How To Pick Out A Ripe Cantaloupe Like A Pro

Cantaloupe is one of the most delicious and refreshing fruits of summer. When perfectly ripe, the orange flesh is sweet and juicy with a honey-like flavor. However, picking out a ripe cantaloupe can be tricky. It takes some skill to select a melon that is perfectly ripe and ready to eat.

Follow these tips to become a cantaloupe picking pro:

1. Look For An Indicator of Ripeness

The first step is looking for signs that indicate ripeness. A ripe cantaloupe will have a cream or yellow/beige color on the skin where it rested on the ground while ripening. This is called the ground spot. As cantaloupes ripen, the ground spot changes from green to cream or yellowish. A cantaloupe with no ground spot or a mostly green ground spot is likely underripe.

2. Check the Stem End

Next, inspect the stem end of the cantaloupe. Look for some shriveling around the stem scar. As cantaloupe ripen, the stem slowly dries and shrivels back. If the stem scar is mostly smooth with no wrinkling, the melon is likely not ripe yet. A dried and shriveled stem end indicates optimal ripeness.

3. Feel the Weight

When you pick up a cantaloupe, it should feel heavy for its size. Ripe melons will feel dense and weigh more due to higher water content. Underripe melons will feel light. Even if a melon looks ripe, it may be underripe if it feels too light. Lift melons and go for ones with some significant heft.

4. Look For Webbing

Check the rind of the cantaloupe for a web-like texture. As cantaloupes ripen, the skin develops a netted appearance. This webbing becomes more pronounced and intricate as the melon ripens. Go for melons with detailed webbing rather than smooth rinds which indicate underripeness.

5. Give It a Soft Press

Gently press on the blossom end of the melon, opposite from the stem. A ripe melon will give just slightly. If your thumb indentation remains, it means the flesh has softened and the cantaloupe is ripe. An underripe melon will be too firm and hard.

6. Listen For a Hollow Sound

Tap the melon gently and listen for a resonant hollow sound. As cantaloupe ripens, the inner cavity expands and produces a deep echo when tapped. Underripe melons sound more dense and solid. A nice hollow resonance means optimum ripeness.

7. Sniff the Blossom End

Lift the melon to your nose and sniff the blossom end. A perfectly ripe cantaloupe will have a strong, sweet smell. The fragrance intensifies as the sugars develop during ripening. Little to no aroma indicates an underripe melon lacking sugars. Follow your nose to the best, ripest pick.

8. Avoid Obvious Flaws

Inspect cantaloupes for any cracks, dents, spots or other flaws in the rind. Damaged areas can lead to mold, decay and off-flavors. Even if a melon seems ripe, pass it by if the rind has any significant flaws. Go for melons with intact, pristine rinds.

9. Consider the Harvest Timing

Factor in when cantaloupes were likely harvested to gauge ripeness on the shelf. In most regions, peak cantaloupe harvest is in July and August. Melons picked at the height of summer will ripen more quickly compared to melons picked during shoulder seasons.

Picking perfectly ripe, ready-to-eat cantaloupe takes some finesse. Follow these tips to select cantaloupes with optimal sweetness and flavor. With experience, you will become adept at choosing melons at the peak of ripeness to enjo