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For a juicy, sweet melon every time, use these super simple tips and tricks on how to pick out a good watermelon!
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.
Once you have it chosen, I also have tips for cutting watermelon.
How to Pick a Watermelon
For a ripe watermelon, keep these tips in mind:
- Look for the large yellow spot (field spot) on the underbelly of the watermelon. This is where the watermelon was laying in the field. Make sure it’s a decent size and has a nice creamy yellow spot to ensure ripeness.
- Give it a good thump. Give it a tap or knock to make sure your perfect melon has a hollow deep sound.
- Dull outside. Make sure the outside of the watermelon looks dull and not shiny. A shiny watermelon means it’s not ripe. The green stripes should be a deep dark green while the white strips should be a light yellow/cream.
- Lift it up. Make sure it’s heavy for its size, which means it has a ton of water in it (what you want!!)
- Nice oval shape. A uniform shape watermelon shows that it got the perfect amount of sunshine and water.
- Bee stings and white scars (sugar spots). 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. The best watermelons have a 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.
- Avoid watermelons that are shiny, and have soft spots, bruises, dents, or irregular bumps.
Complete the Meal
- MAIN DISHES: Hot Dogs in Crockpot, Baby Back Ribs, Best Hamburger Recipe
- DESSERTS: Dole Whip, Root Beer Float Ice Cream Cake, Strawberry Shortcake
- More fruit recipes: Fruit Salad Recipe, Fruit Tart, Fruit Pizza, Watermelon Smoothie, Watermelon Juice
More collections: Summer Drinks, Summer Side Dishes, Summer Salads
How to Pick Out a Good Watermelon
These super simple tips and tricks on how to pick out a good watermelon will give you a juicy and sweet melon every time!
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 has 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.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
Watermelon Size?
- When cut into ¾ inch wedges, a medium 20-pound watermelon can produce 66 pieces. Divide 66 by the number of pieces you think your guests will eat. I find people eat an average of 3 slices, so 22 guests.
How to serve watermelon?
- If the perfect watermelon is cut into triangles, arrange them on a platter.
- If I have cubes of melon, serve them out of a large bowl or a hollow watermelon rind.
- Another thing we like to do for the Fourth and during the summer is making Watermelon Juice!
keep watermelon cool outside?
- Whether whole or cut, keep the watermelon in a cooler with ice. When it’s time to serve it, place some ice in a bowl and then nestle the bowl of cut watermelon into the ice.
How to store an uncut watermelon?
- Keep the uncut melon at room temperature for 1-2 weeks, or in the fridge for 7-10 days.
How to store cut watermelon?
- If you only slice a portion of the ripe melon, then tightly wrap the uncut portion 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. Drain excess liquid before serving.
Can I freeze watermelon?
- 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 be kept for 3-6 months.
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!”
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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.
If the melon is brown or golden in color then it’s ripe. Look for that every time and have no problem picking a sweet cantaloupe or honey dew. Good luck
Thanks for sharing!
I love knowing how to pick a good watermelon. We love watermelon during the summertime.It’s cool and refreshing!
I love your tips! I use them every time I’m at the grocery store! They haven’t failed me yet!
Very helpful 👍🙂
Your blog and your recipes are fabulous. And, I just had to tell you that my great grand-daughter is named Luna. But, granny calls her “little Lulu” 🙂
Thank you so much! That is a cute nick name 🙂
Amazing tips! I rushed to megastore trying to find a good watermelon but I didn`t find :(. I will try to go to another one this weekend. Pinned!
Thanks so much!! Hope you find one!
I used to live in the Imperial Valley in California, we had 160 acres behind our house where thy used to grow watermelons. As a kid I was the designated watermelon picker. Your tips are spot on.
How fun would that be! Thanks for stopping by!
My main method to check the watermelon is by knocking on it. If a specific sound pop up then the watermelon is delicious!
Thank you for sharing!! And, I agree 🙂
This is by far my favorite fruit but didn’t really knew all those tips so thanks for putting them altogether.
We love watermelon at our house! Hopefully, these will help you for next time! Thanks for stopping by!
Stay away from seedless melons, the seeds are what give the melon that amazing flavor!
Good to know!! Thank you!!
I was raised in an Italian family, that LOVED produce, lol. I remember being with my mom at the store and she was getting a watermelon. I asked her ” How do know which one? ” she told me, ” Always try to get the most heaviest one you can get! The heavier, the most juiciest! Also, look around the melon. Sometimes there are bits of sugar drops that are like black crust on the melon. ” That’s probably where the bee stings were. Some of the watermelon juice drain out and dried up into sugary crystals. So now, when I wanna watermelon, That’s how I do it. Best of produce luck, lol. GOD bless! Chris.
