A thick rind makes it much harder to know what youll find when you slice it open.
Learn how to pick a watermelon that’s perfectly ripe and juicy.
You know summer has arrived with the season’s first bite of watermelon.
Credit: Meredith
It’s so disappointing when that bite is dry, underripe, and lacking sweetness.
The next time you head to the grocery store orfarmers market, keep the four S’s in mind.
They’ll help you learn how to pick a sweet watermelon with the best flavor.
How to Pick a Good Watermelon
These helpful tips will help you choose a ripe watermelon.
Sheen
“A watermelon tends to lose its natural sheen and color over time,” Wroten says.
Look for a fruit that’s shiny and vibrant in color when picking awatermelon to enjoy this summer.
If the spot is pale white, the watermelon was picked before it could fully ripen on the vine.
The top should also be a bright green hue with well-defined stripes.
Sound
The knock test is a well-known watermelon trick for picking the best melon.
It takes a little practice to master, but it can help you choose a juicy melon.
Before taking a watermelon home, give it a pat and listen for a hollow, drum-like ring.
A flat or dead thud can clue you in about bruising, over-ripeness, or a lack of juiciness.
Some tips you’ll use at the grocery store also apply to homegrown melons.
Now you know everything you need for how to pick the best watermelon.
