Tips to Pick a Perfect Watermelon

Sweet summertime is almost here! Nothing says sweet summertime quite like snacking on a delicious slice of watermelon. 

Not sure how to find the best one? You’re not alone. If you’re like me, you tend to hover over the large watermelon bins at the grocery store, contemplating which one to get. We’ve got a few tips from our friends at Texas A&M AgriLife to help you pick out a sweet, juicy watermelon. 

1. The best way to find a ripe watermelon is by looking at its field spot. The field spot should be yellow- or cream-colored. It may even appear orangish in color! The bigger the spot, the better! This means the watermelon was ripe when it was harvested. If the spot is white or pale green, that means it was harvested too early. 
2. The best watermelons are dull in color and heavy. If the exterior is shiny, that’s a good indicator the interior is not ripe yet. Remember, watermelons are made mostly of water! If you pick up a melon and it’s not heavy, put it back. The heavier the watermelon, the more water it’s made of. The more water, the juicer it will be! 
3. You can also tap the underbelly and listen for a deep sound. Deep sounds indicate a ripe watermelon, while a hollow sound means it’s not ripe yet. This is not always a reliable indicator, as it’s more important to rely on its appearance.

Here’s to finding perfectly sweet watermelons all summer long!