How To Tell If A Watermelon Is Ripe

The Right Way to Tell if a Watermelon is Ripe Watermelon is a sweet summer treat and has been a Southern favorite for generations. When you bite into a watermelon, what you want is juicy, sweet goodness. But if you don’t wait long enough for it to ripen, what you will end up with is watery sadness.

Nobody wants that.
And you can avoid by learning how to tell whether or not a watermelon is ripe before you slice into it, rather than waiting to find out with a mouthful of flavorless disappointment.
Unlike other types of summer fruit, you can’t give a watermelon the sniff test to determine whether it’s ripe and ready to eat.

When it comes to watermelon, you have to use your eyes and ears instead. Whether you’re buying watermelon from the grocery store, the farmers’ market, or off the bed of a pick-up truck, look (and listen) for these signs of ripeness. REDA&CO / Contributor If the melon still has a bit of its stem attached at one end, you actually want to select one that is more brown side than crisp and green.

While a hard, green stem is an indication that the watermelon was harvested recently, its greenness also means that the melon has not had enough time to ripen. When a watermelon is ripe, you’ll see a patch of yellow rind on its underside. This area is called the ground spot—or belly spot or field spot—because it’s the part of the melon that touched the ground and wasn’t exposed to sunlight as it grew.

If you can’t find the ground spot, it’s likely that the melon was harvested too soon and didn’t have a chance to fully ripen. Or, if there is a ground spot but it’s more white than yellow, that is also an indication that it may have been picked from the vine too early.

A yellow ground spot is the best sign that the watermelon is ripe and plenty sweet. You should also look for brownish, black dots known as sugar spots on the melon. These are a sign that the melon is practically brimming with sugar and will be quite delicious. But the ground spot and sugar spot are not to be confused with the black and white specks that come along with belly rot, a condition that speeds up the molding process.

A melon with belly rot will not only have a bitter taste, but it might also make you sick. Avoid these at all costs. Give the rind a close inspection on all sides. Avoid watermelons with cuts and soft spots. It’s okay if the rind on the top of the melon looks a bit faded—that is due to sun exposure, and another sign of ripeness.

Furthermore, watermelon that is lumpy or irregular, its taste is likely to be inconsistent, as the fruit likely received inconsistent amounts of sun and water while growing. The skin should also look dull, not shiny. Shinier rinds are newer rinds, and that means the melon has not had enough time to mature.

You want a melon with a duller look, which indicates that it has spent enough time ripening on the vine. Opinions vary as to whether or not you should thump a watermelon to test its ripeness. It may sound silly, but some say you should lightly rap your fist on the underside of the melon and listen for a resonant, hollow sound.

This is supposed to indicate that the melon is plenty juicy and ready to eat. According to this theory, you should pass on the melon if the thumping results in a dull sound or if the rind feels soft. The easiest way to tell whether a watermelon is ripe is to simply pick it up. It should feel weighty in your hands, no matter its size.

But you can’t really be expected to know how much a watermelon of any given size should weigh. So, the best way to determine which melon is weighty enough is to pick up two or more melons of approximately the same size. Then, your best bet is to choose the heavier melon.

Contents

1 How do you know when a watermelon is ripe to eat?
- 1.1 What color is a ripe watermelon?
  - 1.1.1 Is a ripe watermelon dark or light green?
2 How long does it take a watermelon to ripen?
- 2.1 What should a good watermelon look like?
- 2.2 Is it OK to eat an overripe watermelon?
3 What does a really ripe watermelon look like?
4 Is it OK to eat unripe watermelon?
- 4.1 What does unripe watermelon look like?
  - 4.1.1 What happens if you pick a watermelon too early?
5 How do you tell if a watermelon is good before you buy it?
6 Will watermelon ripen in the refrigerator?

How do you know when a watermelon is ripe to eat?

Do a thump test. A ripe watermelon should have a deep hollow sound when you thump the rind with your hand, similar to a knock on the door. An unripe melon will have a more high-pitched resonance, whereas an overripe melon will sound more like a thud.

What color is a ripe watermelon?

Tip 1: Find the yellow belly, or the field spot – Other than cutting open a watermelon to see the inside, the field spot is perhaps the best indicator of the ripeness. This spot on a melon shows where it was laying on the ground while attached to the vine.

Is a ripe watermelon dark or light green?

