Watermelon Rind

Watermelon rind is the firm pale-white layer beneath the green skin of a watermelon. It is crisp with a cucumber-like snap and mild flavor, standing up well to quick pickling, stir-frying, braising, chutneys, and candying; jarred pickled versions are also common.

Cooks in the American South popularized pickled watermelon rind, while Chinese and Indian cuisines use it in stir-fries and chutneys. Its use likely emerged as a no-waste practice wherever watermelons were cultivated and traded.