These super simple tips and tricks on how to pick out a good watermelon will give you a juicy and sweet melon every time!
Be sure to follow these steps on how to pick a good watermelon so it will be juicy every time. Serve up those sweet slices with a pile of Dr. Pepper Ribs and Corn on the Cob for a perfect summer BBQ!
Who doesn’t love watermelon?!
In the summertime, I’m especially obsessed with this sweet and refreshing fruit, and I often think about how wonderful life would be if I had it in my fridge all year long!
Over the years, I’ve learned a few tips and trips for picking out the juiciest watermelon and I wanted to make sure you knew what they were so you could use them too.
I know people often say that buying a sweet watermelon is hit or miss, but it doesn’t have to be if you look for a few things when you’re picking out your melon. Once you have it chosen, I also have tips for cutting it!
Delicious, Red and Juicy!! That’s how a perfect watermelon should be, and if you follow these tips it should help in picking out a sweet melon. 😉
HOW TO PICK OUT A GOOD WATERMELON
Keep these tips in mind while picking out your melon:
- Look for the Large Yellow Spot on the underside of the watermelon – This is where the watermelon was laying in the field. Make sure it’s a decent size and a nice yellow patch.
- Give it a Good Thump – Give it a tap or knock, you want to make sure it has a hollow sound.
- Dull Outside – You want to make sure the outside of the watermelon looks dull and not shiny. A shiny watermelon means it’s not ripe.
- Lift it Up – You want to make sure it’s heavy for it’s size, which means it has a ton of water in it (what you want!!)
- Nice Oval Shape – A uniform-shaped watermelon shows that it got the perfect amount of sunshine and water.
- Bee Stings and White Scars – Look for these little guys. These little marks show that it’s sweet enough that even the bees were trying to get to the inside. The stings look like brown lines or dots on the melon.
- Sweet Aroma – Scratch a bit off the green skin. You should be able to smell a sweet aroma through the rind of the melon.
- Tendril – Most watermelons at the grocery store will not have a tendril, but if you are choosing one from a farmers market or are lucky enough to have one growing in your garden locate the curly tendril, where the melon is/was connected to the vine. The tendril should be dried out. If it still has a green stem, then the melon is not ripe.
Serving Tips
Not sure about you guys, but ripe watermelon is a must for the Fourth of July, so I’m hoping these tips will help you to pick out a good watermelon for Independence Day. 🙂
Another thing we like to do for the Fourth and during the summer is make Watermelon Juice – SOOO good! Or whip up a big fresh glass of Frozen Watermelon Smoothie.
Storing Tips
- An Uncut Watermelon: Keep the uncut melon at room temperature for 1-2 weeks, or in the fridge for 7-10 days.
- For a Cut Watermelon: If you only sliced a portion of the melon, then tightly wrap the uncut potion with plastic wrap and store it in the fridge for 4-5 days. Cut watermelon cubes can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.
- Freeze Watermelon Chunks: You can store cut watermelon in the freezer to use in smoothies, sorbet or gazpacho. Remove the seeds from the chunks and flash freeze them. Line a pan with parchment paper and arrange the cut melon evenly over the pan. Freeze until solid, then transfer to a freezer safe container. It can keep for 3-6 months.
For more tips, check out:
- DIY Fruit Fly Trap
- How to Keep Your Toilet Clean
- Top 10 Uses for Baking Soda
- How to Mince Garlic
- How to Soften Butter Quickly
How to Pick Out a Good Watermelon
Ingredients
- 1 watermelon
Instructions
- Look for the Large Yellow Spot on the underside of the watermelon – This is where the watermelon was laying in the field. Make sure it's a decent size and a nice yellow patch.
- Give it a Good Thump – Give it a tap or knock, you want to make sure it has a hollow sound.
- Dull Outside – You want to make sure the outside of the watermelon looks dull and not shiny. A shiny watermelon means it's not ripe.
- Lift it Up – You want to make sure it's heavy for it's size, which means it has a ton of water in it (what you want!!)
- Nice Oval Shape – A uniform-shaped watermelon shows that it got the perfect amount of sunshine and water.
- Bee Stings and White Scars – Look for these little guys. These little marks show that it's sweet enough that even the bees were trying to get to the inside. The stings look like brown lines or dots on the melon.
- Sweet Aroma – Scratch a bit off the green skin. You should be able to smell a sweet aroma through the rind of the melon.
- Tendril – Most watermelons at the grocery store will not have a tendril, but if you are choosing one from a farmers market or are lucky enough to have one growing in your garden locate the curly tendril, where the melon is/was connected to the vine. The tendril should be dried out. If it still has a green stem, then the melon is not ripe.
I have hard time determining weight or use the knocking method, but I always look for the bee stings and sun spots. I rarely choose a bad melon.
Thank you for the tip on “HOW TO PICK A GOOD WATERMELON.” For me, it’s always been “hit or miss,” but now I believe I’ve “graduated!”
I use Cook’n software to store all my recipes and would like to add some of yours (with proper credit). Before you say “NO,” feel free to see my cookbooks/recipes to see how I give credit to the cook. They are available (and free to copy) at:
http://www.dvo.com/cookn/bobf77845
Will I have your permission to use some in my cookbooks?