Watermelon is in abundance all over the Hudson Valley, wet, juicy, and one of the most liked summer treats. The challenge, however, is as always- you’re faced with piles of watermelons in stores and farm markets, but how do you pick a ripe one?
I’m not particularly skilled at it so that I won’t be offering advice on this, but I encourage you to consider the advice of others who have developed or been born with the Mellon selection skill. There is a wide range of testing methods and gimmicks. Here are a few of them. You can try a few out and see what works for you.
- Find the yellow splotch (field spot) where the melon rested on the ground. If the spot is a creamy yellow, the melon is ripe. A large yellow spot is a good sign, not a bad one. Any other colors, such as green, light green, or white, indicate an incorrect maturity and are considered incorrect colors.
- Tap the bottom of the melon. If the sound is hollow, it’s good to go.
- Press on the melon with a finger. If there is a little give to it, then it is ripe. If not, then move on.
- Find the stem connection at one end of the watermelon. It resembles a belly button. If the melon was picked before it was ripe, then the stem will be green. The stem will be brown if it ripened on the vine.
- Ensure that the body of the watermelon is a dark green with contrasting, lighter stripes. Light colored melons are not ripe. Pass on those that are shiny. Shiny is a bad sign on a watermelon.
- Find a few of the same size that have potential. Heft them up and decide which one is the heaviest. It’s the ripest of the bunch. Lightweight melons are often dry on the inside.
- Feel for a vibration (no kidding). Hold the melon the same way you would hold a newborn. With your top hand, give it a good tap. You should feel the vibration on your lower hand.
- If you have a melon gender preference, here’s how it works- Farmers seem to differentiate watermelons by gender. For example, ‘boys’ are bigger, have an elongated shape, and have a watery taste. The ‘girls’ have a more rounded shape and are very sweet.
- For those who enjoy a libation with their watermelon. Here is a video on how to spike a watermelon. Enjoy but go easy!
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