Never bring home an underripe watermelon again.
Watermelonis a sweet summer treat that has been a Southern favorite for generations.
When you bite into one, what you want is juicy, sweet goodness.
But if the melon isn’t fully ripe, you end up with watery sadness.
When it comes to watermelon, you have to use your eyes and ears instead.
The best-tasting melons have no stem, because they were allowed to ripen until they fell off the vine.
Unfortunately, an underripe melon won’t continue to ripen after it’s picked.
A large yellow ground spot is the best sign that the watermelon is ripe and plenty sweet.
Avoid these at all costs.
Choose A Uniform Melon With Dull Skin
Give the rind a close inspection on all sides.
Avoid watermelons with cuts and soft spots, but surface scratches are perfectly fine.
The skin should look dull, not shiny.
Shinier rinds are newer rinds, and that means the melon has not had enough time to mature.
Should You Thump Watermelon?
Opinions vary as to whether you should thump a watermelon to test its ripeness.
This is supposed to indicate that the melon is juicy and ready to eat.
An unripe melon will have more of a ping and should also be passed over.
However, not all can master this art.
Fortunately, there’s a more foolproof way as we describe below.
A ripe watermelon is full of water.
It should feel weighty in your hands, no matter its size.
Then your best bet is to choose the heavier one.
