These are four simple but very useful tips to find out which melon is ripe:
- Examine the peel
If there are green spots on the skin, then the melon is not ripe.
There should be no cuts, cracks, punctures or dents on the melon. Bacteria and dirt can get inside through the holes. And obvious dents indicate that the melon is overripe or has been improperly transported;
- Press the melon
An overripe or even spoiled melon has very soft a peel, and an unripe one has a very hard peel. When pressed from the opposite side of the stem, the ripe fruit is slightly springy and does not change color;
- Smell the melon
The melon should smell like honey. Many also pick up hints of pear, pineapple and vanilla in its aroma.
If you don't smell a sweet smell at all, it's very weak, or the melon gives off a grassy aroma, then it's unripe.
But if the aroma is very strong, it means that the melon is overripe.
- Weigh the melon in your hand
A ripe and juicy melon will be heavy. If you are choosing from several that look the same, give preference to the one that weighs more. Also, weight is an indicator of the sugar content of the fruit.
Read more:
- Is the melon high in calories;
- How to store melons?