Step 2: Colour and Appearance – There is more to evaluate than just rough patches. The colour of the rind is extremely important. The ideal, perfectly ripe watermelon should be dark green in colour and dull looking. If it’s shiny, it’s not ripe yet. Another important thing to look for the field spot. Photo by Justin Schuble

How long does it take a watermelon to ripen?

How to Tell If a Watermelon Is Ripe Growing is nothing short of magic. Tuck a small seed into the ground, and it grows into a vine that produces watermelons. Biting into a luscious, juicy slice of watermelon you grew yourself is one of gardening’s sweetest rewards.

Watermelons aren’t hard to grow. The toughest part of the process is knowing how to tell if a watermelon is ripe. Once you pick it, the melon doesn’t ripen further, so you need to get it right. Pick it too soon, and it’s inedible. Pick too late, and the flesh is watery. The thing is, even with all of the technological advances at our fingertips, there’s still no one foolproof way to pick the perfect watermelon.

It’s more of an art with a Sherlock Holmes vibe as you gather clues and draw a conclusion. To get started as a watermelon whisperer, try these eight tips to tell if a watermelon is ripe and ready for picking. A watermelon vine has curly tendrils on it.

Find the one that’s closest to a ripening watermelon fruit. That tendril gives excellent clues for when a watermelon is ripe. When the melon is small and developing, the tendril is green and pliable. As the watermelon ripens, the tendril starts to lose its green color, becoming brown. When the watermelon is fully ripe, the tendril is brown and dry.

A fully ripe watermelon with brown tendril will keep on the vine up to two weeks as long as no heavy rainfall occurs, which causes ripe melons to split open (like tomatoes). The exception to the brown tendril rule is ‘Sugar Baby,’ an icebox-type watermelon.

When the tendril turns brown and dries, you need to wait another seven to 10 days before picking. Use an industrial marker (found in the tool section at home centers) to mark the melon with the date the tendril is brown and dry. Then it’s easy to track another week to 10 days. Another clue that tells if a watermelon is ripe is how long it’s been growing.

The seed packet spells out how many days it takes for a watermelon to ripen from the date of planting. It’s typically a range like 80 to 120 days. If you’re growing watermelon from seedlings your bought, just note when flowers open. It typically takes about five calendar weeks for a watermelon to go from flower to ripe fruit.

When a watermelon is immature, the rind has a sheen to it. As a watermelon ripens, the sheen disappears and the rind becomes dull. Experienced watermelon farmers also say that the surface changes from feeling smooth to having an almost wavy or rough feel to it. If your watermelon variety has stripes on the fruit, you’ll notice a strong contrast between the stripe and background colors when the melon is ripe.

A spot develops where a ripening watermelon rests against the ground. It starts white, then gradually changes color as the watermelon ripens. It usually turns bright yellow, although some varieties may look more beige. This watermelon (above) has a yellow ground spot, but the melon isn’t fully ripe because you can still see green speckles in the yellow field.

‘Sugar Baby’ and a few other dark-skinned melons develop a bright ground spot early in their development, long before the melon is ripe. This is why you have to use several clues to make your final determination if a watermelon is ready for picking. All-America Selections at All-AmericaSelections.org A fully ripe watermelon has a distinctive sound when you thump it.

To thump a watermelon, brace the tip of your middle finger against your thumb and flick it against the melon. (It’s the same motion you probably used to thwap a sibling or friend as a child.) This sets up a sort of seismic wave inside the melon and produces a sound.

A dull or hollow ringing sound (a plunk) reveals a ripe melon, while a high-pitched, metallic plinking or pinging sound means you should let that melon ripen some more. Train your ear by testing unripe melons to learn what they sound like. A ripe watermelon should feel heavy for its size. Most seed packets or seedling pot stakes mention how large watermelons should be when ripe.

Use this information as a guide, knowing that sometimes, due to growing conditions, melons may mature larger or smaller. When a watermelon is fully ripe, it’s easy to pick from the vine. It won’t slip off like a cantaloupe, but you won’t have to pull with all your strength to get it free.

A gentle tug and it should come free. Several apps exist that measure a watermelon’s ripeness: iWatermelon Deluxe for iPhone and iPad; Melony watermelon ripeness app for Android. To operate, place your device on the watermelon and tap it three times. The app uses sound analysis algorithms to determine if the melon is ripe.

