How do you know watermelon is ripe and sweet to purchase?!
How do you know watermelon is ripe and sweet to purchase?
Answers:
look for a stem that's shrunken and discolored. If the stem is missing, the watermelon is too ripe; it will be mealy and dark and not taste fresh. If the stem is green - the watermelon is too green and not ripe. The skin should be dull, not shiny. Slap the melon and listen for a hollow thump. A yellow belly or the underside of the watermelon usually indicates the fruit is ripe.
Cut melons are usually more expensive per pound than those bought whole, but they may be a better buy because you see exactly what you're getting. The blossom end of the watermelon is usually the ripest and therefore the sweetest part. If you're buying a cut melon, look for the blossom end. Make sure the flesh is dark red and firm.
Source(s):
http://www.producepete.com/shows/seedles...
how they do it here is that the seller slits a small piece so people can see if it's ripe
Tap the melon like you would a door and it makes a distinct hollow sound when it is ripe. If the melon is not ready to eat it will sound more like something you would expect to hear from tapping on an apple.
Look at the bottom side where it doesn't get any sunshine.
The color of that area can be used to determine the ripeness of a watermelon.
If it's white then is is green inside.
If it's orange then it is overripe.
If it's yellow then it's mellow and ripe.
Some say thumping, which doesn't work.
Some say looking at the pig tail, which can tell you how long it's been picked, but not if it's ripe.
Plugging it, works, but nobody will let you do that anymore.
When its dark green on the underside, and the stem is shriveled up...... or ask the people selling them....sometimes they will cut a piece for u to taste.....