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How to know if a watermelon is good


How To Pick A Good Watermelon (6 tips to look for)

Here are six tips for How to Pick a Good Watermelon that’s ripe and sweet, gathered from lots of conversations with produce people, farmers, and personal experience. If you know how to check for things like the field spot, it makes the selection process much easier!

Picking out a watermelon at the grocery store was always a semi-anxiety plagued experience for me when I didn’t know what I was looking for. If you pick a bad one, you’re stuck with 15-20 whopping pounds of watermelon terribleness. And then your options are to either force yourself to eat this yucky watermelon or throw it away…and both are less than desirable options. There have been a few times where I ended up throwing it out because it tasted like a crunchy watermelon rind cucumber, and no one in my family would eat it.

My goal today is to help you pick a sweet, ripe watermelon because I know how disappointing it is to get home, take your first bite of some sort of produce you buy, only to find out it isn’t good. All the tips here are tidbits I have gathered from personal experience and lots of conversations with produce people and farmers.

Tip #1: Find the Field Spot

If you don’t even read the other tips, I find this is the biggest indicator of a good watermelon.

The field spot is a creamy spot on the outside, and it’s where the watermelon was resting on the ground. The field spot should be a yellowish creamy color, like shown with my watermelon:

The more dark yellow the field spot is, the longer it was on the vine sweetening up. If the field spot is white (or not even there), this indicates an underripe melon.

What’s interesting is you’ll notice that the other side of the same watermelon looks completely different:

It’s much prettier and more typical of what I picture when I think of a watermelon, and that’s okay. I find that the best watermelons I buy can sometimes look really gnarly on one side where it was resting on the ground, and then unblemished on the other. But you don’t want it to look perfectly green all the way around.

Tip #2: Pick a Dull Looking Exterior

A shiny exterior appearance indicates an underripe watermelon, though this can be a bit tricky if they’ve added wax, and then you can’t really tell. This applies to honeydew melons too. Don’t be put off by a dull looking watermelon.

Tip #3: Knock on It with Your Knuckles

Your knuckles should bounce off the melon, and the surface should be pretty hard and firm. You will get a dull thud if the flesh is soft, which indicates it’s starting to spoil. If you don’t want to knock with your knuckles, then you can push firmly with the tip of your thumb. Ideally there should be little or no give when you push in.

Tip #4: Get the Heaviest One for Its Size

This applies to pretty much all produce, but you want to pick the watermelon that is the heaviest one for its size. That means there’s more water in it.

The watermelon pictured above here in my post was a whopping 18 pounds!  It was heavier than the other comparably sized melons around it. It’s more bang for your buck too.

Tip #5: Check for a Uniform Shape

Some watermelons are round, some are oval, and either is fine. They are just different varieties. But if there are irregular bumps, this indicates the melon may have gotten inconsistent amounts of sun or water, and you should avoid that one.

Tip #6: Look for the Sugar Spots and Pollination Points

This tip was emailed to me many months ago by Tom, a produce manager for a major grocery chain. If you see black spots on the melon (as pictured above), this is where sugar is seeping out and indicates a sweet melon. Also, if you see dots in a line (not a scratch), these are pollination points, and the more of them the better. I’ve been looking for these every time I pick up a melon and have had great luck with it in addition to the other tips. Thank you, Tom!

Once you’ve picked out a good watermelon, take a look at my quick guide for How to Cut a Watermelon, which is how I always cut watermelon to keep in the fridge, but is an especially great to way to serve watermelon for parties and entertaining.

It is SO much easier than cutting the typical triangles that include the rind, and you can either cut it into sticks or cubes:

Click the photo above for my guide on cutting watermelon. Enjoy!

More Tips and FAQ

How do you store watermelon?

If it’s cut, the watermelon must be stored in the fridge and can be kept for up to 5 days. An uncut watermelon can be kept at room temperature for a few days, but I find it’s best to get it into the fridge as quickly as possible, especially since watermelons do not ripen further on the counter.

Can you freeze watermelon?

Yes, but it’s not something you’ll want to eat again in a thawed state. I freeze watermelon to blend into a Watermelon Slushie or as ice cubes for Summer Drinks.

Did you enjoy the recipe? Please leave a 5-star rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page.

How to Pick a Good Watermelon

Servings: 8

Prep Time: 2 mins

Total Time: 2 mins

Here are six tips for How to Pick a Good Watermelon that's ripe and sweet.

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Calories: 106kcal, Carbohydrates: 27g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 1g, Sodium: 4mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 22g

Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.

Course: Snack

Cuisine: American

Author: Joanne Ozug

Post updated with new photos and more tips in June 2018. Originally published April 2011.

