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Summer with the scent of watermelon? Chilled watermelon is loved by children, but adults don’t turn their noses up at it either. Moreover, it works well in summer salads, lemonades and refreshing drinks. But how to choose the right one at the market or in the store? An unsuitable choice brings disappointment; it may be a rotten or unripe piece, so it’s good to be inspired by the advice of farmers who use their hands and sense of smell to choose the right specimen. And what tips do they have for selecting sweet watermelons and what should you look for according to them?
Choosing by size
The bigger, the better? That’s not usually the case and people should be wary of huge specimens. Large classic watermelons with red flesh inside can weigh 15 to 20 kg, and watermelons weighing around 100 kg are no exception! According to growers, however, the tastiest pieces are smaller ones weighing around 2 kg. In addition, gigantic specimens may have been grown artificially or with the help of chemicals, and they risk not being ripe and not tasting good.
Deciding by color and spots
Besides size, more intensely colored fruits are preferable because color is a sign of ripeness. Green combined with deep yellow is a sign of ripeness and higher sugar content; such a melon will be much sweeter and tastier than one green over the whole surface.
Male or female?
This incorrect labeling has caught on and farmers say they pick by sex because „boys“ are larger and more elongated, while „girls“ are smaller and slightly flatter and tend to be sweeter. A circle on the opposite side from the stem can also indicate sweetness; a larger one means the melon will be much sweeter.
By the sound when tapped
You can also tap the melon; when struck it should give a loud hollow sound, in which case it is ripe. Strong people can take the melon in their hands and squeeze it; cracking is a sign of ripeness. But be careful not to damage the farmer’s crop!
By the appearance of the stem
A drier, more yellow stem indicates sufficient ripeness, whereas a freshly green stem means that the piece was harvested too early.
By the smell
Finally, just smell the melon; it should smell fresh and sweet. Doesn’t smell at all? Better keep your hands off that piece — it may be unripe or grown with the help of chemicals!
