Watermelon Matures at 70-90 Days. Step 1: Look at it's color. This method is called the Thump Test . Position the melon two inches from your ear, thump or tap it with your free hand. If you cant feel anything, there might be a problem. The 8 th Tip: How to Select A Pre Cut Melon. Get one that is heavy for its size. If you are a produce tapper, Tip 4: Deep Hollow Sound When You Thump It. The color of a watermelon indicates the ripeness of the fruit. Knock on It with Your Knuckles Your knuckles should bounce off the melon, and the surface Your knuckles should bounce off the hard surface and make a loud tap. Slice watermelon into 1-inch thick rounds. Here are our tips to choosing a great melon every time, plus a delicious watermelon slushy recipe! Pass on any with bruises or soft spots. Avoid buying watermelons that are hard or dry. It's most likely rotten. Make sure it has a prominent creamy yellow spot. Here is how to pick a watermelon. If the patch is a cream or yellow tone, the watermelon is ripe. Add watermelon slices, fresh mint leaves and enjoy! The best watermelon will have a dried curly stem and the bottom is just starting to yellow. For slices, start at the top point of the fruit, and cut straight down to the rind, in to 1-inch sections. Tips from An Experienced Farmer on How to Pick a Good Watermelon. Knock on the watermelon with your knuckles. These marks are caused when bees pollinate the flower and scar the membranes that later forms the fruit. How to Pick a Watermelon at the Store That's Sweet and Ripe The rind should look dull and dark, and feel firm to the touch. Unripe ones will produce a high-pitched sound. Tap the underbelly. Article continues below advertisement. Working with one half at a time, stand watermelon flat on one end and slice off the rinds all around so that youre left with 2 halves of pure watermelon flesh. Another trick to choose a good watermelon is to tap it gently with the palm of your hand. 2. When tapping a watermelon, you want the sound to be solid, like tapping on Then open the bowl and sniff the fruit. The tap should resonate, or have a hollow ring. Give it a little gentle slap or tap. Look for dull skin (not shiny) that has a consistent pattern of dark green and light green stripes. This is where the watermelon was sitting on the ground ripening in the sun. Take one half of the watermelon and place it cut side down on a cutting board. If the stem is brown, then you know it was ripened on the vine! The skin should feel bouncy when it is tapped. After preparing shallow trenches, allow the soil to warm up for about 3 hours before digging an inch deep and 18 to 24 inches apart for planting holes. Observe the shape of the watermelon. If the watermelon sounds like hole, is that it is good. Tap The Sides. Choose the Heaviest One. Grill, turning occasionally, until lightly charred, about 5-7 minutes. If youve ever seen people thumping or tapping a melon, theyre probably trying to find a ripe one (or just have a very strange hobby). Thats how you know it was Pick up your watermelon - it should feel heavy, remember it's 92% water after all- try comparing it to the If the melon sounds full, then it has already gone bad or is not yet ripe. The most common technique to detect a ripe watermelon is by tapping it. No spot or a white spot means it won't be flavorful. Good Watermelons for 2. Top off each glass with Perrier Watermelon. 3. Shake well and strain evenly into two glasses filled with ice. How to pick a good watermelon. Add water if the soil is too dry or there are no signs of rain. Look for an orange creamy field spot. Stripes: The stripes of the melon should have a pretty stark contrast between the dark and light areas. This is a good indicator of a nice, ripe, juicy watermelon. This is a perfect indication that the fruit is ripe, full of juice, and ready to No spot = premature pick = not ripe. Heres how to do it. Pick Watermelon When Bottom Turns Yellow. Watermelon Appearance. Watermelon is Good For The Heart. To cut a watermelon into cubes. A watermelon should be heavy for its size. 3. Seeing how at the store your limited on what to select from what's available. Answer (1 of 2): The Best Way to Pick a Watermelon It wont officially be summer until youve had your first watermelon of the season. Now pick that watermelon up. If you tap the watermelon and the sound produced is If the field spot is white thats a sign that the melon is not quite ripe. Take a Peek at the Stem End of the Cantaloupe. Tapping Can Be Telling While the Watermelon Board says you dont have to thump the melons to find the best one, some people swear by this method. Last updated: Feb 24, 2022 3 min read. If no tone at all is heard, then carefully put it down. If it sounds dull, its likely an unripe melon. To test the ripeness of a watermelon, tap or flick the underside 1. Give it a Good Thump Give it a tap or Search the rind for the ground spot (aka the area where the melon touched the ground as it grew). 'Look for a firm and symmetrical watermelon with no scratches. Each batch of watermelons is different. Pick a watermelon that has a uniform oval shape, indicating it got adequate sun and water. If its hollow, thats a good watermelon. 2. Webbing: The larger the webbing, or scars, the more sweet and ripe the fruit will be. Source of Vitamin C. Source of potassium. Tip #6: Look for the Sugar Spots and Pollination Points. Every part of a watermelon is edible! A good watermelon should have a bright green stem if it is still attached; if the stem is dried or brown-looking, move on to the next watermelon because this means youre looking at an old watermelon, as in, one that was harvested too long ago. If not, put it back in the fridge and let it ripen further. Tip 4: Deep Hollow Sound When You Thump It. Give the watermelon a gentle tap with your knuckles. Look for a fruit that's shiny and vibrant in color when picking a watermelon to take home. Do you remember how If it makes a hollow sound, this indicates that the melon is ripe and juicy. It will give a deep hollow sound if you tap or slap the watermelon from different sides with your fist or hand. No spot or a white spot means it won't #2 Look for webbing. The side of the melon that was resting on the ground should be a creamy A good watermelon should have an orange or yellow blotch where the melon was in contact with the ground. With a bit of practice, youll better identify a perfect watermelon. It should feel soft to the touch. What you are looking for in a good watermelon is consistency. Tapping the underbelly of the watermelon is the best way to know if its ripe or not. Finally, you have all of the tips that can help you choose a sweet watermelon. 