How To Pick the Best Watermelon

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How to pick the perfect watermelon doesn’t need to be difficult. With these simple methods you can choose the most sweet and crisp watermelons every single time.

Watermelon is wonderful on it’s own, but if you are looking for some recipes to serve along with it, I’ve got you covered! Classic Potato Salad is also a summer staple and I’ve got the best version. Crispy Chicken Taquitos make for a super simple lunch. If you just need a bit more of a snack with this juicy melon, be sure to try my Cowboy Caviar.

Summer Melons

At the end of spring my grocery store starts stocking up on watermelons. Living in Texas we tend to get some produce earlier than others. I always wait until June to buy them because an early crop isn’t always the tastiest.

How Do You Tell If A Watermelon Is Ripe?

Picking a watermelon can be a little daunting. There are a lot factors when finding the most sweet and crisp melon. It’s hard because you can’t see the inside, but there are ways to detect the perfect watermelon.

All you need to use is sight, sound and feel and I’m going to walk you through each one. You’ll feel confident walking into the grocery store and excited as you cut into the fruit.

How To Pick The Best Watermelon

Using these methods will ensure that you pick the perfect watermelon. It’s only a short season, but you won’t ever have to wonder if it’s a good fruit or not.

Here are some wonderful recipes to try that I know you and your family will love.

Tried this recipe?Mention and tag @mynameissnickerdoodle!

Serving: 2Cups | Calories: 91kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 1.8g | Sugar: 18g

Fruit RecipesHow ToSummertime Recipes

How to choose a watermelon - choose a watermelon without nitrates

What to look for when buying watermelons? How to choose a juicy and sweet berry?

Irina Koziy

general director of the Berry Union

- The lowest prices for watermelons on the Russian market are usually in August - early September, when there is a massive harvest of watermelons in the regions of Russia. It should be noted that, as with most other Russian fruits, the watermelon harvest season this year (2022) has moved about two weeks later than usual due to a cold and rainy spring.

If you wish, you can buy watermelons at any time of the year. Thanks to the globalization of supplies and the development of growing technologies, watermelons are available to buyers all year round. True, the price of such a berry will be much higher.


Russian and imported watermelons: where do they come from?

The traditional regions for growing watermelons in Russia are Volgograd, Rostov, Astrakhan, Orenburg regions, Krasnodar and Stavropol Territories, the Republic of Dagestan. The largest Russian region in terms of growing watermelons is the Volgograd region. However, the development of growing technologies and the achievements of breeders lead to the fact that watermelons in our country can be grown on an ever wider area. Now watermelons are also grown on an industrial scale in the Saratov, Voronezh and Kurgan regions, in the Altai, Primorsky and Khabarovsk regions, and there are small plantings on farms even in Yakutia, Omsk and Novosibirsk regions.

Imported watermelons are supplied mainly from Kazakhstan (in summer) and Iran (in winter and spring). There are also deliveries from Turkey, Uzbekistan, Costa Rica, China, Thailand, Egypt, etc.

How to choose a watermelon?


Here are the universal characteristics of a ripe but not overripe watermelon.

Size . Choose a medium-sized watermelon in the batch (not too big, but not the smallest either).

For information

- Watermelons can be round or elongated, large or small. Mini-watermelons are popular in stores in the USA and Europe, the fruits of which fully ripen, while maintaining a relatively small size - about 1–1.5 kg. Such watermelons are dark red inside, very juicy and sweet. They are mainly supplied to our market from Brazil in the winter. In Western countries, so-called seedless watermelons are also preferred. The seeds of such fruits are very thin and soft, translucent, they are almost invisible, and they do not need to be removed during meals. Seedless varieties of watermelons, for example, account for more than 80% of the total US market for these fruits. In the countries of East Asia, unusually shaped watermelons, such as square ones, are popular, which are grown in special containers that limit their growth to the geometric parameters specified by the manufacturer,” says Irina Koziy .

What does a ripe watermelon look like? Quality fruit should look fresh, whole, clean. In the process of maturation, the crust becomes more matte. If the watermelon belongs to the striped variety, then as it ripens, its stripes become brighter and clearer, which can also be a sign of ripeness. The ripeness of the watermelon is also evidenced by an earthen spot - the place where the watermelon lay on the ground. Sunlight does not enter there, which means that chlorophyll (the pigment that turns plants green) is not produced there. It should be bright yellow. The brighter, the better. So the watermelon was harvested on time. There should be only one earth spot.

Roskachestvo investigated watermelons. Read about the results in the special project.

Should the watermelon "ring" after knocking? Tap on the watermelon. The sound should not be deaf and not sonorous, but in the middle between them, booming, reminiscent of vibration. A dull sound - the watermelon is overripe, too sonorous - unripe.

