It’s almost summer which means: hooray! It’s melon season. Watermelon, honeydew, cantaloupe: whatever your pleasure, there’s nothing better than a ripe, juicy melon on a hot day. Only because of their tough exterior, it can be hard to tell when your melon is actually ripe. So here are a few tips to help you pick the best one.
Watermelon
A ripe watermelon will have dull skin, and make a hollow, thunking sound when you tap it. However, if you see bruises, spots, or cracks, it’s a good indication that you should pass on that particular watermelon and try a different one.
Honeydew and Cantaloupe
Thankfully, honeydew and cantaloupe make it a little bit easier to tell when they are ripe. The more segments or dark furrows they have, the better. You can also give the melon a sniff at the spot where it was attached to the vine. A ripe melon should smell sweet but in a subtle way. Too strong of a smell and you could be heading into over-ripe territory. Like with watermelon, a dull honeydew is going to be riper than a bright, shiny one. And for cantaloupe, golden undertones in the color are a good sign of sweetness.