: How to Tell If a Watermelon Is Ripe

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What should a good watermelon look like?

Look at the Stripes – Grace Canaan The coloring of your watermelon helps indicate the ripeness of the fruit. You should pick a melon that has a strong, consistent stripe pattern. The green stripes should be a deep, dark green, while the pale stripes should be a creamy, light yellow. Additionally, you may want to choose a dull-looking watermelon. If the melon is very shiny, it is likely underripe.

Is it OK to eat an overripe watermelon?

In conclusion, overripe watermelon is generally safe to eat, but it may not taste as good as a ripe one. It is important to check for signs of spoilage before consuming any watermelon. If you notice any signs of spoilage, it’s best to avoid eating the watermelon to prevent any potential harm.

What does a really ripe watermelon look like?

Nobody wants that.
And you can avoid by learning how to tell whether or not a watermelon is ripe before you slice into it, rather than waiting to find out with a mouthful of flavorless disappointment.
Unlike other types of summer fruit, you can’t give a watermelon the sniff test to determine whether it’s ripe and ready to eat.

While a hard, green stem is an indication that the watermelon was harvested recently, its greenness also means that the melon has not had enough time to ripen.
When a watermelon is ripe, you’ll see a patch of yellow rind on its underside.
This area is called the ground spot—or belly spot or field spot—because it’s the part of the melon that touched the ground and wasn’t exposed to sunlight as it grew.

A yellow ground spot is the best sign that the watermelon is ripe and plenty sweet.
You should also look for brownish, black dots known as sugar spots on the melon.
These are a sign that the melon is practically brimming with sugar and will be quite delicious.
But the ground spot and sugar spot are not to be confused with the black and white specks that come along with belly rot, a condition that speeds up the molding process.

Furthermore, watermelon that is lumpy or irregular, its taste is likely to be inconsistent, as the fruit likely received inconsistent amounts of sun and water while growing.
The skin should also look dull, not shiny.
Shinier rinds are newer rinds, and that means the melon has not had enough time to mature.

This is supposed to indicate that the melon is plenty juicy and ready to eat.
According to this theory, you should pass on the melon if the thumping results in a dull sound or if the rind feels soft.
The easiest way to tell whether a watermelon is ripe is to simply pick it up.
It should feel weighty in your hands, no matter its size.

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Is it OK to eat unripe watermelon?

Can you eat an unripe watermelon? – Underripe watermelons are safe to eat, but they aren’t particularly enjoyable. Unripe melon tastes diluted and watery, instead of sweet.

What does unripe watermelon look like?

Look at the Belly – Treehugger / Kristine Hojilla Watermelons have an underside, or belly—which is in contact with the ground throughout its growth—called a “field spot.” This spot on a ripe watermelon will be yellowish (sometimes referred to as “buttery”) and not white, which indicates an unripe melon.

What happens if you pick a watermelon too early?

If picked too soon, they will not ripen off the vine. If picked too late, they turn to mush. The window in which a watermelon goes from ripe to ruined is apparently quite small.

How do you tell if a watermelon is good before you buy it?

– Checking the firmness of a watermelon refers to the resistance of the rind or skin ( 6 ). A ripe watermelon should have a thick rind that doesn’t give easily when pressured. The ones that do are generally overripe. Also, if you scratch it with your thumbnail, you shouldn’t be able to cut through it.

Will watermelon ripen in the refrigerator?

How to Store Watermelon – If you’re not eating your watermelon right away, store it on the countertop, but out of direct sunlight. And the Produce for Better Health Foundation suggests leaving melons out at room temperature to maintain nutrients and flavor.

In air conditioning or temperate weather, a fresh watermelon will be fine sitting on the counter for one to two weeks.
According to the National Watermelon Promotion Board, 55°F is the ideal temperature for a whole watermelon to be stored at.
If your watermelon is ripe and you don’t have time to eat it, don’t panic.

But don’t slice either. Slide that whole watermelon into the fridge, where it will stay fresh for two to three more weeks. The cool temperature of the refrigerator will slow the ripening process.

Why do you tap watermelon?

