Winter melon helps you lose weight and whiten your skin! Delicious dishes depend on how you cut them

The peak production period of winter melon is from April to October. Although it is produced in the summer, it can be preserved well at room temperature and can be eaten in winter, so it is called winter melon. Winter melon is low in calories, high in water, and contains almost no fat. It also contains carbohydrates, B vitamins and C, as well as a lot of minerals. It can remove excess water and fat from the body and is very suitable for diabetic patients. However, processed winter melon products, such as winter melon candy, contain a lot of salt or sugar and should not be eaten too much. Winter melon is cold in nature. For people with gastrointestinal stagnation, it is recommended to add some ginger to neutralize the coldness.

Winter melon is not only the best food for cooling down in summer, but its vitamin C content only decreases by about 20% after boiling. It also contains succinic acid which can prevent fat accumulation, and fenugreek which can promote body metabolism. It is the most suitable fresh vegetable and fruit for weight loss.

Selection principles

Winter melons are large in size. Except for the small new varieties, most of them are sold in slices. When choosing, you should pay attention to the surface of the melon skin, which should be covered with a layer of white powder and be very hard to pinch. The flesh should be white in color, elastic and firm.

Suitable cooking methods

• Cut winter melon is suitable for dishes that take a long time to cook, such as roasting, stewing, etc. It can maintain its beautiful shape even after a long cooking time.

• Sliced ​​winter melon is suitable for short-term roasting or stewing, which can show the unique transparency of winter melon.

• Winter melon cut into thin strips can be used with other long and thin ingredients to make soups, which are easier to cook and taste, and can save a lot of cooking time.

Storage method

The whole winter melon can be stored directly in a cool and ventilated place for more than a few weeks. The cut winter melon must be wrapped tightly with plastic wrap or a plastic bag and stored in the refrigerator.

What varieties of winter melon are there?

Winter melons can be divided into two categories: large and small. There are three common types of large winter melons: the white-shelled winter melon, which has a light green skin, weighs about 20 to 25 kilograms, and has obvious white powder on the surface when ripe; the green-shelled winter melon, which has a bright green skin, weighs about 10 to 12 kilograms, and has less white powder on the surface when ripe; and the slender winter melon, which is not so fat and round but can grow to more than 35 kilograms. Small winter melon is a newly bred variety, weighing approximately 1 to 5 kilograms. Xiaoqing, Jile and Green Tiger are more common.

Can eating winter melon help whiten your skin?

Winter melon contains many substances that can help activate cells, thus promoting skin metabolism. In addition, it contains substances and vitamin C that can inhibit the production of melanin. Therefore, it is better than other natural foods in terms of whitening effect.

Can winter melon seeds be eaten?

Wax gourd seeds contain oleic acid, fatty acids and other ingredients that are good for skin care. They are very helpful for removing spots, whitening and removing dullness. Winter melon seeds are hard and not easy to eat, but they can be cooked into soup for drinking. You can also dry the wax gourd seeds and grind them into powder, which can be used for bathing, washing your face, or making facial masks.

How to make winter melon tea?

Wash the winter melon, cut it into small pieces with the skin and seeds, add appropriate amount of water and sugar, bring to a boil over medium heat, then simmer over low heat until the soup is slightly thick and slightly brown in color. The amount of sugar can be increased or decreased according to your preference. If you want to use winter melon tea to drain water and reduce swelling to achieve the effect of weight loss, it is best to use as little sugar as possible, or replace it with old ginger, which will have a better weight loss effect.

Can winter melon make soup more delicious?

Winter melon is a food with a naturally sweet taste. After boiling it, the soup tastes delicious. Winter melon rind can also enhance the taste of soup. Just remove the rind before eating.

【Osmanthus honey winter melon soup】

• Ingredients: 160 grams of winter melon, 250 grams of water.

• Seasoning: 60 grams of osmanthus sauce, 60 grams of honey, and appropriate amount of salt.

• practice:

  1. Peel the winter melon, wash it and cut it into large cubes.

  2. Pour water into a pot, add osmanthus sauce and salt, mix well and bring to a boil over medium heat.

  3. Add the winter melon cubes into the mixture from step 2 and continue cooking until boiling. Then turn to low heat and cook for about 12 minutes.

  4. After turning off the heat, add honey and mix well.

• TIPS: The winter melon can continue to be soaked in the sauce and then taken out when it is time to eat. It will be more flavorful and can be eaten cold or hot. The remaining sauce can be cooked until thicker and then used as a sauce.

  ▲When cooking winter melon, wash it lightly, dig out the seeds in the center and then peel it. Sometimes brown oxidation spots will appear where the melon flesh is cut, but as long as it has not become soft, it can still be eaten safely.

  ▲When serving dishes to guests, you can sometimes see hollowed-out winter melons used as soup bowls. The soup made in this way is particularly delicious.

This article is from "Eating Fruits and Vegetables According to the Solar Terms" published by Paston