We know how much you love watermelons. There is this amazing quality in this summer fruit to attract every sweet soul. But surely, to enjoy the best version of watermelon, you do need to pick the perfect one.
Most of the time, you have been unlucky while picking it. But at the end of this article, we are pretty sure that you will be able to pick up a perfect watermelon every time you visit your garden or store.
Buying any juicy watermelon requires always checking the stem. A dry, brown stem generally is a sign that the watermelon was ripe when it was harvested.
If it has a green color, then most likely it has been picked too early since this can take a lot from its flavor. Watermelons do not slip off the vine naturally as the cantaloupes do; hence, the stem becomes an important clue.
When checking its rind, a dull or matte finish watermelon is ideal to be chosen. This would mean that the fruit has ripened up on the vine completely.
A shiny or glossy rind is a sign that the watermelon may have been picked too early and could lack sweetness or full flavor. The color of the rind should be deep and rich, often dark green or striped, further indicating good quality.
Yes, watermelon produces some sort of sound. You simply need to give a gentle knuckle on it and listen to the sound it produces.
If you can hear deep and hollow-pitched sounds, the melon you pick is more likely to have ripened fully. But if it whispers a dense and slightly higher-pitched sound, the melon may not have been fully ripened.
Another effective way to choose a good watermelon is to check its weight. You need to know that a sweet, ripe watermelon is heavy because of its size. Generally, heaviness comes from the water content of the watermelon.
It is said that the heavier the watermelon the more juicer watermelon. So, whenever you go shopping, make sure to lift it and assess its weight before purchasing it.
If those dark green stripes on the watermelon are about two fingers apart, it is a really good sign that the watermelon is totally ripe and ready to eat.
This sign frees you from thumping each watermelon looking for that "muffled hollow" sound searching for ripeness. Using this two-finger rule, you will get to choose a sweet, succulent watermelon without guessing.
Just avoid all watermelons with blemishes, cracks, and soft spots. These may show unripeness in their fruit because those are the entry points of mold and bacteria into the fruit.
When you wash the rind before cutting the watermelon, it removes most surface bacteria. But, it does nothing if the skin has compromised. Always choose smooth, firm-rinded watermelons for freshness and safety.
When inspecting a watermelon, pay close attention to the brown, rough webbing or scarring on its surface. This webbing is a positive indicator, often signifying that the watermelon will be sweet and flavorful.
Having scars are the result of extensive pollination, meaning that the more webbing, the better the quality of the fruit.
When picking a watermelon, look for a uniform shape - whether it's round or oval. A symmetrical watermelon usually means it grew evenly and had consistent access to sunlight and water.
Irregularities like bumps, dents, or flat sides might indicate problems during its growth, which could affect the fruit’s texture or flavor. A smooth, even shape is a great visual clue that the watermelon is likely to be juicy and ripe inside, giving you a better eating experience.
A fully ripe watermelon will be deep, rich green in color and will uniformly be that color over the rind. If there are faded patches or pale green areas visible, it may not be full of juice or ripe.
The deeper the color and the more even the coloration, the better the chances that fruit inside will be sweet and ready to eat. One sure sign that a watermelon is well-ripened is by checking if the color is uniform.
A good, ripe watermelon has a slight, sweet odor; this way you know it is ready to eat. If the melon doesn't have much of an odor at all, then it is likely uneatable.
If it smells too sweet or even fermented, then the watermelon is overripe. That fresh, sweet smell is an indication that the melon inside would be juicy and flavorsome. Let your nose help in selecting the perfect watermelon.
A shiny rind usually means the watermelon isn’t fully ripe yet. Ripe watermelons will have a matte finish - which indicates they’ve had enough time to mature on the vine.
The glossy ones may still be watery or lack flavor. So, if you want a juicy, sweet watermelon, go for the one with a more matte, less shiny appearance. It’s a simple but reliable ripeness check.
Timing is crucial in determining whether to tell if watermelon is ripe, as it directly affects its sweetness, texture, and flavor. It is mostly a summer crop, doing better when the weather becomes warm.
They are best planted in late spring on well-warmed soil and are typically ready for harvest from mid to late summer. For most regions, watermelon peaks between June and August. The hot weather allows them to produce that sweet and juicy flavor.
To grow watermelon, it takes about 70-100 days to reach its full matured level after the plantation. However, the exact days slightly vary depending on the cultivars you're growing.
On average, for home gardeners, the best time to harvest melon has been found in between 70-85 days.
In addition to that, you should know the harvesting period majorly depends upon the type of watermelon you've planted and the gardening conditions you've prepared and fed the fruit.
So, do watermelons ripen after picking? The straightforward answer to this question is a big no. Watermelons do not continue to ripen once harvested.
You should know sweet melon is different than that of bananas or mangoes. You can't expect the melons to ripen after harvesting.
Once harvested the ripened watermelon may get damaged if left as it is for more than a week. However, if you store the whole watermelons away from direct sunlight, they won't get damaged and can be eaten for the next 1-2 weeks.
An ideal temperature for storing the whole watermelon is around 55°F. You can store the entire watermelon in the refrigerator to keep it fresh for a couple of weeks, around 2-3 weeks.
If you're still in a dilemma, check out these 12 ways on how to store watermelon longer.
