How can I distinguish good watermelons from bad ones?

I was instructed to test them by thumping on them and buying ones that
sound hollow.

I do that, but sometimes I still end up buying ones that turn out to be
almost tasteless and not sweet.

Robert

On Wed, 11 Jul 2007 17:21:00 -0500, flitterbit
wrote:

Robert Montgomery wrote:
How can I distinguish good watermelons from bad ones?

I was instructed to test them by thumping on them and buying ones that
sound hollow.

I do that, but sometimes I still end up buying ones that turn out to be
almost tasteless and not sweet.

Robert

The thump test is to determine whether or not the melon is ripe; flavour
can't be determined by other than cutting open the melon and tasting it,
as far as I'm aware.

Doesn't looking for the "creamy" spot on the bottom help any?
--

History is a vast early warning system
Norman Cousins

sf wrote:

Doesn't looking for the "creamy" spot on the bottom help any?

Hehe... that's what I do.

Sheldon

On Jul 11, 1:21 pm, Robert Montgomery
wrote:
How can I distinguish good watermelons from bad ones?

I was instructed to test them by thumping on them and buying ones that
sound hollow.

I do that, but sometimes I still end up buying ones that turn out to be
almost tasteless and not sweet.

Robert

Watermelons do not ripen off the vine. Thumping is used to find the
densest one possible.

b.

Robert Montgomery wrote:
How can I distinguish good watermelons from bad ones?

I was instructed to test them by thumping on them and buying ones that
sound hollow.

I do that, but sometimes I still end up buying ones that turn out to be
almost tasteless and not sweet.

Robert

The thump test is to determine whether or not the melon is ripe; flavour
can't be determined by other than cutting open the melon and tasting it,
as far as I'm aware.

On Wed, 11 Jul 2007 18:25:21 -0500, flitterbit
wrote:

I'd think that variations in the colour of the rind have more to do with
exposure to sunlight than anything else, but I don't know for certain;
the melons available at my local stores are usually pretty uniform in
colour or, if there's any variation, it appears to be the portion that
was on the ground, ie, it's usually a little flattened compared to the
rest of the melon.


Yes, that's exactly right... plus the cream colored spot indicates it
has ripened. Uniform color means they were not picked fully ripe.

http://www.slate.com/id/2102005/

Watermelon: Here's a great trick for identifying ripe watermelon,
courtesy of Latilla: The area where a watermelon has rested on the
truck, or on the ground, or on the fruit stand, tends to flatten out
and turn yellow. The wider the spread of this area, and the more
intensely yellow the color, the sweeter and riper the watermelon.
--

History is a vast early warning system
Norman Cousins

sf wrote:
On Wed, 11 Jul 2007 17:21:00 -0500, flitterbit
wrote:

Robert Montgomery wrote:
How can I distinguish good watermelons from bad ones?

I was instructed to test them by thumping on them and buying ones that
sound hollow.

I do that, but sometimes I still end up buying ones that turn out to be
almost tasteless and not sweet.

Robert

The thump test is to determine whether or not the melon is ripe; flavour
can't be determined by other than cutting open the melon and tasting it,
as far as I'm aware.

Doesn't looking for the "creamy" spot on the bottom help any?


I'd think that variations in the colour of the rind have more to do with
exposure to sunlight than anything else, but I don't know for certain;
the melons available at my local stores are usually pretty uniform in
colour or, if there's any variation, it appears to be the portion that
was on the ground, ie, it's usually a little flattened compared to the
rest of the melon.

On Jul 11, 4:23 pm, sf wrote:
On Wed, 11 Jul 2007 18:25:21 -0500, flitterbit
wrote:

I'd think that variations in the colour of the rind have more to do with
exposure to sunlight than anything else, but I don't know for certain;
the melons available at my local stores are usually pretty uniform in
colour or, if there's any variation, it appears to be the portion that
was on the ground, ie, it's usually a little flattened compared to the
rest of the melon.

Yes, that's exactly right... plus the cream colored spot indicates it
has ripened. Uniform color means they were not picked fully ripe.

http://www.slate.com/id/2102005/

Watermelon: Here's a great trick for identifying ripe watermelon,
courtesy of Latilla: The area where a watermelon has rested on the
truck, or on the ground, or on the fruit stand, tends to flatten out
and turn yellow. The wider the spread of this area, and the more
intensely yellow the color, the sweeter and riper the watermelon.
--

History is a vast early warning system
Norman Cousins

I also like mine juicy so I pick the ones that have a big yellow spot
and heavy for the size.

On Wed, 11 Jul 2007 14:50:12 -0700, sf wrote:

On Wed, 11 Jul 2007 17:21:00 -0500, flitterbit
wrote:

Robert Montgomery wrote:
How can I distinguish good watermelons from bad ones?

I was instructed to test them by thumping on them and buying ones that
sound hollow.

I do that, but sometimes I still end up buying ones that turn out to be
almost tasteless and not sweet.

