The best refreshment on hot summer days comes from well-chilled watermelon juice. However, everyone who at least once brought home a fruit that looked perfect at first glance, but after cutting it open discovered tasteless and hard flesh, knows how difficult it can be to choose a watermelon. The good news is that buying a watermelon doesn’t have to be a coincidence. With a few simple tricks used by fruit connoisseurs, you can easily recognize a fruit that is perfectly ripe and will delight you with its taste.
Unlike bananas, pears or peaches, watermelon does not become sweet after harvesting. It may soften, but its sugars will no longer develop more than at the time of harvest. Therefore, it is important to choose a fully ripe fruit at the market or in the store. These tips will help you.
Look at the color and the skin
The first sign is the appearance of a watermelon. A ripe watermelon should not be bright green. The best fruits have a creamy beige or golden skin color. Green shades often indicate that the fruit was ripe too early. In the case of a variety with a reticulated skin, the mesh should be thick, prominent and slightly raised. At the same time, pay attention to the place where the stem was. It should be smooth, clean and slightly dented. If the stem is still present, it is likely that the watermelon was not fully ripe when picked. Also avoid fruit with cracks, dark spots or visible damage.
The weight will reveal how juicy it is
When you find some nice fruits, pick them up. A ripe watermelon should be heavier than it appears at first glance. The higher weight means that it contains a lot of juice and the pulp is rich in sugars. The easiest way is to compare two melons of a similar size. The one that is noticeably heavier is almost always the better choice.
Gently press the place opposite the stem where the flower used to be. If the skin gives slightly under pressure and then returns to its original position, the melon is probably perfectly ripe. If it is rock hard, it is not yet ready to eat. Conversely, if the finger fits too easily, the fruit is overripe and may have a mushy consistency.
Smell is the most reliable indicator
Experts emphasize that smell is the most accurate test of ripeness. Place your nose against the stem and take a deep breath. A perfectly ripe watermelon has a pleasant, sweet and fruity aroma reminiscent of honey. If the smell is almost absent, the taste probably won’t be strong enough either. If you smell a sour or alcoholic smell, it means that the fruit is overripe and the fermentation process has begun.
Listen to what the sound is saying
Finally, you can use one more old trick. Gently tap the peel. A ripe and juicy watermelon emits a deep and muffled sound. If there is a high or hollow tone, there is a high probability that the inside is dry and the taste will not meet expectations.
The next time you choose a watermelon, rely on all your senses – sight, touch, smell and even hearing. The combination of these signs will help you bring home a fruit that will be sweet, juicy and full of summer scents, informs the portal Vecernji.hr.
This article comes from the Ringier publishing partner website. The content and data contained in it were taken without editorial intervention.
