How to pick the perfect watermelon and avoid common pitfalls

Watermelon is one of the best fruits for hot weather because it is wonderfully refreshing. However, finding the perfect one is not always easy, especially when buying a whole fruit. Sometimes, it can be dry and tasteless after cutting it open, and the flesh can resemble a sponge. Fortunately, there are ways to avoid such mishaps when shopping.

Why do watermelons taste so good on hot days? They are primarily composed of water, so they quickly quench thirst and cool the body. A piece of cold watermelon when the heat is blazing down from the sky is always a good idea. However, only a perfect watermelon can meet our expectations. While it is easy to judge which halved or quartered fruits look appetizing, it becomes a bit more complicated with whole ones.

Why is it worth buying a whole watermelon? Mainly because it can be stored for much longer. If you decide to go for a smaller piece, you must eat it as soon as possible because it quickly loses its firmness and flavor. Wrapping it in foil is not recommended either. A whole watermelon keeps its good form much longer, even for a few weeks. So, you can buy it in advance, say during the week or the weekend. A cut watermelon, however, needs to be eaten almost immediately.

The first thing we notice when buying a watermelon in the store is the size. It matters quite a bit. Small fruits are often not very sweet, while large ones are often overripe. So, it’s good to choose medium-sized fruits and check if they are heavy. The weight indicates that they have a lot of flesh and will be juicy. A good watermelon should also have a delicate, pleasant smell, especially at the lower end. If you smell an intense, overly sweet, or fermenting odor, it indicates that it is spoiled.

Also, look at the spot on the bottom of the fruit. It should be yellow; the watermelon is not ripe if it's white. The spot forms where the watermelon touched the ground during ripening. The more yellow or orange the spot is, the riper the watermelon. The best watermelons have a dark green, intense color, and a slightly elastic rind that is not too soft or hard. Their characteristic yellow-brown streaks are a sign that the fruit is juicy.

Finally, tap or shake the watermelon. If the sound is deep, like a drum, you can buy it. If it’s silent, the fruit is unripe. Another detail that reveals a tasteless watermelon is the stem. The fruit will be less sweet and juicy if it's still green. It’s better to look for ones with a brown spot where the stem grows.