Ed’s Produce: Melon Picking 101
Few fruits compare to the refreshing taste of watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew on a hot summer day. Picking the best melons can be intimidating, so let’s dive into tips on finding the sweetest, juiciest ones!
Watermelons are a fan-favorite summer fruit and the most popular among melon varieties. Some well-known watermelon selections include seedless watermelons, picnic watermelons, icebox watermelons, and yellow and orange flesh watermelons. In general, watermelons weigh an average of 20 pounds, but some varieties can weigh above 40 pounds while personal watermelons weigh less than 10 pounds. They prefer hot and sunny climates to grow.
The easiest way to determine whether or not melons are ripe enough to be picked is by understanding what to look for beforehand. When it comes to picking any type of melon, it is important to start with color. For watermelon, look for a light yellow patch on the bottom, also known as a yellow belly, with a dark green outer rind. This ensures the melon has rested for adequate time to fully ripen. For cantaloupe, the rind should be beige or tan. For honeydew, look for a cream-colored, almost yellow rind. If the rinds for cantaloupe and honeydew appear as bright green, they will not be as sweet and are not fully ripe. Assessing their color gives you a general idea of which melons are worth inspecting. If looking at their color isn’t enough, check the weight: a ripe melon should feel heavy for its size, signaling that it’s ready for consumption. If you are still unsure of which to pick, check the shape: if the melon appears to be evenly round or oval, it is properly ripened and ready to be picked. Some additional tips on picking the ripest melons are a sound and smell test, as well as inspecting the rind texture. If you’re tapping a watermelon, the sound should be hollow instead of solid. For cantaloupe and honeydew, the stems should have a sweet smell once they are ripe. If any melon has large cracks, spots, or bruises, it won’t be as sweet as one that has small to none. The texture of cantaloupe rind should feel thick and rough, while honeydew skin should feel waxy and slightly sticky.
With some practice, picking the perfect melon will become second nature! Next time you feel overwhelmed, remember that each melon has its own signs of ripeness, which you now know what to look for. Happy picking!
