Here it is:
Weigh it? Smell it? Short of cutting it open, how do you tell if a melon is ripe? Let's discuss the 3 most commonly consumed melons: watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew.
- Watermelon - Choose watermelons with dried stems and yellowish dull colored undersides. A white underside indicates immaturity. The best watermelons will feel heavy for their size. Hold the watermelon in one hand and thump it lightly with the other hand. You should feel the vibrations in the bottom hand. Watermelons do not continue to ripen after harvest. Refrigerate once it is cut.
- Cantaloupe - Choose fragrant, symmetrical cantaloupes that feel heavy for their size with no visible bruises and a yellow/cream undertone. The stem end should give to gentle pressure and have a delicious, cantaloupe smell. Also look for a tight, well-defined “netting” pattern on the melon’s surface. Cantaloupe softens after harvest, but does not increase in sweetness. Ripen at room temperature. Refrigerate once it is cut.
- Honeydew - Choose well shaped honeydew melons that are nearly spherical. Honeydew should have a waxy, not fuzzy, surface and feel heavy for their size. Look for ones with a hint of yellow but no noticeable green tinge. The stem end of ripe honeydews will give slightly to gentle pressure. Like other melons, honeydew softens after harvest, but does not get sweeter.
There are a variety of interesting melon facts, recipes, and selection and preparation videos on the www.FruitsAndVeggiesMoreMatters.org website.