Ways to Identify A Ripe and Sweet Watermelon

(KTDY) - Summer in South Louisiana doesn't just bring out the swim trunks and mosquitoes, you also start to see watermelons for sale in stores and even along the roadside.

Personally, a good cold watermelon on a hot summer day is my favorite summer treat. Yes, even more so than ice cream.

However, it can be somewhat of a challenge to score the perfect watermelon, and by that I mean a ripe/sweet watermelon.

How to identify A Good Watermelon

Let's start with the field spot on the bottom of the watermelon. That is the dark yellow spot under the melon. A ripe melon will have a large, creamy-yellow patch. If this spot is white or pale, it was picked too early.

Another way to identify a ripe watermelon, according to Country Living,  is to lift it before purchasing. A ripe melon will be heavy for its size, signaling that the melon is ripe.

You can also do the knock test. Have you ever seen someone in a store knocking on melons? Well, if you have, they are "testing" the watermelon, and a ripe melon will produce a deep, hollow sound and a slight vibration in your hand. A dull or high-pitched "thud" means it is unripe.

Lastly, when looking for the best melon, shiny skin may indicate the melon was picked too soon. Therefore, you will want to select a watermelon that is dull in appearance.

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Now that we have identified a few things to look for when choosing the best watermelon, we hope your next watermelon this summer is sweet and tasty.

Salt on Watermelon

The last thing I'll ask here is: Is it always a good debate? Do you prefer your cold watermelon with or without salt? You can let us know your preference in the comments section.