Robert

The thump test is to determine whether or not the melon is ripe; flavour
can't be determined by other than cutting open the melon and tasting it,
as far as I'm aware.

Doesn't looking for the "creamy" spot on the bottom help any?

I look for that and pick one that is heavy for it's size.

Koko
---
http://www.kokoscorner.typepad.com
updated 7/08

"There is no love more sincere than the love of food"
George Bernard Shaw

"Robert Montgomery" wrote in message
news:fZali.35960$xk5.26633@edtnps82...
How can I distinguish good watermelons from bad ones?

I was instructed to test them by thumping on them and buying ones that
sound hollow.

I do that, but sometimes I still end up buying ones that turn out to be
almost tasteless and not sweet.

Robert

They don't grow good melons any more. The round seedless one, the short
seedless once are all bland and have poor texture. If, however, you can
find one of the long watermelons with seeds, it will probably be very good.

On Jul 11, 7:30?pm, "Edwin Pawlowski" wrote:
"Robert Montgomery" wrote in message

news:fZali.35960$xk5.26633@edtnps82...

How can I distinguish good watermelons from bad ones?

I was instructed to test them by thumping on them and buying ones that
sound hollow.

I do that, but sometimes I still end up buying ones that turn out to be
almost tasteless and not sweet.

Robert

They don't grow good melons any more. The round seedless one, the short
seedless once are all bland and have poor texture. If, however, you can
find one of the long watermelons with seeds, it will probably be very good.

Have to agree with you - those big oblong, seeded "old fashioned"
watermelons were more reliably sweet than the varieties available
today. Once in a long while I'll snag a seedless melon that tastes
ok, but they're mostly disappointing. Unfortunately most of them are
watery and tasteless regardless of the thump test, relative weight,
and creamy white spot.

Think we lost something special when producers decided the public
preferred the convenience of smaller fruit with no seeds. Brings to
mind the "vine ripened" tasteless tomatoes from Safeway.

Nancy T

ntantiques wrote:

On Jul 11, 7:30?pm, "Edwin Pawlowski" wrote:

"Robert Montgomery" wrote in message

news:fZali.35960$xk5.26633@edtnps82...


How can I distinguish good watermelons from bad ones?

I was instructed to test them by thumping on them and buying ones that
sound hollow.

I do that, but sometimes I still end up buying ones that turn out to be
almost tasteless and not sweet.

Robert

They don't grow good melons any more. The round seedless one, the short
seedless once are all bland and have poor texture. If, however, you can
find one of the long watermelons with seeds, it will probably be very good.


Have to agree with you - those big oblong, seeded "old fashioned"
watermelons were more reliably sweet than the varieties available
today. Once in a long while I'll snag a seedless melon that tastes
ok, but they're mostly disappointing. Unfortunately most of them are
watery and tasteless regardless of the thump test, relative weight,
and creamy white spot.

Think we lost something special when producers decided the public
preferred the convenience of smaller fruit with no seeds. Brings to
mind the "vine ripened" tasteless tomatoes from Safeway.

Nancy T

I thought the reason for watermelons not having the black seeds nowadays
is because of genetic modification.

Robert

On Wed, 11 Jul 2007 17:59:27 -0700, Koko rummaged among random neurons
and opined:

I look for that and pick one that is heavy for it's size.

That's a good test for citrus, too. If the orange (grapefruit, etc.)
feels heavy for its size, it's likely well ripened.

Terry "Squeaks" Pulliam Burd

--
"If the soup had been as hot as the claret, if the claret had been as
old as the bird, and if the bird's breasts had been as full as the
waitress's, it would have been a very good dinner."

-- Duncan Hines

To reply, replace "spaminator" with "cox"

I go by two things. Sound, you want a good echo-ie sound. About 90% of the
time this proves to be a good watermelon. I also look for what I call surgar
spots. These are small areas of dried brown sap from the watermelon.
Everytime I have bought one with these little hard dried brown drops of sap
on it I have always gotten an awesome watermelon. It is my opinion that
these spots indicate a watermelon that is so loaded with sugar that it can't
contain it all.

Somebody!

Robert Montgomery wrote:

How can I distinguish good watermelons from bad ones?

I was instructed to test them by thumping on them and buying ones that
sound hollow.

You aren't completely off-base with this. From the UC-Davis website:

http://vric.ucdavis.edu/veginfo/comm...watermelon.pdf

To test melons for ripeness, rap the side of the fruit with your
knuckles. A light or metallic sound
means that the fruit is still green; a dull sound means it is ripe.
This is most reliable in the early
morning. During the heat of the day or after melons have been picked
for some time, they all sound
ripe. Fruits have a "ground spot" where they rest on the ground; this
spot turns slightly yellow as the
fruit matures. Watermelons tend to become rough as they mature. The
tendrils closest to the fruit
darken and dry up as the fruit ripens. Do not pull melons off the
vine; use a sharp knife for cutting.

--Lin