How to choose a watermelon that is ripe and sweet, tasty and by what criteria

How to choose a watermelon at first sight

The purchase begins with a visual assessment of the product. The peel is the first thing you should pay attention to. By appearance it is easy to determine the quality and ripeness of the selected fruit. Still, it is necessary to consider some of the subtleties of such an “inspection.”

Although watermelon belongs to the Pumpkin family, it is still a common berry. Why? The whole reason is the presence of a large number of seeds inside it, as well as juicy pulp.

"War paint" of watermelon

The camouflage technique is designed to become invisible. However, in the case of watermelon, the situation is completely different. It is the color of the crust that can tell about the degree of maturity of the fruit.

The ideal color should be:

richly bright;
contrasting;
with a clearly defined pattern.

If black dots or puncture holes are visible on the surface, then the berry has been exposed to chemicals. Saltpeter or harmful compounds were introduced into it.

The glossy shade of the rind also indicates the ripeness of the watermelon. The presence of a waxy coating or dullness indicates that the selected specimen is still green. Among other things, the structure of the peel helps you understand how to choose the right watermelon. Its special rigidity is practically not inferior to the elasticity of wood. At the same time, the surface of the berry is easily scratched, but piercing it with a knife is very problematic. At the same time, the damaged area emits a pleasant aroma of fresh herbs.

However, it is worth remembering that the fetus must be “safe and sound”, without:

cracks;
scratches;
dents;
rotten spots;
cuts.

Such defects serve as a kind of “gateway” for the penetration of all kinds of bacteria and microbes. Since the pulp of the berry is sweet, that is, sticky, particles of dirt and dust are attracted to it like a magnet. Therefore, if in a store half of a cut fruit is covered with cling film, this does not guarantee the hygiene of the packaging.

The mysterious secret of drawing a watermelon. The greater the distance between the dark and light stripes, the tastier and sweeter the pulp of the juicy berry will be.

When the size of the watermelon matters

Now you need to focus on choosing the size of the fetus. Of course, it should be borne in mind that much depends on the type of crop, as well as the place where it is grown. Still, farmers recommend buying medium-sized specimens: from 4 to 9 kg. This rule of the “golden mean” always works when the buyer does not know how to choose a watermelon. With giant specimens, the client is at risk. In most cases, such berries indicate a high content of chemicals. In addition, they could have been picked while still green, so that they would have time to ripen during transportation.

Fruits that are too small are only suitable for pickling for the winter, since they do not have the necessary juiciness or sweetness.

Watermelon soil spot or the importance of natural “make-up”

The light spot on one side of the fruit is also called the “cheek” or “flank”. It can also tell a lot about the characteristics of growing a crop. In addition, with its help, the buyer immediately understands how to choose a ripe watermelon. A too light shade of the “cheek” indicates an unfavorable climate in which the berry ripened.

The ideal “barrel” has 3 characteristic features:

diameter - from 6 to 11 cm (depending on the variety);
quantity - no more than one;
color - deep yellow or orange.

Business is often a cruel master. Therefore, many farmers collect unripe goods. Such watermelons no longer ripen in melon fields, but in poorly ventilated and often unsanitary conditions.

The “barrel” will help determine how to store the fruit, for which the following are not allowed:

uneven color;
shade too light;
contour without clear lines;
unnatural and large spot.

A white earthy spot indicates the low taste of the berry. If the barrel size is too large, it indicates that the product was kept in a cool basement.

Crops grown in this way often lack juiciness and sweetness. In addition, they pose a threat because they have not received enough ultraviolet rays necessary for photosynthesis. To improve the appearance of watermelon, suppliers will undoubtedly use chemical additives. Therefore, the buyer needs to look for traces of injections in such specimens.

What does a dry watermelon tail tell you?

