7 Traits That Indicate The Watermelon You're About To Choose Is Bad

Jun 17, 2019 by apost team

All of us have experienced the disappointment of leaving the grocery store with a watermelon that looks perfect only to find out it is soft in spots, not as sweet as we hoped, or even bitter once we are at home. It may take a few extra minutes of searching through watermelons at the store but there are signs to look for to guarantee you do not take a watermelon home that will disappoint you later.

Belly rot is a condition among watermelons that increases the process of molding. Melons with white and black dots or excessive cracking could be affected by belly rot. You should return a watermelon to the grocery store if you notice these indicators after you have taken it home. Not only is the taste negatively affected by this condition, eating a molded watermelon can make you sick.

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It might not seem so bad when you are carrying your watermelon to the car if it is not very heavy. However, savvy grocery shoppers know that an underweight watermelon is a sign of trouble. This is a sign there is insufficient water inside the watermelon. Once you cut the watermelon, you will likely find it is dehydrated and does not taste very well.

A hollow sound when you knock on a watermelon is music to the ears. A watermelon that makes this sound when knocking on it is filled with water and will likely taste well. On the other hand, a thudding sound when you knock on a watermelon is a sign of a watermelon that should be left at the grocery store.

If you grow your watermelons yourself or purchase them from a store that leaves the stems attached, you should take a quick peek at the melon's underside. A stem that looks a little parched is not pretty but it is a sign that the watermelon is ripe. Watermelon with a stem that is deep green in color is not quite ripe enough to eat.

It may seem a bit counterintuitive, but you should not choose a watermelon that seems to possess the perfect rinds. Watermelons that do not possess 'webbing' are often found to lack proper pollination. This condition will not cause the watermelon to become inedible. But it will lose the sweetness of taste that causes watermelon lovers to come back again and again for more.

Watermelons with long bodies are not bad or unhealthy to eat. However, watermelons that are rounder will taste a lot sweeter. An interesting fact about watermelons is that the longer varieties are said to be male and the rounder ones are designated female.

If you turn over the watermelon, you will find what is often referred to as a field spot. A yellowish color on the underside of the melon indicates the melon will taste sweet when you eat it. The darker the field spot is the sweeter the melon is likely to taste. A white spot on a watermelon does not make it inedible. You can still enjoy these melons but they will not taste as sweet as the others.

Now that you are armed with the knowledge to make good selections when you reach for your favorite summertime fruit, do not be stingy with this knowledge. Be sure to pass this article along to your friends. They will thank you later!