Since you can’t stealthily peel back the wrapping of a watermelon in the grocery store to sneak a peek at what’s inside, you’ll have to employ some different techniques to determine its “ripeness.” Personally, I use the following three-step process to find the right watermelon and I have to admit, it hasn’t failed me yet!
1. LOOK – Your watermelon should be firm, symmetrical and free of major bruises or scars. Some minor scratches are okay, however. After all, the purpose of that thick rind is to protect the delicious contents inside. Ripe watermelons should also be dark green in color.
2. LIFT – The ripest watermelons have the most water. And since watermelons are 92 percent water, your watermelon should be relatively heavy for its size.
3. TURN – Turn your watermelon over and check out its bottom, which should have a creamy yellow spot (also called “the ground spot”). This is where the watermelon sat on the ground while it soaked up the sun at the farm. If this spot is white or greenish, your watermelon may have been picked too soon and might not be as ripe as it should be.
Now I know what a lot of you are thinking: “What about the sound test? You know, knocking, tapping, drumming or thumping on the watermelon to test its ripeness?”
Here’s my stance on using your watermelon as a bongo drum in the produce aisle: While it’s true that the “sound test” can give you some insight on a watermelon’s ripeness, I don’t endorse or use the test because it’s too subjective and there’s no definitive agreement on which result the test is supposed to yield.
Some say a ripe watermelon will produce a hollow sound, while a “thick” or “solid” sound indicates a watermelon that’s not ripe or too ripe. Others say a hollow or “tight” sound is bad, and your watermelon should instead sound “firm.” Still others say a ripe watermelon should produce a B-flat sound. (What?!)
In other words, you can tap-tap-tap all you want, but if you perform the three-part test we talked about earlier, you should have no problem finding a great watermelon. As always, if anyone has any other tips or can clarify the sound test (please!), feel free to leave a comment!
View Comments (42)
the firm, dark green, heavy ones never any good for me. never ripe, but i will look for the yellow spot next time. just threw one away today.
Is the size of the melon important for sweetness? My wife just bought an oblong-shaped smaller organically grown melon since we have limited refrigerator space. It looked good and sounded good as far as the thump test, but we were unhappy. It was very juicy but bland and not sweet at all.
I had one just recently also that was very, very juicy but not sweet at all.
i am a diabetic and really love chilled watermelon 24 x 7! I sometimes find a white vein in the middle and it seems dry and unpleasant.
now, I will look for a yellow bottom, bee spots and a thumping sound with a vibration (really, b flat?). some are just great and I can eat 1/2 at one sitting, and when at night it makes me hit the bathroom but back to the frige for some more watermelon.
so, I will look for the yellow bottom, dark green body and maybe a thumping test. why can’t you just get an xray of the inners and let that tell you the best? maybe I will invent something!
What does being diabetic have to do with liking watermelon? Honestly, watermelon (and most fruit) is not good for people with diabetes; it has a very high sugar content. The sugar in fruit is not very different from cane sugar. Diabetics are often given terrible dietary advice and only told that they should avoid cane sugar, when all carbs (including many grains, fruits, and vegetables that are generally considered "healthy") raise blood sugar and increase need for insulin. If a doctor or dietitian told you that you could eat unlimited amounts of fruit, please try to get some updated information. I recommend Dr Richard K Bernstein's books, especially if you have Type 1. (I have Type 2.) Take care!
I was also taught that fruits are very high in sugars and to be very careful how much you eat with diabetes.
According to LiveStrong, the glycemic load of watermelon is 5. Very low. I think the poster was alluding to the fact that, as a diabetic, she may not be able to have many sweets, but watermelon is a sweet treat she can let herself have, so she sure does enjoy some chilled watermelon! :)
Iam not diabetic and have recently cut out sugar from mine & my husband diet. Our sugar intake is now from Watermelon, and all other fruits.
The hollow sounding watermelon has never let me down. A dull sound will mean an inferior tasting melon. In the past, I’d settle for a melon without the hollow sound and regretted it. I will now also look for the yellow spot. Thanks for the info!
When in doubt with all these tips, I learned from my grandma to cut out a square chunk (like you would when carving a pumkin’s eye, nose, etc. but DON’T throw it away). I call this chunk the ‘melon cork’. After you pull the ‘melon cork’ out, check for ripeness. If it is not quite ripe yet, put the cork back in and wait, checking on it every few days.. You should have a mighty ripe watermelon eventually! :)
After looking for the yellow ground spot check the stem. It should be dark. A light color stem means it was picked green and probably still it green.
Watermelons will not continue to ripen off the vine.
Pretty good advice, however, the thump test will give an indication if the watermelon is starting to separate in the middle. also press on the opposite end from the stem if it yields easily your melon is a gonner. Suzy A watermelon will continue to ripen after harvest if it was not picked too green. the stem must start to die from the vine befor it is picked. If you see a thick sturdy green stem but your melon meets all other guidlines the rind may be very thick. Mike’s Produce Guntersville AL HY 431.
What has always worked for me is that watermelon should have a small very string yellow circle (not creamy or light yellow) on one end and opposite side of that circle should be drak green in contrast. tapping will give you firmness of the melon.
I have always found yummy melon.Besides what you have said i always look for brown scars,(i have read they are formed because the thing is growing to fast and it is kind of a tare,and i have heard it is where insects (bees) have went after it for its sweetness).And Yes you dont want a mushy feel to any part of it.And if you know how to become one with the melon (be the melon) that will certainly help.