Should I pay attention to a dry tail? A dried watermelon tail is not a 100% sign of a delicious watermelon. Senior Researcher of the All-Russian Research Institute of Irrigated Vegetable and Melon Growing Artem Sokolov explains that the tail can be dried up (it's bad when it's dry). This is a sign that the watermelon is ripe and no longer takes moisture from the soil. But you need to take into account the transportation factor: by the time the watermelon reaches the point of sale, its tail, even if the watermelon is completely green, will also dry out. This will only take 3-4 days.

Is it necessary to squeeze a watermelon? Among the methods for determining the quality of watermelon is a common method of compression. It is believed that a ripe watermelon, when squeezed, should make a characteristic crack. But this method is indicative and can be misleading. Watermelon crunches when pressed just once. And, most likely, it already crunched during transportation. Re-pressing will do nothing.

About cracks and punctures


On the crust of a good watermelon, a large number of defects are not allowed: bruises, scars and cracks. It is important to emphasize that the quality of the product is maintained when the total area of ​​external damage caused by friction or handling does not exceed one eighth of the surface of the fruit. Bruises and cracks are the result of storage and transportation of berries. You should not look for injection marks on the surface or think that cracks are the result of nitrates being pumped into the pulp of a watermelon. If a puncture from a syringe, that is, a “wound” appeared in a watermelon, it would begin to rot. Neither melon growers nor sellers need rotten watermelons.

About nitrates . As Artem Sokolov explains, nitrates are the "vitamin" of growth, mineral fertilizers necessary for plant nutrition. They are widely used in agriculture: they stimulate the growth of plants and, accordingly, increase yields. Watermelons are fertilized with nitrates during their ripening period. By the end of ripening, watermelon should be free of nitrates - it will grow, feeding on them. The only chance to get a watermelon with an increased amount of nitrates is to pick it unripe (about a week before full ripening). But, most likely, they will only be in the crust. The probability of finding excess nitrates in the pulp is low.

- Scientists of the FGBUN "Federal Research Center for Nutrition and Biotechnology", dealing with issues of proper nutrition, argue that in world practice there has never been a case of human poisoning with nitrates from gourds, fruits or vegetables, - comments Irina Koziy . - What is usually mistaken for nitrate poisoning is either diarrhea from excessive consumption of fiber (we usually eat watermelons in kilograms, and the fiber contained in them has a laxative effect), or an intestinal disorder caused by bacteria from a poorly washed fruit surface. During ripening, the watermelon lies on the ground, so before cutting it, carefully clean the peel of soil particles and the microbes contained in it.

By the way, through cracks, microorganisms from the peel of watermelon easily reach the sweet and moist pulp, where they actively multiply, and then cause food poisoning in consumers. It is for this reason that you should not buy a cut watermelon or a fruit whose skin has been damaged, and also you should not ask to cut a watermelon to taste or see the color of its flesh.

Advice

Do not gnaw the watermelon down to the white part of the rind. It is both unsweetened and may contain traces of fertilizers. Wash the watermelon thoroughly, preferably with soap. According to doctors, the poisoning that is possible after drinking watermelon is most often caused not by nitrates, but by poor hygiene.


Is it worth using a nitrate?

As agronomists explain, a nitrate meter will not help determine the amount of nitrates in the fruit you like on the spot. In order for the nitrate meter to give an accurate result, it must be in a sterile environment that the average consumer cannot provide. To show the correct data, the needle of the device must undergo the necessary sanitization. If you wash it incorrectly or do not wash it at all, the next time the device will show an exorbitant result. Therefore, scientists trust only laboratories - they do one general analysis of a whole watermelon.

Where is the best place to buy watermelon?

Agronomists advise buying watermelons near watermelon fields: the berries are fully ripe there. They were not transported, they were often collected right on that day. This is the freshest product of the highest quality. Agronomists give second place to markets and ruins. Therefore, when choosing, you need to take into account the factor of transportation. The longer it takes to get the fruit from the field to the counter, the more likely it is that the watermelon was picked unripe.

- Watermelons, like other food products, must be declared in accordance with two articles of the technical regulations of the Customs Union - TR CU 021/2011 "On food safety" and TR CU 022/2011 "Food products in terms of their labeling." Sellers must have a declaration of conformity from the organization that grew the watermelons. In addition, the seller must have a personal medical book and information about the legal entity selling the products, - comments Maya Budzhapova, head of the standardization department of Roskachestvo .


How to choose the right ripe watermelon

Juicy, sweet and velvety watermelon pulp pleasantly refreshes on a hot day and quenches thirst. Watermelon is a source of vitamin C, iron, folic acid, potassium, magnesium, pectin, and fiber.

