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Winter Melons Delivery or Pickup
The Instacart guide to winter melon
About winter melon
Winter melon is a mild-tasting fruit that grows on creeping vines and thrives in warm climates. It is popularly used as a vegetable in Asian food, including Chinese and Indian cuisines. Many people use winter melon as an ingredient in beverages, soups, and sweets. Its alternative names are winter gourd, ash gourd, and ash pumpkin.
This fruit has a high nutritional value. It is rich in fiber, zinc, vitamin C, and carotene. It also has small amounts of vitamin B, copper, manganese, magnesium, and phosphorous. Here is a breakdown of what a 100-gram portion of raw winter melon offers:
- 13 calories.
- 2.9 g fiber.
- Vitamin C: 14% DV.
- Copper: 1%Â DV.
- Manganese: 3% DV.
- Zinc: 6% DV.
Winter melon provides various health benefits. Each nutritional element in this vegetable provides a distinct value. Here are a few insights into these elements.
- Fiber: Its high fiber content helps improve digestion and control body weight. This fiber is highly soluble, meaning it forms a gel-like substance in the gut to slow digestion.
- Iron: Iron helps improve air circulation to the body extremities. It also enhances red blood cell production. Excellent circulation of oxygenated blood helps improve your cognitive function.
- Vitamin B: Vitamin B helps increase energy levels in the body by improving metabolism. It also helps realize hormonal health and balance and improves vision and eye health. Its antioxidants help reduce oxidative stress in your retina.
- Vitamin C: Vitamin C in winter melons helps boost the immune system. It also increases collagen production, which assures you of better skin health. This element facilitates faster cell growth and repair too.
- Potassium: Winter melon is rich in potassium, which helps lower blood pressure in the blood vessels or arteries. Since it allows the free flow of blood, potassium reduces the risk of coronary heart conditions.
Type 2 diabetes patients often use winter melon, as it helps reduce blood sugar and insulin levels. Its antimicrobial properties may protect the body against certain fungi and bacteria. This vegetable's extracts could also eliminate inflammation, protecting you against chronic diseases and ulcers.
Winter melon cooking tips
Mature winter melon has a mild taste, meaning that you cannot eat it raw. It requires you to steam, simmer, or parboil it. You could also cook it in soups, stir-fried dishes, braised dishes, and stews. The chosen recipe depends on personal preferences, yet the initial preparation is similar. You will have to skin, seed, and chop the melon before cooking it. Follow these steps:
- Use a sharp knife to slice the skin of the winter melon.
- Slice the winter melon into four equal parts and later divide each into two.
- Remove the soft part of the winter melon and discard its seeds.
- Slice each of the parts into evenly sized pieces.
Suppose you want to stir fry your winter melon. You will need to follow these steps:
- Set aside a blend of cornstarch and water.
- Prepare a large skillet and add approximately 3 inches of water.
- Add some salt and carrots, then allow it to boil for a minute.
- Add winter melon and cook it for about two minutes.
- Drain the cooked vegetable.
- Add some oil to a pan and heat it over medium heat.
- Add some garlic and pepper, then stir for a minute.
- Add your blanched winter melon and carrots.
- Put in some mushroom powder, salt, and sugar, then stir it for a minute.
- Ensure that you stir the mixture until the cornstarch fully dissolves.
- Once ready, serve it while hot.
Shopping with Instacart allows you to access fresh winter melons. Once added to your cart, you can expect your groceries within a relatively short time!
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FAQs about winter melon
Winter melon can last for up to one year if stored properly. Its ideal storage place is cool, dry, and dark. However, it will stay for about one week once it is sliced, wrapped in plastic, and stored in the fridge. This vegetable can last longer if you freeze it. However, ensure that you cover any peeled or seeded chunks before freezing them.
Winter melon has aphrodisiac, diuretic, and laxative properties. These elements provide various health benefits, including increased energy levels, better cognitive function, and smoother digestion. Besides, its 90% water content facilitates the elimination of toxins from the kidneys and general body. However, people suffering from obesity, asthma, bronchitis, or cold, should minimize winter melon consumption.
Winter melon can help fight cancerous infections, as this vegetable slows the growth of new blood vessels. New blood vessels are often susceptible to cancerous growths. Stopping their growth ensures that the cancer cells have no access to food. This way, cancer does not spread to vital body organs.