2. To use this No matter what size watermelon you are angling for, pick the heaviest in that size range. The famous tapping test is not an easy task, but many watermelon fans believe that the method really works. A good watermelon should be hard all around. Look for a spot where the melon was sitting on the ground That spot should be dark yellow, the darker coloring the better, and have some scars. Contains only a small amount of fat. 4. It does qualify me to know how to pick a good watermelon! The strange shape of the watermelon could have been created A watermelon should be heavy for its size. Shininess might signify the watermelon was picked too early. An over-ripe watermelon will Image Credit: annawaldl, Pixabay. Knocking a watermelon with your knuckles can indicate whether it is ripe or not. The darker yellow field spot usually means it was on the vine longer and is full of flavor. Pick a Dull Looking Watermelon A shiny appearance indicates an underripe melon. Welcome to watermelon season! According to the Australian Melon Association (primo experts of all kinds of melons), most watermelons are available in Australia all year round, but they will be in peak condition from December through to May. This is why we tend to see a spike in watermelon appearances on dining tables throughout the summer months. Figuring out how to tell when a watermelon is ripe is a simple process that you can use whether youre picking watermelon from the vine or the grocery store. This tip was emailed to me many months ago by Tom, a produce manager for a major grocery chain. A deep hollow sound means the melon is good. If this patch is pale yellow or white, it is not yet ripe. It should give off a sweet scent. Dark shades of green typically indicate an optimal combination of sun and water while the watermelon was growing. Look for mean green. Observe the shape of the watermelon. The Taste Test Answer: Cut the fruit into bite sized pieces and Put the baking sheet in the freezer until the chunks are solid. Tap the Watermelon. Ripe watermelons should produce a deep ring, like knocking at a door. This area should be a light green. 2. 3. This method can be subjective but is a favorite of watermelon farmers. Count it as your daily workout. 5. The cantaloupe stem has the ability to give you a better insight into the quality of the fruit youre selecting. Yes, pick up the melons and look for a heavier melon for the overall size. Try lifting the fruit. A ripe one will have a deep hollow sound. Give it a few taps with your knuckles or the pads of your fingers. Look at the field spot. This is where it sat on the ground ripening. In a large bowl, stir together the watermelon, corn, cucumbers, scallions, cilantro, feta, flaky sea salt and black pepper. 2. Then cut along the edge of the rind, deep into the watermelon on each side, to The heavier the watermelon the more water is in it. Get one that is heavy for its size. Things such as If its light A winning watermelon will typically have a slight hollow sound upon tapping. Transfer them to a bag, remove as Listen out for any melons that produce a dull, thudding sound when knocked. 1. 4. 2. Very low in sodium. Image by Daisy Creek Farms with Jag Singh. Tips for Picking a Ripe Watermelon. Under-ripe or overripe melons will sound dull. Source of Vitamin A. Knock on the outside of the watermelon listening for a hollow sound, not a thud. Check if it sounds Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Choose pieces with bright red flesh This is the tip that most people know, and if it sounds hollow that means its filled with water. 1. The tips include color, sound, stem condition, and give to the skin of the watermelon. 'Look for a firm and symmetrical watermelon with no scratches. It does qualify me to know how to pick a good watermelon! Tap the watermelon. Pick it up: Big or small, the watermelon should feel heavy for its size. Look for the Five easy steps for how to pick a watermelon First, take a look at the visible signs on the watermelon. Pick Watermelon when Tendril (tail) Dies. Just go for the dried tails if you want the juicy and sweet watermelon. Tips from An Experienced Farmer on How to Pick a Good WatermelonLook for the Field Spot. The yellow spot, known as the field spot, is the place where the watermelon rested on the ground. Look for webbing. These weblike brown spots on the watermelon mean that bees touched the pollinating parts of the flower many times.Boy and Girl Watermelons. Pay Attention to the Size. Inspect the Tail. The overall shape of Pick a watermelon that has a uniform Tap the fruit with the joints of your fingers and listen to the sound they make. You use the visual method to decide which ones to thump. This is the brown, coarse web-like marking on the fruit. Youll have to pick up a few and assess which ones are heavy for their size by comparing. 1- Check the stem. Give the watermelon a gentle tap with your knuckles. As a general rule of thumb the breeds I planted that were more squat and darker green ended up being sweeter. Source: Am produce clerk. If you see black spots on the melon (as pictured above), this is where sugar is seeping out and indicates a sweet melon. Tap firmly on the top. 2. Ripeness test by tapping the watermelon. The length, size, and shape of a melon is because of breed ONLY. Watermelon Fun Facts: Watermelon Will Not Sweeten After Picking. If its a dull, muted thudding sound, put it back. Youll have to pick up a few and assess which No, they are not crazy. Try tapping on the middle of the watermelon a listen for the right sound. Melons with plenty of pink, juicy flesh will sound hollow when you tap on them. Shading. 3. Ripe watermelons should produce a deep ring, like knocking at a door. Compare it by lifting several other melons of the same size. When its time to pick a watermelon, you want to touch, look, and listen. A deep hollow sound like that of knocking on the door hints towards ripeness. Tap the watermelon and listen to the sound it produces. Give It a Tap. Slice watermelon in half, taking care not to let the melon split haphazardly. Next, check the color of the field spot--that yellow or white patch on the underside of the watermelon. 3. 3. To test the ripeness of a watermelon, tap or flick the underside of the fruit.