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Fresh Watermelon is a July-and-August shake, and one critic calls it the most polarizing flavor on the menu. The Cookout Fresh Watermelon milkshake is a 35 oz cup, tied for the second largest, with 645 calories, just 84 grams of sugar and 23% of the Daily Value for vitamin C. It typically costs $3.99.
Why is the watermelon shake so polarizing?
Because it is real watermelon, with chunks, juice and seeds. AOL's essay on the shake titled it "doesn't make sense, but it's the only summer taste that matters," and Tripadvisor reviewers have praised it in Newport News, Virginia and Raleigh, North Carolina. One reviewer called it an exquisite blend of vanilla ice cream and frozen watermelon chunks and noted shards of seeds. Another said the watermelon is lightly blended, with small bits left in the ice cream.
| Source | Verdict |
|---|---|
| The Talon (2018) | 10th of 43; a pleasant surprise, fresh chunks in vanilla ice cream, crisp taste |
| The Daily Meal | 23rd of 41; refreshing and an acquired taste, praised for real fruit over syrup |
| Tripadvisor reviewers | Praise from Newport News, VA and Raleigh, NC |
| TikTok reviewers | 9.2 out of 10 from one; hands down the best on the menu from another |
Wide Open Country's 2022 secret-menu piece named a watermelon chocolate chip shake as an honorable mention, which shows how far fans push the flavor.
When can you order the Fresh Watermelon shake?
In July and August. Cook Out lists it as a summer flavor, and WRAL's 2024 "Cookout math" story notes the watermelon shakes arrive in July, adding 2,400 possible tray combinations to the menu.
Why does it have so little sugar for its size?
Because the sweetness comes from fruit, not sauce. At 84 grams, Fresh Watermelon has the fifth-lowest sugar on the menu in the second-largest cup.
| Measure | Fresh Watermelon | Rank of 44 | Typical flavor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cup size | 35 oz | 2nd (tied) | 33 oz |
| Sugar | 84 g | 5th lowest | 100.5 g |
| Vitamin C | 23% DV | 3rd | 6% DV |
| Saturated fat | 9 g | Lowest (tied) | 11 g |
| Calories | 645 | 28th | 689 |
Is the Cookout Fresh Watermelon milkshake worth catching in season?
Yes, while it lasts. It is the biggest, lowest-sugar shake available and a rare seasonal flavor.