • Set watermelon on one cut end. Cut rind into strips by starting at the top. Keep going until all rind has been removed.
    • Cut the watermelon in half lengthwise. Cut watermelon into thin slices ⅛"-¼" thick. Then cut slices into rectangles about 1 ½" wide and 4" long. The shape and size are less important than the thickness. The thicker the pieces are, the longer it will take to dehydrate.
    • Cut pieces of parchment paper to fit dehydrator racks.
    • Lay watermelon in a single layer on parchment paper lined racks with some space in between slices.
    • Set dehydrator to "fruit" setting, usually 135-145°F. Dehydrate for 24-30 hours. Flip slices halfway through and rotate dehydrator trays. Some slices will be done before others. Remove finished slices while the others continue to dehydrate.
    • Store in zippered bags in the freezer for maximum freshness.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 169kcalCarbohydrates: 42gProtein: 3gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 6mgPotassium: 630mgFiber: 2gSugar: 35gVitamin A: 3201IUVitamin C: 46mgCalcium: 39mgIron: 1mg
    Nutrition Information Disclosure
    Love this recipe?Mention @peak.to.plate on Instagram and tag #peaktoplate
    Jump to:
    • Ingredients:
    • Equipment:
    • How to select a watermelon:
    • How to cut a watermelon:
    • How to dehydrate watermelon:
    • Dehydrated Watermelon (Watermelon Jerky)

    More Recipes:

    • venison mushroom hand pie cut open.
      Venison and Wild Mushroom Hand Pies with Stout Beer
    • scooping spoon into bowl of venison sausage and gnocchi soup.
      Venison Sausage and Gnocchi Soup
    • dipping spoon into bowl of pheasant noodle soup.
      Classic Pheasant Noodle Soup
    • open jar of pheasant stock with feathers.
      Easy Crockpot Pheasant Stock

    Sharing is caring!

    • Facebook

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Comment Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    posing with whitetail doe

    Hi, I'm Annie! I'm a wife, mom of 2 boys, Registered Dietitian, Wyoming native, lover of all things food, and the creator of Peak to Plate. I believe that preparing delicious meals and enjoying them mindfully is the best way to pay respect to animals harvested for our consumption. I hope to inspire you to take your cooking skills to new creative heights.

    More about me →

    Follow Me:

    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    Spring Recipes

    • halibut green curry in white bowl with wood spoon.
      Halibut Green Curry
    • miso halibut with shiitakes and green onions.
      Easy Broiled Miso Halibut
    • sliced medium rare elk steak with chipotle butter.
      Elk Steak with Chipotle Compound Butter
    • venison poke bowl with chopsticks.
      Venison Poke Bowls
    • elk meatballs with stout and mushroom gravy in cast iron pan.
      Elk Meatballs with Stout and Mushroom Gravy
    • cutting into breakfast strata on plate.
      Breakfast Strata with Antelope Sausage (Overnight Breakfast Casserole)

    Featured On:

    company logos peak to plate is featured at.

    Popular Posts:

    • cooked venison Italian sausage in bowl.
      Ground Venison Italian Sausage
    • stack of elk quesadillas with guacamole.
      Ground Elk Quesadillas
    • marinated shiitake mushrooms in jar with ginger.
      Soy-Marinated Shiitake Mushrooms
    • smoked trout on plate with tail and honey dipper.
      Honey Smoked Rainbow Trout with Dry Brine
    • pork lard on spoon with jars in background.
      Homemade Pork Lard (Rendered Pork Fat)
    • sliced venison backstrap on slate board.
      Perfect Venison Backstrap
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Spring Favorites
    • Recipes
    • About Me
    • Contact
    • Subscribe

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About Me
    • Contact
    • Amazon Store

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Need Help?

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Disclosures

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 Peak to Plate, LLC - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED