Watermelon Strawberry Juice
A bright, refreshing cold-blended juice combining sweet watermelon and tart strawberries. This simple drink requires no cooking—just fresh fruit, water, and a blender. Serve immediately over ice for the best flavor and texture.
Steps
Before you start
- Chill all fruits in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before blending for the coldest juice
- Have tall glasses and ice ready to serve immediately
- If using a regular blender instead of a high-power model, work in batches
Prepare the watermelon
- Rinse the watermelon under cool running water and pat dry.
- Cut it in half, then into quarters.
- Using a sharp chef's knife, cut away the green rind and remove any visible seeds.
- Cut the flesh into roughly 2-inch chunks (you should have about 4 cups or 600g).
- Place the chunks in a large bowl.
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Ready when: Watermelon is fully trimmed of rind and seeds, cut into uniform chunks
Tip: Choose a ripe watermelon (heavy for its size, hollow sound when tapped, and yellow underside). Cold fruit makes for colder, more refreshing juice.
Prepare the strawberries
- Rinse the strawberries under cool running water.
- Remove the green leafy hulls by either pinching them off with your fingers or using a paring knife to cut around the top.
- If any strawberries are especially large, halve them.
- Add all the hulled strawberries to the bowl with the watermelon.
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Ready when: All strawberries are hulled and halved as needed
Tip: Handle strawberries gently to avoid bruising. Any bruised or moldy berries will affect the final juice flavor, so discard them.
Blend the fruit and water
- Add the prepared watermelon chunks, strawberries, and 1/2 cup (120 ml) of cold water to your blender.
- Cover the blender securely.
- Blend on high speed for 60–90 seconds until the mixture is completely smooth, uniform in color, and no visible chunks of fruit remain.
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Ready when: Mixture is completely smooth, bright pink in color, with no pulp or chunks visible
Tip: Do not overblend; 90 seconds is usually enough. Over-blending heats the juice and breaks down cell walls, making it oxidize faster and lose its bright color.
Strain (optional) and season
- If you prefer a cleaner, smoother juice, pour the blended mixture through a fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth into a large bowl or pitcher, gently pressing the solids to extract all liquid.
- If you prefer pulpy juice, skip straining and pour directly from the blender.
- Taste the juice and stir in the optional honey (1 tablespoon or 21g if the fruit is not naturally sweet enough) and/or optional lime juice (1 tablespoon or 15 ml if you want added brightness and tartness).
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Ready when: Juice is either strained to desired consistency and seasonings are stirred in and taste balanced
Tip: Straining removes most fiber but makes the juice thinner and less satisfying. The choice is yours based on preference.
Serve with ice
- Divide the juice among four tall glasses, filling each about three-quarters full.
- Add a generous handful of ice cubes (about 1/2 cup or 120g per glass) to each glass, then top with a splash more juice if needed.
- Stir gently to chill and combine.
- Serve at once.
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Ready when: Juice is poured, ice is added, and glasses are ready to drink
Tip: Juice separation (liquid on top, pulp on bottom) is normal and will happen within 15 minutes of blending. Stir before each sip or enjoy it as-is.
Good to know
Tips
- For the coldest, most refreshing juice, freeze the watermelon and strawberry chunks in the freezer for at least 2 hours before blending instead of just refrigerating them. Add them directly to the blender; the juice will be thick and slushy, perfect for summer.
- Watermelon juice oxidizes quickly and will lose its bright pink color within an hour or two. Serve immediately after blending for the most vibrant hue.
- If your blender struggles or makes a grinding sound, your fruit may be too cold or frozen. Let it sit at room temperature for 5–10 minutes, or add a touch more water (2 tablespoons at a time).
- For a fizzy version, blend the fruits with just 2–3 tablespoons of water, then top each glass with sparkling water or club soda and ice.
Make ahead
You can prepare the fruit (cut and seed the watermelon, hull the strawberries) up to 4 hours ahead and store it in a sealed container in the refrigerator. Blend and serve the juice immediately before serving for the freshest flavor, brightest color, and best texture.
Storage & reheating
Juice is best served immediately after blending. If you must store it, keep it in an airtight glass container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours, though flavor and color will fade. Do not freeze, as blended juice separates and becomes watery upon thawing. The fiber settles to the bottom; stir before serving.
Substitutions
- fresh watermelon, seeded and cut into chunks → cantaloupe or honeydew melon. Use the same amount. The juice will be creamier and slightly sweeter. Honeydew will be milder and less vibrant in color.
- fresh strawberries, hulled → raspberries or blackberries. Use 1 to 1.25 cups (150–190g). The juice will be deeper in color and more tart; reduce or omit the optional lime juice.
- cold water → unsweetened coconut water or plain coconut milk. Use the same amount for a creamier, more tropical juice. Omit honey if using sweetened coconut water.
- fresh lime juice (optional, for tartness) → lemon juice or apple cider vinegar. Use the same amount for a sharper tang. Start with 1 teaspoon and taste before adding more.
