My son, Jimmie, knowing that I am always ranting and raving about “unborn cantaloupes” that are unripe and have no flavor, sent me some information about how to pick out a good watermelon. Good timing. Watermelon season is here.
My Daddy used to “thump” watermelons to pick the ripest one. I asked him once what he was listening for and he said that if he hears a muffled, hollow sound, it is ripe. An immature melon has a thin, metallic, ringing sound.
I tried that, but they all sounded the same to me. I don’t speak fluent “watermelon.”
Jimmie’s article had different advice.
“Look, lift, and turn the melon so you can examine all sides, avoid any watermelons that have cuts, dents, soft spots or bruises. Most importantly, look for the ground spot, the area where it sat on the ground as it ripened. You want it to be a creamy or buttery yellow color. If it’s white or green, it was harvested too soon before it was ripe and may not taste sweet.”
The article also advised to wash your watermelon before cutting it up. Afterall, it has spent its entire life in the dirt and who knows what else.
As for cantaloupes, the only sure-fire way to know if they are ripe is the “sniff test”. If it has no smell, it’s not ripe. Period.