Leave the watermelons alone. (Picture: Getty) You might not have noticed this, but over the last few days many, many people on the internet have been talking about watermelons. Over on Weibo people in China have been in a frenzy of discussion – all because of something weird that happened in Italy. (Picture: SINA WEIBO) For some reason, loads of people in China believed that the sign was directed at them, and that watermelon-knocking is a habit that only Chinese people know about. They responded by sharing photos and videos of themselves knocking on watermelons and pretending to wait for a reply. Soon watermelon knocking was trending in China. (Picture: SINA WEIBO) It was pretty entertaining and weird, and we were into it. But here’s the thing. As the BBC points out, watermelon knocking actually isn’t a behaviour specific to Chinese people, and the sign probably wasn’t directed specifically at the Chinese population. (Picture: SINA WEIBO) Knocking on a watermelon is a commonly used way to test if the fruit is fresh and ripe. If you knock on a watermelon and it makes a hollow sound, that’s a sign that it’s ripe. If it sounds like it’s full, it’s not ready yet. Mind. Blown. (Picture: SINA WEIBO) Unfortunately, some shops aren’t fans of people aggressively knocking and tapping on their fruit. Probably because they’re scared of bruising, and it also looks a bit weird. Leave the melons alone.

How can you tell if a watermelon is sweet and juicy?

Do you get stressed every time you have to choose a watermelon from the bunch at your grocery store? We get a lot of questions about how to pick a melon that is ripe and sweet. Here are a few tips for how you can pick the perfect watermelon every time! –

Find a watermelon that is a uniform size (oval or round) either is ok. You just want to watch out for irregular bumps.You want to find the melon that is heavy for its size. This usually means it will be sweeter and will have more water content.Look for an orange creamy field spot. The darker yellow field spot usually means it was on the vine longer and is full of flavor.If the field spot is white that’s a sign that the melon is not quite ripe.Larger “webbing” or “sugar spots” means that the melon is seeping out sugar and is usually the sign of sweet melon.Look for dark & dull melons which is a sign that the melon is ripe. When the melon is shiny it is underripe.

We hope this helps! Did you know Eagle Eye Produce grows and ships millions of pounds of fresh seeded and seedless watermelon nationwide? Find out more here !

Why is my watermelon not ripe?

Irregular Ripening in Watermelon Gordon Johnson, Extension Vegetable & Fruit Specialist; The first harvest of watermelons has started in the region. Irregular ripening is a common problem that occurs in some watermelon fields each year. This is where varieties planted at the same time do not ripen evenly in a field.

Fruits that look mature on the outside are not fully ripe inside, often with significant amounts of white flesh. Watermelons are classified as non-climacteric, that is, they do not continue to ripen significantly after harvest. Other fruits, particularly those that soften, such as peaches, release ethylene gas during the ripening process and will continue to ripen after harvest.

It was once thought that ethylene was not involved in watermelon ripening, however, in 2009, USDA researchers found that watermelons released a burst of ethylene at the white fruit stage. Watermelon fruit development and ripening also is dependent on the accumulation of sugars.

Sugars are produced by photosynthesis in the foliage of the watermelon plant and are translocated to the fruit. So, what is cause of irregular ripening? One possible explanation is deteriorating vine health. Loss of foliage or stem tissue due to diseases such as gummy stem blight or insect or mite feeding on leaves and stems can reduce the amount of sugars available to translocate into the fruit.

In a field, variability in vine health therefore would lead to variability in fruit ripening. Certain viruses can also affect watermelon ripening. The burst of ethylene that researchers found could also be an issue. In plants where ethylene production is compromised, this could lead to later ripening or incomplete ripening.

Potassium may also be an issue.
Potassium is important in fruit ripening and low or variable potassium levels may lead to irregular ripening.
In fields with pre-plant potassium applications only, heavy irrigation could leach potassium out of the root zone creating lower than normal levels in the soil and potential deficiencies leading to irregular ripening.

Hot weather (temperatures in the 90s) can also lead to fruit disorders. In general, watermelons tolerate high temperatures; however, some varieties are less tolerant of extended hot weather, leading to irregular ripening. Long season varieties often take longer to ripen, even when outwardly they appear to be mature.

What does a really ripe watermelon look like?

Nobody wants that.
And you can avoid by learning how to tell whether or not a watermelon is ripe before you slice into it, rather than waiting to find out with a mouthful of flavorless disappointment.
Unlike other types of summer fruit, you can’t give a watermelon the sniff test to determine whether it’s ripe and ready to eat.