A dried stalk is an obvious sign of ripeness. Why can we draw this conclusion? A fully ripened fruit ceases to receive nutrients and moisture. As a result, the stem begins to dry out. The berry separates under its own weight. Nevertheless, the described process serves as a wonderful theory, but there is one minor detail.

As noted earlier, very often farmers cut fruits before the crop is fully ripened. Within 3 days the tail has time to dry. This is how unripe goods with a dry stalk appear on the counter. After such a discovery, many began to worry about another question: how to choose a ripe and sweet watermelon, given this marketing “scam”.

To do this, you just need to closely examine the cut of the stem:

if it is smooth, it means it was cut off with a knife;
torn edge - broke off naturally;
the part of the tail at the base is more dried out than at the edge - it has ripened on its own.

Still, some advise not to attach much importance to the external features of the stalk. This feature should be just an additional information, and not the main characteristic of the ripeness of the product.

Ground stain

The area of the peel on which the fruit lay while ripening in the melon is called a ground spot. Its appearance is an important indicator of the ripeness of the berry.

The presence of a spot indicates natural maturation.

However, the watermelon that has an earthen spot in color and size meets certain criteria will be tasty. When buying a berry, you should give preference to the one whose stain looks like this:

painted yellow - the brighter the better;
has medium sizes.

Note: a white or greenish spot occurs on unripe fruits.

Pulp analysis for scrupulous buyers

The proposed options for how to choose a sweet watermelon may seem to some to be an insufficient reason for a purchase. For this reason, experts advise looking inside the unusual berry by making a cut at the top. In addition, many people are not going to buy a whole watermelon; halves, which are often sold in supermarkets, are enough for them.

In this case, you should take a closer look at:

shade of pulp;
fiber structure;
cut surfaces;
porosity.

An intense red color, sometimes with a purple tint, is an unambiguous sign of the nitrate content of the product. When cut, the edge of a ripe fruit will definitely sparkle with sugar grains, and not “sparkle” with a smooth glossy surface. The pulp fibers should be white, without unnatural yellowness. The ideal shade of watermelon is deep pink. Otherwise, there is a “chemical mutant” on the counter.

The more porous and grainy the pulp, the sweeter and tastier the berry will be.

Peel condition

To choose the right watermelon, you should take a closer look at its peel. No matter how sellers praise their product, the buyer must learn to identify a good fruit by at least several criteria.

One of the important points by which you can find out about the ripeness of the berry and the absence of nitrates is the condition of the watermelon rind. Therefore, when purchasing, you should pay attention to the following signs:

smooth glossy peel;
elasticity;
uniform color, except for the earth stain and the “bee” mesh;
no cuts, damage, cracks, dents.

Note: a matte surface indicates that the fruit is unripe, an uneven color indicates that it is overripe, and roughness indicates the use of “chemicals” during cultivation or that it is overripe.

An unusual symphony or how to determine the ripeness of a watermelon by sound

This is the most effective and popular method for recognizing the ripeness of a striped fruit. Tapping is done with the palm, fist, knuckles, or snap of the index finger.

In any case, it is easy to determine the quality of the product by the sound:

sonorous, with a slight resonance, speaks of the ripeness and juiciness of the berry;
deaf characterizes the high sugar content in the fruit, which means its incredible sweetness;
strongly subdued indicates that the flesh is still green or already overripe.

You need to check watermelon for ripeness correctly. The fruit is placed on one hand. With the other palm, make a “barrel” clap. A ripe berry produces vibrating vibrations in the hand and is distinguished by a rolling sound.

When hit, ripe specimens always spring back. Therefore, it is sometimes recommended to compress them. When pressed, the fruit always crunches. This effect is achieved due to the fact that the moisture contained in the pulp is distributed between the fibers. As you know, it is water, in this case berry juice, that has unique acoustic properties. Therefore, the ripeness of fruits is most often determined by knocking.

Scientific approach: physics in the service of the people

To determine the ripeness of a watermelon, exact sciences come to the rescue. For those who diligently studied mathematics and physics at school, solving the problem will not be difficult.

