But there are also probably a few tricks you dont know. The following three tips will teach you how to pick the best watermelon. It was indeed a sweet watermelon. If you want to learn how to store your watermelon so it lasts longer, keep reading the article! National Watermelon Promotion Board. Watermelons are ready to harvest when they have developed their full color. He said it had to do with the water content in the melon, the juicier it was, the more it moved the straw. Learn more Watermelon is a delicious summer treat, but to protect your health, its important to know if a watermelon is bad. This is a sign that the melon is over-ripe and won't be good to eat. How to Cut a Watermelon for Effortless Wedges, Cubes, or Sticks From here, you can make pie-shaped watermelon slices, cubes, or use a melon baller. How to Pick the Perfect Watermelon - The Daily Meal Chicago hot dog stand murder charges dropped against mother, teen son Here are 4 Tips to Pick a Sweet Watermelon. It is simultaneously juicy and crisp, and best of all, it's refreshing (thanks to its 92 percent water content) when temperatures climb. Balls or cubes work best, as they are easy to use in a variety of dishes. To tell if a watermelon is bad, examine the outer rind for a consistent green or green-striped color. And just to back up what shes saying, we also spoke to plant pathologist Sue Colucci for her best tips, too. Here are 4 Tips to Pick a Sweet Watermelon. An overripe watermelon is going to sound fairly dull when you knock on it and an underripe one will sound more high-pitched in a way. If you know how to check for things like the field spot, it makes the selection process much easier! There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Find the Field Spot Look for a deep yellow color. Brown and dry tendril (s) near the part where the stem meets the fruit. Pick a Dull Looking Watermelon A shiny appearance indicates an underripe melon. Carolyn O'Neil MS, RDN is a registered dietitian nutritionist with a Masters Degree in Nutrition and Communication. Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner is a writer and recipe developer. Read our, How To Store Cucumbers So They Stay Crisp As Long As Possible, The Right Way to Tell if a Watermelon Is Ripe, How To Grow And Care For Heirloom Tomatoes, How To Grow And Care For An Oriental Persimmon Tree, 80 Fresh Tomato Recipes To Make All Summer Long, How To Grow And Care For Asian Pear Trees, 70 Easy Summer Salad Recipes For Hot Days, Watermelon is delicious sprinkled with salt, According to the South Carolina Watermelon Association. Sign up for Scary Mommy's daily newsletter for more stories from the trenches. An unripe watermelon will have more of a higher-pitched sound, while an overripe one will make a "thud" or a lower-pitched sound. A wilting or dry rind could be yet another sign that the watermelon is aging. The color of a watermelon's stripes doesn't matter either. O'Neil has more than 30 years experience as a television presenter and nutrition communications professional specializing in writing about food, nutrition, and cuisine. Please leave a 5-star rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. Its more bang for your buck too. Develop the tech skills you need for work and life. What exactly are they listening for? Brown and dry tendril(s) near the part where the stem meets the fruit. (You can also flick the rind with your finger.) There have been a few times where I ended up throwing it out because it tasted like a crunchy watermelon rind cucumber, and no one in my family would eat it. This tip was emailed to me many months ago by Tom, a produce manager for a major grocery chain. A uniform shape watermelon shows that it got the perfect amount of sunshine and water. A hollow sound is a positive sign. You might not have noticed this, but over the last few days many, many people on the internet have been talking about watermelons. But many of us watermelon lovers have sadly encountered the sad, starchy, less-than-flavorful slicea major disappointment. Remember, bigger doesn't always mean better because longer watermelons are usually very watery unless that's what you prefer. Find The Yellow Spot. Even though they come in all shapes, sizes and varieties, there are a few clues to the ripest and best tasting watermelon. If it sounds like its full, its not ready yet. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. Take the watermelon for a spin lift it, hold it, fist pump it, and compare it to its neighbors. She also writes the food newsletter, Specialty. Give it a knock This is a more well-known technique that many watermelon lovers swear by. The whole watermelon pictured above here in my post was a whopping 18 pounds! Just make sure to use a sharp knife so you get crisp pieces. You have successfully subscribed to Fifteen Spatulas new posts notifications. Also, if you see dots in a line (not a scratch), these are pollination points, and the more of them the better. Her strong background in nutrition science, sustainable food systems, and culinary education makes her exceptionally qualified to write about food that is good for us and the planetwhile not sacrificing flavor. Should you knock on a watermelon to check if ripe? - YouTube Choose a Heavy Melon A ripe watermelon will feel heavier than you expect when you lift it. Find out if knocking on a watermelon is the right way to test if it is ripe. "Test a few to get an ear for the difference.". "The cool thing about watermelon is that every part of it can be used," says Colucci. Desert King, Tendergold, Yellow Baby, and Yellow Doll watermelons have yellow or orange flesh. The straw will start to wobble, then spin. My goal today is to help you pick a sweet, ripe watermelon because I know how disappointing it is to get home, take your first bite of some sort of produce you buy, only to find out it isnt good. Required fields are marked *. We don't have all the answers but we ask all the questions to help people discover what it means to live a bold, colorful \u0026 grateful life. Mold or dark-colored spots on the outside of the watermelon could indicate that it has gone bad. A ripe melon will have a deeper sound, as opposed to an over-ripe one that will have a more hollow or flat sound. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 477,174 times. Your knuckles should bounce off the melon, and the surface should be pretty hard and firm. If you see black spots on the melon (as pictured above), this is where sugar is seeping out and indicates a sweet melon. For the freshest watermelon, get a leg up by shopping in season, which is May through September in the U.S. For example, you can roast it, braise it, grind it into a gazpacho, shred it into a quiche, use it as a charcuterie accoutrement, and more. Accessed February 5, 2023. How to Pick a Watermelon: 6 Helpful Tips - Healthline If theres a white field spot, or no field spot at all, it likely wont be good. If the watermelon isn't holding its shape, or it's beginning to look watery and the flesh is translucent, that could also mean it's going bad. When you tap your watermelon, it should sound hollow, like a drum. Thunking on a watermelon at your local grocery store can get you some odd looks, but it really does work. If you can press your finger into it, it's no good. 2023 BDG Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Place the tray in the freezer for a few hours to flash-freeze the pieces. Colucci agrees. If yours is any other color, or if the flesh looks gritty or shriveled, throw the watermelon away! Meet your new favorite ingredient: Watermelon rind, because its applications are (almost) endless for sweet and savory dishes, plus, you already paid for it, so it's kind of a free bonus. Most U.S. watermelon is produced in the South, with Florida leading output in 2021. Because watermelon season usually peaks during the summer months, do not miss out on this classic hydrating snack. ", "It helped me learn that the watermelon I was about to eat was molding.". Though the above melon did not have a creamy yellow spot (its a little white), the sugar spots are a good sign. A shiny texture indicates the melon is not yet ripe. Tip 1: Find the yellow belly, or the field spot Other than cutting open a watermelon to see the inside, the field spot is perhaps the best indicator of the ripeness. Kuhn Rikon Melon Knife $29.95 Amazon Buy Now Save to Wish List Pick it up: Big or small, the watermelon should feel heavy for its size. If there is a brown, coarse web pattern on the fruit, grab it. If the watermelon has passed its "snacking" stage, you can visit https://www.watermelon.org/ for recipe ideas and tutorials on what to do with its flesh, juice, and rind. However, there are some signs that indicate when the watermelon is ready to be harvested. 1. Lift it up. Step 1: Look for lots of webbing. Halloumi & watermelon bulghar salad. David Marquet says crews would need to locate the vessel then bring it to the surface to unlatch it. How to Pick a Watermelon | Cook's Illustrated - America's Test Kitchen According to the South Carolina Watermelon Association, watermelons stop ripening when they are picked, so grabbing one with a green stem doesn't mean it will eventually ripen. Also known as "webbing," these tiny dotted lines on a watermelon's exterior occur during pollination and are a sign that the watermelon is sweet. For some reason, loads of people in China believed that the sign was directed at them, and that watermelon-knocking is a habit that only Chinese people know about. You could also use the expiration date to tell if the watermelon is bad. Don't worry if the watermelon's stem is still attached, as the farmer could have just missed it. At its worst, watermelon can be tasteless, mealy, and a letdown when you're anticipating a sweet, bright triangle (or collection of cubes) on your potluck plate. Spread the watermelon pieces on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, making sure that they don't touch each other. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. She shared her tips with Cook It Erica (@Cookiterica), a popular food content creator on TikTok, and it went viral quickly, tallying over 5.5 million views. Retired U.S. Navy submarine Capt. You will get a dull thud if the flesh is soft, which indicates its starting to spoil. Make sure all the cut watermelon is tightly wrapped, in an air-tight food storage container or with plastic wrap (or an eco-friendly alternative) to preserve the texture and the juiciness. The Internet Is Fighting Over What These Things Are Called. And then your options are to either force yourself to eat this yucky watermelon or throw it awayand both are less than desirable options. Although it may not be the most photogenic nor the easiest to carry to your car, the best watermelons will be dull in appearance and heavier than the rest. The sound the fruit makes when you knock on it with your knuckles. They are checking for signs of hollowness. Before you throw out the rind you separated from your watermelon flesh, consider pickling it! Notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment. If I like your product, I will include it in one of my videos and mention your product. "To see if a watermelon is ripe, when you tap lightly, you should hear a thump instead of a ping," says Kelly Smith Trimble, Knoxville-based master gardener and author of Vegetable Gardening Wisdom and the forthcoming The Creative Vegetable Gardener. Cut the melon into small pieces. Look for the Sugar Spots and Pollination Points If you see black spots on the melon, this is where sugar is seeping out and indicates a sweet melon. How to tell if a watermelon is ripe: A ripe watermelon will feel heavy when you pick it up Look at the watermelon and find a yellow or white patch - this is caused. That said, freezing watermelon can yield quite delicious results, and is a great way to prevent food waste. National Watermelon Promotion Board, Selection & Storage. How to Tell Watermelon is Ripe & Ready to Pick | Empress of Dirt Watermelon is a fruit that can be harvested several weeks after it has been planted. Watermelon is delicious sprinkled with salt, blended into a frozen watermelon daiquiri, thrown on the grill, and as an ingredient in salads, ice cream, gazpacho, and more. 5 surprising ways with watermelon | BBC Good Food They also need a pH level between 6.0 and 6.5, a very narrow range. These things shouldn't come totally effortlessly; watermelons are supposed to feel heavy. If the spot is white, the watermelon is underripe. And its a good sign.. Pare . Subscribe to receive new recipes via email: Your email address will not be published. Number of days the fruit has been growing. The color of this ground spot, or field spot, can be a good indicator of ripeness. Also, if you see dots in a line (not a scratch), these are pollination points, and the more of them the better. A good watermelon is a staple, healthy summer snack, so it is important to know how to pick one, regardless if you are at the grocery store or the local farmers market. How To Pick the Best Watermelon Every Time | GRATEFUL Ive been looking for these every time I pick up a melon and have had great luck with it in addition to the other tips. But the tricky part is figuring out how to pick a good watermelon. Knocking on a watermelon is a commonly used way to test if the fruit is fresh and ripe. 3. When you crack open your melon, it should be a deep pink/reddish color instead of having a gritty look.
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