You might be interested: How To Store Grape Seeds?

A yellow ground spot is the best sign that the watermelon is ripe and plenty sweet. You should also look for brownish, black dots known as sugar spots on the melon. These are a sign that the melon is practically brimming with sugar and will be quite delicious. But the ground spot and sugar spot are not to be confused with the black and white specks that come along with belly rot, a condition that speeds up the molding process.

Furthermore, watermelon that is lumpy or irregular, its taste is likely to be inconsistent, as the fruit likely received inconsistent amounts of sun and water while growing.
The skin should also look dull, not shiny.
Shinier rinds are newer rinds, and that means the melon has not had enough time to mature.

This is supposed to indicate that the melon is plenty juicy and ready to eat.
According to this theory, you should pass on the melon if the thumping results in a dull sound or if the rind feels soft.
The easiest way to tell whether a watermelon is ripe is to simply pick it up.
It should feel weighty in your hands, no matter its size.

Is watermelon yellow before it turns red?

All you need to know about yellow watermelon If I said “close your eyes and picture a watermelon”, chances are you would imagine a large melon with green skin and a brightly coloured pinkish-red interior. But did you know that not all watermelons are red? Yellow watermelon is just one of many varieties of watermelon available around the world.

So what’s the difference between red and yellow and why should you give yellow watermelon a try? Red watermelons contain a chemical called lycopene that produces the red colour in fruits and vegetables like tomatoes. The lack of lycopene in yellow watermelon results in their yellow flesh. Yellow watermelons were actually cultivated before red melons.

They were first grown in Africa about 5000 years ago and then went through cross-breeding to produce red watermelon. Yellow watermelons are generally slightly sweeter than red watermelon and have a honey-like flavour. Nutritionally yellow watermelon is a great snack with only 46 calories per cup.

It is high in vitamins A and C, making it good for your immune system and skin health.
Yellow watermelon contains more of the antioxidant beta-carotene than red watermelon.
Beta-carotene is thought to protect against cancer and eye disease.
Use yellow watermelon in fruit salads, on platters and in desserts, smoothies and juices.

It’s high water content makes it ideal for keeping you hydrated and it tastes delicious. : All you need to know about yellow watermelon

Should watermelon be red or green?

Why is watermelon red inside? – OrissaPOST Have you ever eaten watermelon? Oh Yes! Who has not eaten watermelon? But, has a crossed ever crossed your mind? “Why are watermelons red inside?” Yes, most of us might have got the question in our head, but might have also forgotten it as soon as the watermelon is over.

Today, we are going to tell you the reason for the fruit being red inside and green outside. According to study, ripe watermelons get their red color from lycopene, the same stuff that makes tomatoes red and carrots orange. And though strawberries and cherries are also red, lycopene isn’t to blame for that.

Strawberries and cherries get their lush red hues from anthocyanins, which when mixed with the increasing sugar in the ripening strawberry and cherry fruits turns the fruit red. Interestingly, the same stuff mixes with sugar in the more alkaline blueberry to turn the berries a distinctive blue.

Are watermelons always red, even the ones that aren’t ripe?” No.
Even though the lycopene that will turn the watermelon red is present in the fruit the entire time it is ripening, the insides of an unripe watermelon most likely won’t be red.
Watermelons aren’t always red.
I hear they can come in yellow, orange, and white as well, although I’ve personally never seen it.

Tags: : Why is watermelon red inside? – OrissaPOST

Is watermelon more pink or red?

Lacking in Lycopene – On the outside, yellow watermelons look exactly the same as pink watermelons with an identical, striped green rind. So what makes the inside colors different? Traditional watermelons get their signature pink hue from lycopene, the same antioxidant that makes tomatoes and grapefruits red.

Yellow watermelons, however, don’t contain lycopene, so they never take on a reddish color.
Surprisingly, the cultivation of yellow watermelons came before pink watermelons.
First grown in Africa about 5,000 years ago, yellow watermelons went through generations of selective cross-breeding for texture, color and sweetness before any pink variety ever appeared.

As the lycopene content of hybrid varieties increased over time, the fruit naturally became redder and redder. Far from the original watermelon in both taste and appearance, the pink watermelon on our picnic blankets today is the perfect product of centuries of cross-breeding.