How to Pick a Sweet Cantaloupe?

Choosing the Supremely Ripened Cantaloupe- A Guide

Summer is finally around the corner. For many, it means the availability of plenty of vegetables and fruit in the market. So, why not allow you to take advantage of this melon season, and enjoy fresh and Juicy fruit the whole summer. Cantaloupe is the juiciest at this time of the year (July to August), but to make sure you choose the perfect one, that being ripened and smelling sweet at the same time is important. Honestly, there’s nothing more frustrating than cutting up melon to find it’s raw. However, there are few ways by which you can easily identify whether the melon is raw or not. These steps are the only ones that will lead you to the cantaloupe of your dreams. So, stick with us till the end and you’ll know all the secrets that will lead you to choose the finest of melon.

Feel the cantaloupe

Firstly, you should try to feel the cantaloupe. You should be looking out for any kind of soft/mushy spot on the melon you’re carrying, as they indicate the melon is rotten. A ripened cantaloupe won’t feel very hard; instead, it’ll carry a firm feel to it. You should also try checking the opposite of the roots (opposite to stem) by touching it, and it must feel a little bit giving on the edge at least. Don’t forget to have a look around with the weight of your melon. If it feels heavy, then you can safely say it is a good cantaloupe you’re holding. In the end, give a tap to the melon, if you hear a hollow sound from the melon then it is clear that it is not ripened. The ripened melon will give out a solid sound.

Check the cantaloupe properly

Now that you’re done with feeling the cantaloupe properly, you’d love to check it around. The color of the rind should be either sandy gold, beige or creamy yellow. A green color rind means that the melon hasn’t ripened yet. On the other hand, if the melon is yellowish which means it has rested in the fields and has been ripened perfectly and might be the one you’re yearning for. Lastly, take a look around the stem. If the stem is smooth, round, and a little concave then it means that the melon was detached on its own from the plant. However, if there’s any part of the stem that is still attached to the melon, that means that the farmer detached it earlier than its time

Take a smell of the cantaloupe

There’s also a step after looking over and feeling your cantaloupe, smelling the cantaloupe. The finest and most suitable spot to smell your cantaloupe is at the end side of the stem (the blossom). The stem should not smell just a little musky, but also sweet at the same time. This mixed smell indicates that your m has been perfectly ripened. In case the melon smells the opposite, it means smelly that it is not at all a good or ripened melon. However, the fermented and extra sweet smell in your cantaloupe means it’s overripe.

Right method of storing the cantaloupe

If you’re here, it means you’re one of those lucky ones who were able to find the perfectly ripened melon for themselves. Now, you have to rack it inside the fridge as soon as you get home. Your melon won’t face any issue till 5 days, only if it’s kept inside the fridge. If you’re one of those who weren’t lucky won’t face any issue till 5 days, only if it’s kept inside the fridge. If you’re one of those who weren’t lucky to get a ripened melon, then put yours on the counter and at room temperature. Make sure you keep repeating all three steps given above unless you’re assured that your melon has ripened. There’s one important thing you need to remember when you’re storing the melon, that it isn’t cut. After the melon is sliced or cut, it will stop ripening, which means if your melon is raw then it will not ripe no matter how you wait.

Now, you’re the master of choosing a perfect ripened cantaloupe. Make sure you also check out our How to Choose a Perfectly Ripened Watermelon and become a master in choosing watermelon as well.