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Tips for Picking a Ripe Melon Pay Attention to Size and Weight. Whether it’s large or small, a ripe melon will feel heavy for its size. Check for Defects on the Rind. Turn the melon in your hands and carefully inspect the surface area. Look at the Color. “Knock” on the surface. Give it a Sniff.
How can you tell if a melon is ripe?
As with cantaloupe, color is your first sign of ripeness. The melon’s green rind will take on a creamy yellowish color. If the color is right, gently push on the end of the melon opposite from the stem. If there is a slight give, the melon is probably ripe.
How do you pick a good melon?
How to Pick Out a Good Melon Check the Weight. You want to choose a melon that feels heavy for its size. Look for Flaws. Some melon-skin flaws are bad—like cracks and bruises. Check for a Field Spot. Smell the Melon. Tap the Melon. Take a Break. Try Again.
How do you pick a ripe melon all the time?
It should feel heavy for its size and have a mild, sweet aroma. Pass on any with bruises or soft spots. If you happen to find small, dry, brown lines in little patches on the rind, that’s a good sign of sweetness, showing where sugar has slowly seeped out of the fruit.
How can you tell if a cantaloupe is ripe?
To select a ripe cantaloupe, look for tan cantaloupe with light green lines across it, and avoid choosing melons with brown or soft spots. The melon should be firm but not too soft or too hard.
Do melons ripen after picking?
Do melons ripen after they are picked? Once picked, melons no longer get sweeter or tastier, so it is worth seeking ones out that ripened fully on the vine. As with most fruit, melons are picked before they fully ripen to give them more time and durability for transportation to grocery stores.
How long does it take for a melon to ripen?
Melons typically ripen over a short period of time, up to 3 to 4 weeks for cantaloupes. As soon as one melon is ripe, the others won’t be far behind. About a week before a melon is ripe, minimize watering to just enough to keep vines from wilting. This lets vines concentrate sugars in the fruit.
How do you pick a golden honeydew melon?
Push your fingers on the round section where the vine was attached (this is often referred to as the “blossom end”). The ripe honeydew should be slightly soft and springy, and it should smell fresh and faintly sweet. You should also feel fine ridges in the skin, whereas less ripe melons will have smoother skin.
What is the difference between muskmelon and honeydew?
Honeydew melons are different from muskmelons in that the skin is smooth, the flesh is green, and the scent is markedly different. Muskmelons stop ripening after being picked from the vine, but honeydews will continue to ripen a bit, though vine-ripening is best.
How do you pick honeydew and cantaloupe?
Check the skin color. A shiny outside is an indicator of an underripe melon. Also, honeydews should be pale yellow to light lemon in color, not overly green. With melons such as cantaloupe and muskmelons, the rind underneath the net-like texture should be golden or orange in color.
How can you tell when a golden honeydew is ripe?
When ripe its skin is firm, thin and smooth. Its flesh is succulent, velvety and sweet. A faint aroma and a slight opening at its blossom end will also indicate ideal ripeness. An overripe melon is soft to the touch and it will develop a bitter flavor in its flesh.
Does watermelon get sweeter in the fridge?
As the moisture drains and evaporates from the cut melon, the sugar content rises. The more moisture lost, the sweeter the melon. , Trained chef, organic gardener, and experienced eater. Originally Answered: Why do watermelons taste sweeter than usual when kept in the fridge for an hour or more?.
Will a cantaloupe ripen on the counter?
However, cantaloupe and similar fruit will continue to ripen after harvest. Once into the ripening process, fruit will gain sugar, flavor will improve and flesh soften. However, cantaloupe and similar melons bought in winter probably need to be held at room temperature for a few days or more to allow it to improve.
Are cantaloupes good for you?
The fiber, potassium, and vitamin C present in cantaloupe are vital nutrients for your heart health. Potassium can help to lower high blood pressure, which is a risk factor for heart disease. Fiber helps to decrease levels of “bad cholesterol” in your body. It can also keep your blood pressure in check.
What is the sweetest cantaloupe?
7 Sweetest Cantaloupe Varieties to Grow (& How to Get Seeds) Cantaloupe Variety Brix (sugar %) Days to Maturity Sugar Cube 11-14% 80 days Honey Rock 13.1% 80 to 85 days El Gordo 10-16% 75 to 85 days Hannah’s Choice 12-14% 75 to 85 days.
What do you do with a cut unripe melon?
Uses for an Unripe Cantaloupe Turning it into a soup — with mangos, or a white gazpacho with grapes and almonds. Making a melon jam or chutney. Using it as a thick base for a smoothie, or blending it with lime juice and honey for cantaloupe agua fresca.
How do you soften a hard cantaloupe?
Place the fruit in a brown paper bag rolled closed at the top to help the melon to ripen faster for eating. Once you’ve already cut the cantaloupe it needs to be refrigerated, which slows any further softening.
