This post may contain affiliate links.
Here’s everything you need to know about picking a sweet and ripe watermelon. With these simple tips, you’ll be able to choose the perfect watermelon every time.
Watermelon is my favorite summer fruit, and there’s nothing better than a large bowl of this refreshing fruit straight from the fridge or an ice-cold watermelon slushie or watermelon juice. You might be wondering how to pick a good watermelon and how to tell if it’s ripe. Luckily, I have plenty of experience and can quickly spot a good watermelon. I’m here to share my tips with you, so let’s get started!
Table of Contents
How To Tell If A Watermelon Is Ripe And Sweet
If you want to pick the sweetest and juiciest watermelon every time, you need to look for a few indications. They are easy to spot but you must keep an eye out for them:
- The watermelon should have a creamy yellow field spot.
- It should feel heavy for its size.
- The color should be dull green and not shiny.
- A good watermelon is symmetrical in shape with no bumps.
- When tapped with your knuckles, the watermelon should sound deep and hollow which means the flesh is sweet and crisp.
We’ll dive deeper into each of these characteristics to make sure you pick the best watermelon every time you visit the market. And then make sure to check out my tutorial on how to cut a watermelon and our watermelon salad recipe so you can enjoy this sweet summer treat!
The Field Spot
This is my no.1 tip on finding the right watermelon because if a watermelon has a good field spot, for sure it’s going to be sweet and ripe. But, what is a field spot? It’s the creamy yellow spot on the outside of the watermelon, it’s basically where the watermelon was sitting on the ground.
The color of the field spot should ideally be dark yellow, meaning the fruit had enough time to ripen prior to picking. Avoid watermelon with no or white field spot since it means they didn’t ripen enough.
The Heavier, The Better
Pick up a few watermelons and feel how heavy they are. A good watermelon should be heavy for its size. Heavy watermelon means there’s more water in it which makes it juicier.
Look For The Dull Watermelon
One of the most important notes on how to pick a watermelon is the color. You need to look for a watermelon that has a dull green colored rind. Shiny rind means the fruit is underripe. If you press the exterior of the watermelon, there should be no give. If there’s a give of softness, it means the fruit is spoiling.
A Watermelon With A Uniform Shape
Watermelons can be round or oval depending on the variety. What you need to be looking for is a watermelon with a uniform shape, meaning it shouldn’t have bumps. When a watermelon has a symmetrical form, it means it has received consistent sunlight and water, resulting in a sweet and juicy fruit.
Knock And Listen
The final check would be the sound of the watermelon. When knocked with your knuckles, the watermelon should have a deep, hollow sound instead of a dull sound. This might take some practice to master so look for other indicators as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
An uncut watermelon can keep up to a week on the kitchen counter. Once you cut the watermelon, store the pieces or cubes in an airtight container. It’s best to consume it within four days.
Seedless watermelon is usually crisper than the ones with seeds.
Did you make this recipe? I’d love to hear about it! Please comment and leave a 5-star🌟 rating below. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest or subscribe to our newsletter to get a free e-Cookbook!
How To Pick A Watermelon
Ingredients
- 1 watermelon
Instructions
- The watermelon should be heavy for it's size and have a dull green color. Shiny rind means the fruit is not ripe.
- When knocked with your knuckles, the watermelon should make a deep hollow sound as opposed to a dull sound.
- Look for the field spot, this is the creamy yellow spot on one side of the watermelon where it rests on the ground to ripen. Ideally, you want the field spot to be dark yellow.
- A good watermelon should have a uniform and symmetrical shape with no bumps.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Thanks. Such an informative post. Will help in my next Watermelon purchase.
I always have a hard time picking the best watermelons! These are some great tips; excited to give these ideas a try!