How to Pick a Good Watermelon
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There isn't much better than a sweet, juicy, perfectly ripe watermelon. However, all watermelons aren't created equal. I've been disappointed with many watermelons that I've brought home from the supermarket or produce stand. After bringing home one too many disappointing watermelons, I decided to learn how to pick a good watermelon once and for all.
When choosing a watermelon, there are a number of characteristics that indicate how good the fruit is likely to be.
Characteristics of Good Watermelons
The first thing you need to check is the shape of the melon. A good watermelon has a symmetrical shape. It doesn't matter if the fruit is round or oval in shape, as long as it is symmetrical.
It is also a good idea to press the skin of the watermelon in many different spots to test for firmness. Good watermelons will not have soft spots.
While looking at the exterior color of a melon isn't sufficient to determine if a melon will be good, dark green melons tend to be sweeter than those that are lighter in color.
When you pick up the melon, pay attention to how heavy it is. Watermelons are more than 90 percent water, so the most juicy melons are going to be the ones that seem very heavy for their size.
How to Check For Ripeness
There are several different ways to tell if a watermelon is ripe.
1. Look on the bottom of the melon. You will find a discolored spot where the melon was in contact with the ground while it was growing. If this spot is light green, the melon is not yet ripe. If the spot is a yellowish-white color, the melon is probably ripe.
2. You can also test for ripeness by scratching the surface of a watermelon with your fingernail. A greenish-white color beneath the outermost layer of the rind indicates a ripe watermelon.
3. You can also tell if a watermelon is ripe by thumping it, if you know what you are listening for. When you thump the side of a ripe watermelon, it will sound as if the fruit is hollow. If you hear a thud or a tone that is high in pitch, you're dealing with a fruit that isn't ripe.
Interesting Fact About Watermelons: Don't buy a watermelon that you know isn't yet ripe thinking it will be ripe by the time you eat it. Watermelons do not continue to ripen once they have been picked.
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Comments
Also if you can, try and shake it - if you hear sloshing, it's too ripe and on its way to rotting.
Watermelon has been my favourite fruit. We have it a lot in Africa. Thanks. But how do you identify a riped watermelon? http://www.plutoscript.com
Try this:
Take a long straight piece of straw/dry grass and lay it cross-way on the melon. If it is ripe, the straw/grass will spin and align itself longwise on the melon (or keep spinning). I thought this method was bunk until I tried it but it has never failed!
I followed the above advice and have to say the best watermelon I have had in a while!!
Wow I followed the advice given by Jason and it worked!
If it wasn't for you I would never have tasted such a tasty watermelon!!!
lol i love watermelon who doesnt? its my fav fruit ive had like 3 crappy ones but usually i pick pretty good ones but sometimes i get THE BEST where its juicy and nice and sweet,i actually have one i bought for 5 bucks in the fridge going to eat it very soon,i dont really get jasons trick when i pick i usually go for the lighter ones not to light not to dark just medium in brightness and darkness and also i look for one that have the yellow patch i keep getting the yellow patched ones and they are good
I take two that look and feel the same to an obscure part of the store and slice one open. This works but I'm running out of stores to shop in.
prasetio30 says:
6 months ago
watermelon is a fruit that contains a lot of water. if we can choose good watermelon, we will get a fresh watermelon and sweet watermelon.nice hub.