Great tips – thank you!! 😀
Bees do not sting watermelons; I don’t know why this myth keeps getting spread around.
Any help on picking cantalopes?
Hmmm, unfortunately, I’m not the expert on cantaloupes. I will have to do some research and write a blog post about it. 😉
Look for where the cantalope was attached to the vine. Then, smell it. If it smells sweet– it’s a keeper. If there is no smell or an off smell– pass. You should want it to smell like what you want it to taste like. That is how I buy my cantaloupes.
Thank you Carol!! I’ll have to try that next time!! Hope that helps anyone 🙂
Thanks for the tips. Sweet watermelon….can’t wait 🙂
Did you know if you place a piece of straw (I break a piece off a straw broom) and place it across the middle of a watermelon, the sweeter and juicier the watermelon the straw will move (by itself) so it aligns vertically on top of the melon? No or little movement? Don’t bother buying it. Moves a lot? Guaranteed a winner.
Not sure how or why it works, but it does EVERYTIME!
WHAT?!?! I’ve never heard that but will have to give it a try!
Thanks for the tips! I knew to thump the watermelon and make sure it sounded hard but some of the others are new to me. 🙂 Hopefully they will be on sale this week! 🙂
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Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Anyhow, just wanted to say fantastic blog!
Great tips! thanks for the post, I had no idea how to shop for the good watermelons. I would love it if you linked this up to my Motivate Me Monday linky party on IT’S A ginger SNAP.
In the UK we get these little round things in the shops that are called watermelons, they are lovely, sweet, juicy and delicious. When I was about 22 I first visited the US and realised that we are not getting the same watermelons that you all do. Yours are MASSIVE! I seriously couldn’t believe my eyes, I didn’t believe they were the same thing – we had to buy one and cut it up just to make sure (it was) Some 20+ years later I still think of it every time I am in the supermarket and see our slightly pathetic looking watermelons, I have serious US watermelon envy!
Great tips btw – I’m sure they translate to our puny watermelons too.
Thanks for sharing your tips! They worked!!! I picked the perfect watermelon!!!
Ok so I’ve heard of a few of these but the bee sting one is new! And I never thought to pay attention to the shape. I just bought a watermelon the other day and it was awful! Now I guess I need to go try again!!
I always pick the watermelons for our family (raised on a farm, I knew all these tips). But if my husband has to for reason, I always tell him to get the ugliest one! Lol. He does pretty good with just that tip!
LOL – good tip!! The ones with the scrapes and cuts are always the best!
I love this post! I’m always so uncertain when it comes to picking watermelons! I can’t wait to give these tips a try!
Great useful info! My mom’s tried and true way has to do with where the stem connected to the melon. If it’s flush or rounded, as opposed to concave, then it’s a good one! I’ve started using that and she’s right! I’ll probably add some of these to hone in the process! Thanks. 🙂
That’s a great tip – never heard of it before but will try it this week with the other tips. Thanks!!
Great tips! I’ll be keeping these in mind this week. Watermelon is on sale for less than $4. 🙂
It worked! I used your tips (and examined probably a dozen or more watermelons) and the watermelon was the best one I’ve had this season! 🙂 Sharing this tip with my fans on Facebook!
YAY!! I LOVE hearing this!! We did the same thing for yesterday’s melon and it was the sweetest and juiciest one we’ve had too. 🙂
Awesome info – thanks! I new about some of these and can usually pick a good one, but some I’ve never heard before so I’ll definitely be using those tips! Oh, and I’m gonna have to try that watermelon juice!
Shelly@thedomesticheart
Why would s bee sting a growing fruit? Can they get something out? Don’t bees die when they sting?
I’ve always had a hard time picking good melons. Thanks so much for these tips. Now if you could only tell the secrets to picking a good cantaloupe/honeydew!
Thank you for all your tips!!
Great tips! I usually get lucky by just thumping, but the last one I got was bad. I had no ideas those marks were from the bees trying to get in. I’m going to use these tips when I get one this weekend. Thanks so much for the help!
I have always wanted more information about picking a good melon out! I love finding the bee stings! I have found some that look like trail marks on it…and they are black and stick up a little (like a scab). Those are the BEST melons! They are hard to come by!
Thanks for helping me understand how to get a good melon!
Thanks for the tips. I knew only half of them – the yellow spot, thunking it and the heaviness of the melon. Now I know to get dull vs shiney and to WANT the dings and lines. Great info.
Tavette – S. Fla.
Thank you for the tips! I knew about some and have used many of them but I am really going to use a lot of the other ones! Watermelon is my favorite thing too! It’s actually the best part of summer in my book!
Great tips! Pinned 🙂
xoxo
Thanks for the tips! I always send the hubs to pick out a watermelon, he knows how to pick em’! I’m terrible at it!! Pinned!
Great Tips! Pinned!