Most people already know a good melon when they taste it—so being able to pick out a great tasting melon is an important skill to have! Choosing a ripe melon takes practice, experience and a little information.
Aroma—one of the most important indicators of a ripe melon is smell! Hold the stem side of the melon close to your nose—if there is no smell, it’s not ready! However, if you can pick up a slight sugary aroma, chances are it is ready to eat. But there’s always an exception: Honey Dews often do not give out an aroma.
Pressure—another indication of a ripe melon is that it gives under slight pressure. Try testing the stem side of the melon—this is the first area to begin to give under pressure as the fruit matures.
Texture—some of the smooth melons (such as the Honey Dew) will have a tacky or sticky skin texture when they become ripe! Run your fingers over the surface and if you feel this tackiness, chances are it’s good to go. Honey Dew melons will also have a very light and creamy exterior color when fully ripe.
Netting—non-smooth melons like Galia and Cantaloupe have a “netting” on the outside—look for high color under the netting—if you see a green tint, the fruit is not at its peak.
Weight—choose a melon that is heavy for it’s size—this will indicate a high sugar content and ripe interior!
Full Slip—a melon is at its peak of flavor and ripeness when it has a “full slip.” This occurs when the stem easily separates from the fruit—although shelf life is shorter when harvested with a full slip, the fruit will have the highest sugar levels.
Seed Cavity—a ripe melon will have loose seeds in the interior of the fruit—there may also be liquid in the seed cavity! Old Farmer’s Tale: “You can shake your melon and see if you can hear or feel the seeds moving in the interior.”
Please feel free to ask a Team Member to give their opinion on your melon selection or ask to sample what we have on display! Also, if you get home and cut into a melon that does not taste good — please bring back your receipt and we'll happily let you pick out a replacement!
