Watermelons are juicy and refreshing, especially as the weather gets hot. But, it can be challenging to know how to pick a good watermelon at the supermarket or farm stand. So, here are five tips for choosing a perfectly ripe watermelon!
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How to Tell It’s a Bad Watermelon
- You will want to avoid watermelons that are just tasteless and watery, which taste that way because they are not fully ripe.
- Other watermelons can be mealy and fall apart when cut into. These watermelons are typically overripe and can often taste too strong or even have a sour taste in addition to the mealy texture.
How to Tell It’s a Good Watermelon
- An ideal watermelon will have a firm and juicy interior without being tasteless. A robust fruity flavor is at its height when the watermelon is ripe, and the flesh will be firm and not mealy.
- A ripe watermelon will definitely have a lot of juice when it is cut into. Still, the liquid will also be flavorful and not watery.
- Color also indicates the ripeness of a watermelon once it’s cut into. A ripe watermelon will be a lovely shade of bright pink, not pale or even green in spots. An overripe watermelon will often be almost red or purple in color inside.
How to Pick a Good Watermelon By Sight and Touch
While it’s easy to tell if a watermelon is ripe once it has been cut into, it’s harder to tell from the outside. But you can use a few tricks to find a perfectly ripe watermelon!
1. The Thump Test
First, try the thump test.
Flick the watermelon with a finger and listen for the watermelon’s sound. You want to choose a watermelon with a deep, almost hollow sound. This indicates that the watermelon is ripe or very close to it.
2. Choose the Heaviest One for Its Size
Next, check the weight of the watermelon. If the watermelon feels relatively heavy for its size, it can be a good indicator of its ripeness.
3. Find the Field Patch
The field patch is another indicator of the ripeness of a watermelon.
When a watermelon is growing, one side of the watermelon is touching the ground in the field. It, therefore, doesn’t get sun on it to darken the color.
These patches are usually yellow or very pale green.
As the watermelon ripens, this field patch will become more prominent since a ripe watermelon will have a nice dark green color.
4. Check if It’s Uniform in Size
Also, check to ensure that the watermelon is uniform in size and doesn’t have any bumps, cuts, dents, or swollen bulging spots.
These can all signal that something is wrong with the watermelon, such as damage, bugs, or even fungus growing inside.
The watermelon should be evenly round or oval all around.
5. Check the Tendrils if It’s Homegrown
If you are growing your own watermelon, check the tendrils of the watermelon. As the watermelon ripens, the tendril attaching it to the vine will eventually shrivel and wilt, signaling that the watermelon is ready to come off the vine.
How to Store Watermelons
To store a whole fresh watermelon, it is best to simply leave it on the kitchen counter in a cool and dry place. It is best to keep out of direct sunlight, as this can cause the watermelon to further ripen or even rot.
To prevent the watermelon from spoiling, chunks or slices of the watermelon should be immediately stored in an airtight container in the fridge.
The Takeaway
With these tips in hand, you’ll now know how to pick a good watermelon every time. If you grow your own, you’ll know precisely when the watermelons should be selected to enjoy them at the perfect time.
