I live in Alabama, which means summers are hot and steamy — and absolutely no other food combats the heat and humidity the way that watermelon does. It’s juicy, crisp, sweet, and supremely hydrating.

The best way to store a whole watermelon is at room temperature out of the sun. • Whole watermelon stored this way keeps for one week. Growing up on a farm, I was lucky to have access to just-picked ...