However, how many times have we brought home a large beautiful fruit, gathered at the table with the whole family, cut it up and ... were disappointed. Instead of scarlet pulp, splashing with juice, something pale pink and completely tasteless appeared before our eyes.

It is even more offensive when, after tasting a watermelon that looks quite decent, symptoms of poisoning appear - headache, nausea and vomiting. This reaction is caused by nitrates in the composition of the fetus, which appear due to the use of a large amount of mineral fertilizers. How to choose the right watermelon to avoid unpleasant situations? We analyze this issue in the article.

So, let's learn how to choose the perfect watermelon - fragrant, sugary, melting in your mouth and without nitrates!

Look at the calendar

The most delicious watermelons ripen in season, that is, from the second half of August to the end of September. Early watermelons are saturated with nitrates, as some producers, in an effort to harvest sooner, feed gourds with nitrogen fertilizers and growth stimulants. If you want to enjoy watermelons without the health consequences, be patient!

Buy watermelons in trusted places

It is very important where you buy watermelon. Melons should be sold either in a store or in stalls with an awning, on special decks located at a height of at least 15 cm from the ground. The fact is that tender watermelon pulp is a suitable breeding ground for microorganisms that enter through inconspicuous cracks along with dust and dirt.

All gourds instantly absorb hazardous substances from the environment, so never buy them near highways, because car exhaust contains harmful substances and heavy metals. For the same reason, do not take cut watermelons, which are literally teeming with germs. In this case, even certificates will not help - an initially flawless watermelon can be very dangerous to health.

Check the fruit by external characteristics

Carefully inspect and feel the watermelon from all sides - the watermelon peel should not even have small cracks, dents, soft spots, scratches and other damage through which bacteria and microbes can easily penetrate. Well, if the watermelon has a spherical or slightly elongated shape, uniform and even color - this is a huge plus for the watermelon image.

Bright and contrasting stripes are a sure sign of the ripeness of a watermelon, as is a shiny “wooden” rind that cannot be pierced with a fingernail, but is easy to scratch. Rub the watermelon rind with your finger - unripe fruits will clearly smell of fresh hay.

Pay attention to the tail

Watermelon tail must be dry - when the watermelon ripens, it stops taking moisture from the ground and dries up. If the tail is green, it means that the watermelon was plucked before full ripening, although the green tail turns yellow with time in long-harvested unripe fruits.

There is an important difference between a mature and immature tail - in a ripe watermelon, the tail is fragile and breaks easily, while in an immature fruit it is more sluggish. If the tail is cut off, bypass such watermelons - most likely, the sellers decided to disguise the poor quality of the crop.

Look for the “cheek” of the watermelon

Since the watermelon lies on one side for a long time, a light spot of a rich yellow or orange hue forms at the point of contact with the ground - it is called the “cheek”. A surface that is too light, large or unevenly colored should alert you, as this is a sure sign that the watermelon did not lie well on the melon.

The optimal size of the "cheek" is 5-10 cm. There is another sign of ripeness - small light spots that appear on the entire surface of the watermelon peel after the production of chlorophyll stops.

The best watermelon is medium size

The correct answer is medium. Large watermelons, despite their tempting appearance, are often grown using nitrates, and small fruits are most often unsweetened. Sometimes there are exceptions - small watermelons can be sugary and tasty, while large watermelons can be watery, unsweetened and pale pink.

Choose ringing watermelons

Tap a watermelon with your fist - ripened fruits make a clear and sonorous sound, while unripe watermelons respond dully. You can put your ear to the watermelon, as if to a sea shell, and squeeze it slightly - a ripe watermelon will crackle slightly.

The most delicious watermelons are girls

It turns out that watermelons have a gender. In female fetuses, the bottom is completely flat with a large brown circle, while in male fetuses it is convex and with a very small circle. Know that the sweetest and most delicious are “girls”, besides, they have much less seeds.

Check documents

If you have found the best watermelon and are ready to buy it, ask the seller for a certificate of quality, which can be considered a kind of watermelon "passport". The certificate should contain the following data: the “homeland” of the watermelon, its age, that is, the harvest time, nitrate content and other characteristics, on the basis of which you can make a final conclusion whether or not to be a watermelon on your table.

If the seller shows you a photocopy of the certificate, take a closer look at the seal - it must be in color, not black and white. If you suspect false documents, do not take risks - health is more expensive.

How to "expose" nitrates

Finally, you bought the "right" watermelon, brought it home and cut it up. Do not rush to taste, first make sure that the fruit is not nitrate. The following points should alert you - an incredibly bright watermelon pulp with a lilac tint, yellow fibers in the pulp and a smooth gloss on the cut of the watermelon instead of a grainy surface.

Remember that nitrates are concentrated closer to the crust, so always leave a juicy core for babies - it's just the tastiest.

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