Ways To Tell Which Watermelon Is The Sweetest Just By Looking At It

May 27, 2020

Summer has arrived! That means it’s time to enjoy some fresh, sweet and juicy watermelon. Like many other popular fruits, watermelon requires the proper selection to avoid getting a dud. So what goes into picking that perfect watermelon? What happens if you get a little too excited over your watermelon and forget to properly vet it? We have all your watermelon questions covered.

You’ve likely spotted someone thumping a watermelon as they’re selecting one. This is a very common ripeness check, but it can be difficult to asses. You’re listening for a hollowed, muffled sound. A ringing sound indicates the watermelon isn’t ripe yet. We have some better, lesser-known tips that you can use to more easily gauge if a watermelon is in its prime.

Pick-point is absolutely crucial to an amazing watermelon. The vine makes all the difference in sweetness, consistency,and texture. If picked off the vine too soon, the watermelon is likely to be very watery, unsweetened and mushy. Unlike many other fruits that continue to ripen after being picked, such as a banana or avocado, watermelons remain at their pick-point.

Inspecting the tail is the best way to judge ripeness, according to Jag Singh from Daisy Creek Farms. That tail is where it was cut from the vine. You want one that’s darkly colored and shriveled. Green tails indicate that the watermelon was picked too soon.

Singh adds that if the tail is absent, look for a field spot, which is the yellowish, orange spots that indicate that the watermelon received enough sun in the field.

Just like when selecting strawberries, the sweet aroma of a watermelon can be sniffed out. So what if you look a little fruity sniffing around the watermelons at your local market? Let others go home with the duds if they choose. You’re going to sniff the rind to ensure you can smell a slight sweetness, which is a great indicator the inside will be juicy and sweet, too.

While watermelons will not continue to ripen with age, they do eventually spoil. Watermelons picked at their ripening point will typically stay good for up to a month. Some retailers put sell-by-dates on their fruit to help you out. If purchasing from a local grower or produce stand, be sure to ask when it was picked so that you’ll know how long you have to eat it.

Press on the watermelon to feel if it is too firm or too soft. If the watermelon is a little bit soft or has a little bit of give, it is likely nice and ripe, according to Singh. If the watermelon is too hard and doesn't give at all when you press against the skin, then it is not going to be a ripe watermelon. 

Tapping the watermelon and listening for sound is also a great way to tell if it's ripe and juicy. As Singh illustrates in his informative video, if the watermelon sounds hollow when tapped, it is filled with water and will be ripe enough to enjoy.

You don’t have to automatically trash a watery, unsweetened, mushy watermelon. It’s actually a very versatile fruit that you can use in some delicious recipes. In fact, many home chefs who don’t like to eat a slab of watermelon often like it as an ingredient in other dishes. Here are some options:

•  Salt or sugar it up by sprinkling directly on more bitter watermelon. Salt amplifies the watermelon's sweetness, according to The Huffington Post.
•  Pickle it.

Are you ready to pick the perfect watermelon this summer? Have you tried any of these tips? Do you have any of your own watermelon-picking tips? Tell us your thoughts in the comment section, and don’t forget to pass these tips on to your friends and family!