Watermelon is a refreshing and hydrating fruit, especially during hot weather. However, finding the delicous watermelon can sometimes be tricky. Here’s how you can tell when a watermelon is ripe and ready to be enjoyed:
1. Find the Sugar Spot
In the image, you can see two watermelons with their sugar spots (the area where the stem attaches to the fruit). The watermelon on the right is ripe, while the one on the left is not.
A watermelon’s sugar spot should be small, dry, and slightly sunken. This implies that the watermelon is ripe and has matured well on the vine. If the sugar spot is large or moist, the fruit may not be fully ripe or could be overripe.
2. Examine a Uniform Color
Ripe watermelons should have a vibrant green color without any spots or bruises on the rind. The skin of the watermelon should be evenly colored, with deep green stripes.
3. Feel for the Right Weight
A good watermelon should feel heavy for its size. Watermelons consist of a lot of water, and the heavier ones tend to be juicier and more flavorful.
4. Tap the Watermelon
One of the oldest tricks to test the ripeness of a watermelon is to tap it gently. A ripe watermelon will create a deep, hollow sound, while an unripe one will sound more dull. The hollow sound implies that the melon is full of water and ready to eat.
5. Check for the Field Spot
Examine a yellow field spot (the area where the watermelon sat on the ground during ripening). A ripe watermelon typically has a soft, yellowish field spot. If the spot is white or green, the watermelon may not be fully ripened.
6. Find a Smooth, Unblemished Rind
A watermelon with a smooth rind and no scratches or gouges is ripe. Minor blemishes are okay, but large cuts or soft spots may imply the fruit has been overhandled or is beginning to spoil.
To select a ripe watermelon with red, sweet, and paper-thin flesh, find a small, dry sugar spot, examine the uniform color of the rind, feel the weight, tap for a hollow sound, and check for the field spot.