Since ripe berries of different varieties can have different weights and sizes, it is more advisable to use the laws of physics to determine the ripeness of the berries.

Density of ripe berries

If you place a watermelon in a barrel of water, the ripe fruit will float, while the green one will sink to the bottom. This is explained by the fact that a ripe product contains more sugary substances than water. Accordingly, the weight of a ripe specimen is less than that of an unripe one.

Archimedes' law will help you learn how to properly check the ripeness of a watermelon using water. To do this, you need to determine the density of the berry by comparing it with the density of water. A ripe fruit will have less density and will float up under the influence of Archimedes' force.

Circumference and weight

Going shopping with a bucket of water is not very convenient. You can’t put a fruit growing in a garden bed into a bucket either; the tail may accidentally come off.

The ripeness of a melon crop is determined by the specific gravity of the fruit, which should be less than 1. It is calculated by measuring the mass and circumference of the fruit. A striped berry is conventionally taken to be a perfectly round ball with a specific gravity equal to 1. Calculations are carried out in advance at home, calculating the circumference corresponding to the mass of the ripe fruit.

It will be easier to determine the maturity of a watermelon when purchasing if all calculations are transferred to a measuring tape, putting the following indicators against the centimeter divisions:

50 cm – 2 kg;
53 cm – 2.5 kg;
56 cm – 3 kg;
62 cm – 4 kg;
67 cm – 5 kg;
70 cm – 6 kg;
78 cm – 8 kg;
85 cm – 10 kg.

To make sure that the selected specimen is ripe, just grab it with a centimeter and see what indicators are indicated on it.

Example: watermelon weighing 4 kg...

has a circumference of 63 cm.

Difference between watermelon “by gender”: boy or girl

It is noteworthy that the taste of a watermelon depends on belonging to a certain “gender”. “Female” specimens differ from “male” ones in their special juiciness and sweetness.

Several unique signs will help you recognize a “girl” among many options:

the shape of the fruit is slightly flattened at the poles;
the place where the peduncle used to be is smooth and flat;
The “butt” is represented by a large dried circle.

When buying a watermelon, you must take into account that almost 80% of the harvest comes from “boys”. Therefore, finding a “girl” on the market is very rare.

The bottom of boy watermelons has a concave, funnel-shaped edge. A dried circle looks more like a dot that doesn’t stand out too much from the general background. The size of “girls” is an order of magnitude smaller than “boys”. In addition, female berries contain very few seeds.

Seasonality

Watermelons perfectly quench thirst in the summer heat and saturate the body with useful elements. It is important to understand that the greatest benefit comes from berries grown in open ground. You should buy them from the 5th-10th of August until the end of September.

Early melons not only differ significantly in taste, but can also be harmful to health. The reason lies in the use by manufacturers of various chemicals that accelerate the ripening of fruits and increase their weight:

nitrates;
pesticides;
growth accelerators;
dyes.

Watermelon selling season is a leading aspect of choice

the sale of this seasonal product directly affects its quality. Since watermelon is a southern crop, the fruits begin to ripen in August. So from the middle of the month the active sales season begins. If sales are carried out at the beginning of summer, then we can safely say that the product consists of 70-80% chemicals. Such specimens may be relatively sweet, but you can still forget about their benefits.

The end of the sales season is at the end of September. But how then to choose a delicious watermelon in October? By this time, farmers finish collecting the remains of the crop, which is considered environmentally friendly, because it contains practically no chemicals.

The ideal October watermelon has the following features:

green tail;
yellow “cheek”;
unripe fruit.

When buying watermelon, you should know that breeders have successfully developed early varieties of the crop. However, you should always make a discount on transportation time from the southern regions. As a result, the appearance of striped fruits in June or July is too doubtful.

By taking into account these 8 signs of choosing a sweet and ripe watermelon, buyers can always win. In addition, they will never waste their money and protect their family from low-quality products.

