Melons are found in subtropical regions and are wonderfully refreshing, especially in summer. My children also love melons, so we often buy one. But how do I know if it's ripe? And what types of melons are there?
What types of melons are there?
Not all melons are the same; there are several differences. Regardless of the taste or how to tell if they are ripe. Here I have listed the most important information about common melons:
Watermelon
The watermelon is a 20 to 60 cm long, spherical or elongated fruit. The rind is 1 to 4 cm thick and hard, but not durable. In terms of color, the rind is marbled or striped in light to dark green. Most watermelons have red flesh, but there are also green, orange, yellow, or white varieties. The edible part of the fruit consists of 95.8% water and is therefore very refreshing. The watermelon contains vitamins A and C, tastes sweet, and is often used in desserts.
How do I know if the watermelon is ripe?
Ripe watermelons should be tapped before buying: if the tap sounds hollow and dull, it is ripe and can be bought. If it makes hardly any sound, it is not ripe. Although melons do ripen after being picked, fruits that have ripened in the field have a more intense aroma. Furthermore, ripe fruits are heavier, and the underside of the melon that was in contact with the ground changes color from white or pale green to slightly yellowish as it ripens. An overripe fruit can be recognized by a brownish or damp stem base.
Sweet melon
The sugar melon (muskmelon) is an oval or round fruit that can grow to the size of a head. The skin can vary depending on the type: the winter melon is smooth, the netted melon is covered with net-like cork ridges, and the cantaloupe melon has a warty, bulging surface with longitudinal grooves. The color of the flesh ranges from green to yellow, orange, white, and even pink. The taste also varies and can range from sweet to a non-sweet flavor more like a cucumber. These fruits also have a high water content of around 94% and are popular in hot countries for quenching thirst. The cantaloupe melon, with its slightly sweet-tasting orange flesh, is often served with raw ham.
How do I know if the sugar melon is ripe?
If sugar melons are unripe, they are hairy; ripe fruits are bald.
Honeydew melon
The honeydew melon is easily recognizable by its yellow, strongly wrinkled or non-wrinkled skin. The fruit is oval and can weigh up to 3 kg. The flesh is greenish-white to slightly orange in the center of the fruit. It consists of 85% water and contains vitamins A, B1, B2, calcium, and phosphorus.
How do I know if the honeydew melon is ripe?
The honeydew melon should be ripe when purchased, as these fruits hardly ripen after being picked. Choose a honeydew melon that smells pleasantly sweet, and the skin should not be too hard and should give slightly under pressure. If the skin is too soft, it is overripe and usually tastes unpleasantly perfumed. Make sure there are no cracks or dents on the skin.
Read also: Fruit with monster decoration
Photo by Sabine, meinhaushalt.at
