Watermelon is a refreshing and sweet fruit that contributes positively to one’s health. It is low in calories, high in fiber, and packed with essential nutrients such as vitamins A, C, B5, and various others.
You can easily buy watermelon at most markets, fruit stores, supermarkets, even street carts…
However, not everyone is adept at selecting mature, juicy, thin-skinned watermelons with a delightful sweetness.
Typically, homemakers commonly share a technique involving tapping the watermelon rind and listening for the emitted sound to determine its tastiness. A “popping” noise suggests a mature, juicy melon, while a louder sound indicates that the melon is still not fully ripe.
Nevertheless, discerning the sound produced by tapping the skin of a melon should be straightforward, and at times, it enables you to identify the nature of the sound.
To make choosing a watermelon easier, look at the characteristics on the melon’s rind.
Check the area that touches the ground.
The yellow hue on the rind of watermelon results from prolonged contact with the ground during its growth. This section, having been exposed to light, exhibits a color distinct from the rest of the melon’s skin.
The darker the yellow part, the more ripe and sweet the melon is. On the contrary, if this rind is white or light yellow, the melon is not yet ripe and will taste bland and not delicious.
Watermelon’s shape
When buying watermelon, you should choose fruit that has a curved shape and has dark spots, scratches or dents on the skin.
The flat surface of a watermelon is a sign that it absorbs light and moisture during growth.
Weight of watermelon
You should hold up two melons of similar size to compare. Whichever fruit feels heavier should you choose that fruit. A heavy watermelon will taste better, proving that it has enough water and is ripe.
Look at the watermelon navel
The bottom of the watermelon is also the place that can reveal to you whether the watermelon is ripe or not, whether it is sweet or not. The root of a watermelon is the small circle at the bottom of the fruit. The smaller the watermelon is, the thinner the watermelon’s skin will be. These fruits only need to be cut one way and the entire watermelon will crack and sound very crispy. The flesh of a watermelon with small ribs is also more succulent.
Watermelons with large rinds are usually sweeter and have thicker skins.
Look at the stem end of the watermelon
When buying fruit, you should look at the fruit. With watermelon, if the bottom of the watermelon is curved like a pig’s tail, it is a fruit with a lot of juice and a sweet taste.
If the stem of the watermelon is straight, the melon is not yet ripe, and the taste will be as sweet.
In general, watermelons should be green and curvy, meaning they are fresh, ripe, juicy and sweeter.
See the veins on the watermelon rind
Watermelon rinds often have many seeds. When buying, you should observe these areas. When watermelon is ripe and sweet enough, the gardens will give it clear, ripe fruit. If the watermelon is green and not ripe enough, the edges will be clear and the skin will be thin.