How many times have you brought a
nice-looking watermelon from your local grocery store, only to discover
that the fruit is soft, bitter, or lacking in sweetness? This is
something that happens to the best of us, but it sure doesn’t have to!
Below are 7 traits that indicate that the watermelon that you’re about
to buy is bad:
1. It is Cracking and Has White or Black
Spots
A melon that has white and black dots, or has a lot of cracking, could
be afflicted with what is known as belly rot, a condition which is known
to speed up the molding process. This rot will obviously affect the
taste and can even end up making you sick.
2. It Feels Light
While carrying a light watermelon back to the car on a hot summer’s day
may sound like an advantage to some, the most informed know that this is
a sign of trouble. This is because a lightweight watermelon informs you
that there’s not enough water inside the rind, which means that you’ll
likely be met with a dehydrated fruit once you cut into it.
3. It Doesn’t Sound Right
When you knock on a watermelon, you’ll want to hear a hollow sound as
this is a sure sign that the fruit is juicy and filled with water. On
the other hand, if you hear a thud, it’s a dud.
4. The Stem is Green
When buying a watermelon it’s a good idea to take a close look at the
stem. While a parched-looking stem might look like a warning, it’s
actually a good thing as it means that the fruit is ready to eat. If it
has a rich green stem, the fruit definitely needs some more time to
ripen.
5. It’s Too Good Looking
Watermelons that have flawless rinds are not the ones to go for. If a
melon is devoid of webbing, then it means that the fruit didn’t receive
enough pollination. Though this won’t necessarily result in an inedible
watermelon, it could mean that your fruit won’t be as sugary sweet as it
should be. Sometimes, ugly is better!
6. It’s Too Long
While watermelons with long bodies are not necessarily bad for eating,
rounder ones are generally much sweeter.
7. It Has a Big White Spot
When you turn over your watermelon you should see what is known as a
field spot. The sweetest melons have a yellowish color on their
underside – the darker, the better. However, keep in mind that a white
spot is better than no spot at all.