A thick rind makes it much hard to know what you ’ll find when you slit it open . Never fear ! Learn how to pick a watermelon that ’s absolutely ripe and juicy .
You sleep together summer has arrived with the time of year ’s first bite of watermelon vine . It ’s so disappointing when that bite is dry , underripe , and lacking sweetness . No matter how you ’re using Citrullus vulgaris , eating it by the slice , make a sensational watermelon cake , or shake up a refreshing watermelon water ice , you want each fruit you bring plate to be right and dripping with juice .
With a few watermelon tricks from theNational Watermelon Promotion Boardand Lee Wroten , vice president of Global Produce sale in Lakeland , Florida , you ’ll jazz how to break up a unadulterated Citrullus vulgaris that ’s brimming with sweetness and succus .
Credit: Meredith
The next meter you channelize to the grocery computer storage orfarmers market , keep the four S ’s in mind . They ’ll aid you learn how to peck a sweet Citrullus vulgaris with the best flavor .
How to Pick a Good Watermelon
These helpful crown will help you choose a ripe watermelon .
1. Sheen
" A watermelon tends to lose its natural sheen and colour over time , " Wroten says . Look for a yield that ’s glossy and vibrant in color when picking awatermelon to savor this summer . If the skin appear deadening or does n’t have much color , the Citrullus vulgaris is a little past its prime and wo n’t be as gamy as other fruit . A few scratches are okay , but debar any melon vine with bruises , dents , or any cuts that punctured the rind .
2. Shading
Look for a creamy yellow situation on one side of the melon vine whenever you need topick a ripe watermelon . This is the side of the melon vine resting on the ground as it grew ; the spot bend yellow as the watermelon ripen , so a sunny yellow shade is a mark of a juicy , ripe melon . If the blot is pale white , the watermelon was nibble before it could fully ripen on the vine . The top should also be a bright immature hue with well - defined chevron .
3. Sound
The knock test is a well - known watermelon fast one for peck the good melon . It takes a fiddling exercise to master , but it can help oneself you choose a juicy melon vine . Before taking a watermelon home , give it a pat and mind for a hollow , drum - the like ring . A monotone or dead thud can clue you in about hurt , over - ripeness , or a want of succulence .
4. Size
Because 92 % of a watermelon is ( fittingly ) water , the yield should feel sound relative to its size . Lift up the melon vine : If it feels sullen than you carry and meets the other criteria above , keep to the checkout line of reasoning . If it seems low-cal , keep look to nibble a juicy watermelon vine ; the lack of weighting means the watermelon may not be as red-hot .
How to Prep and Store Watermelon
In addition to these four watermelon vine thaumaturgy , remember to avoid wet , dented , bruise or cracked melon , just like you would for any other fruit . And while it may follow as a surprise since watermelon vine has such a tough rind , wash out your melonbefore cut into it . Like avocado , if the exterior of your watermelon vine is n’t clean before making the first cut , your knife can channel bacterium from the rind to the racy yield inwardly . A ready rinseunder clean and jerk , running water with vinegar should be all you ask to do .
Also , remember that watermelons do n’t ripen any further after they ’re harvested , so it ’s important to know how to pick a advanced watermelon when you ’re at the store . Once you ’ve select a melon to make for home , refrigerate the whole fruitfor up to four Clarence Shepard Day Jr. to help oneself it stay refreshed . If you plan to use the watermelon vine soon , it can be store on the parry or in the larder for one to two 24-hour interval . After cut up the melon vine , slices will keep in the fridge for up to three days as long as they ’re tightly wrap or kept in a covered container .
Some tips you ’ll use at the foodstuff fund also utilise to homegrown melons . So , once you know how to beak a fresh watermelon vine when shopping , maybe the next whole step is trying togrow your own at abode ! Setting up your Citrullus vulgaris plot of ground is simple ( the main thing you need is sight of sunlight)—then pick up how to knowwhen it ’s meter to glean themfrom the vine . Now you know everything you need for how to pick the best Citrullus vulgaris .