Size and weight

The size of the berry and its weight directly depend on the variety of melon crop. If you want to enjoy a sweet and juicy watermelon, you need to pay attention not so much to the size of the fruit, but to its weight.

There are specimens whose weight reaches 20 kg. The best option to buy is watermelons weighing 4-10 kg. The main thing is to take into account the variety. When choosing, you should use some recommendations:

watermelon should be medium heavy;
a good fruit has a uniform shape;
It is better not to buy small berries;
Watermelons that are too large are also best avoided.

Note: if the berry is light for its size, it is already overripe and has lost moisture. When using growth stimulants, fruits develop unevenly and may be too heavy. Guideline: a good 4 kg watermelon should be approximately 60-65 cm in circumference.

Safety

Anyone who wants to enjoy a juicy berry expects to buy a “chemical-free” watermelon, because they understand the risk such a specimen poses to the body. Unscrupulous agronomists use various tricks to quickly ripen berries.

Melons can be watered abundantly with saltpeter diluted with water, injected with potassium permanganate using a syringe, kept in vans with unripe products, cylinders with ethylene, and much more. A number of signs will help you determine the chemical content of fruits when purchasing or at home:

soft dark areas on the peel;
the presence of through holes (shallow ones should not be afraid, this is normal);
the flesh is bright red, even with a purple tint;
yellow/white pulp fibers or yellowish lumps/veins.

Determined by the crust

Let's look at how to accurately determine the ripeness of a watermelon by its “clothing,” i.e., its peel. The watermelon rind should not have cracks, stains or dents, and the rind should be very hard to the touch. The fact is that as soon as a ripe fruit comes off the branch on its own, the flow of moisture to it stops and the peel quickly hardens. If the watermelon is really “ready”, then you definitely won’t be able to pierce it with your fingernail, but you can remove the thin top layer very easily. Another sign of ripeness is the absence of a waxy coating on the peel, which shines magnificently in the sun.

Pay attention to the contrast of colors, how clearly the black-green stripes of the berry are visible. During the growth process, like most plants, it needs nutrients. Some are introduced by man, while others are given to the growing “organism” by nature itself. Chlorophyll is what makes the berry bark green and produces glucose. Once the fruit is ripe, chlorophyll production stops and the color slowly changes to yellow. Therefore, if the “combat” color of the berry is bright and contrasting, it means that during the growth process there was a lot of sun and heat, which is what the plant needs for comfortable development.

Bee pollination net

When choosing a striped berry at the market or in a store, you can notice a kind of mesh on it, reminiscent of scars. Such formations should not be repulsive, since they are a good sign.

It is worth distinguishing cracks and bruises resulting from improper storage and transportation from mesh formed due to the influence of insects. Brown mesh appears for the following reasons:

during pollination, the ovary of the fruit was touched by bees;
Insects fed on watermelon juice when it ripened.

Note: the sweetness of the berry depends on the frequency of pollination. And if the insects fed on the moisture oozing from the watermelon, then it is environmentally friendly.

Interesting facts about mangoes

The mango tree in India is a symbol of love, some people even believe that it fulfills wishes;
India is the world's largest supplier of mangoes;
Mango leaves are poisonous and should not be fed to animals. Trees should not be burned, as the toxic fumes are harmful to the lungs and eyes;
many Asian kings and their nobles had their own mango groves, this was a sign of high social status;
Mango leaves are traditionally scattered at weddings to ensure a fruitful life for the newlyweds. When celebrating a boy's birthday, leaves are hung in front of the house;
on holy days, Hindus rub their teeth with a mango sprig;
Green fruit contains more vitamin C than ripe fruit. Therefore, unripe fruits are also beneficial. As mangoes ripen, the amount of vitamin A increases;
Botanical relatives of mangoes are pistachios, cashews, poison sumac and Jamaican plum.