Before cutting, wash the outer surface of the melon thoroughly with cool tap water to remove surface dirt; scrub with a clean produce brush. Wash all food-contact equipment and utensils that contact cut melons (cutting boards, knives, etc.) thoroughly with hot soapy water, rinse, sanitize, and air-dry.
Should I rinse cantaloupe?
It’s also why the CDC recommends that you rinse your fruits and vegetables before eating them. Yes, this includes melons like cantaloupes, honeydews, and watermelons. As the CDC confirms, even when you’re not consuming the peel or rind, fruit can still be contaminated if not rinsed properly.
How do you keep cantaloupe fresh before cutting?
Whole melon should be left at room temperature until ripe. Once ripe, place whole, uncovered melons, in the refrigerator. To store melon halves, cover tightly with either ClingWrap or Press’n Seal® wrap. To store cut melon, seal in a GladWare® food protection container and refrigerate.
What bacteria is on cantaloupe skin?
While bacteria normally cannot grow on fruits or vegetables after they are picked due to a lack of moisture and nutrients, E. coli has been shown to multiply on the surface of cantaloupe and watermelon, according to an FDA article on fresh produce safety.
Should you refrigerate cantaloupe after cutting?
Keep whole melons like watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew on the counter for best flavor. USDA research found that storage at room temp may even help keep the antioxidants better intact. Once cut, store in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
How long is cantaloupe good for once cut?
Cantaloupe slices will keep in the refrigerator for up to three days. 3. Storing cubed cantaloupe: Diced cantaloupe will last in the fridge in an airtight container for one to two days. To cube the fruit, slice the rind off your cantaloupe using a sharp knife, then cut the orange flesh into evenly sized pieces.
How long will cantaloupe last in the refrigerator?
seven to 10 days
A whole, uncut cantaloupe or honeydew melon should last for seven to 10 days in the refrigerator. A whole, uncut watermelon is even sturdier: It should be good for two weeks.
How long can cut cantaloupe sit out?
two hours
Leftover cut cantaloupe should be discarded if left at room temperature for more than two hours. Use a cooler with ice or use ice gel packs when transporting or storing cantaloupes outdoors. Sliced or cut melon should never be out of refrigeration for more than 2 hours, 1 hour when it’s above 90 °F.
Are you supposed to peel cantaloupe?
It’s not necessary to remove the skin from a cantaloupe before cutting it. Cantaloupe rind isn’t edible, but when you cut the fruit into hand-held wedges, you can eat the fruit right off the rind.
How do you sterilize a melon?
other equipment.
- Wash, scrub, and rinse melons under running water.*
- Wash your hands and put on gloves.
- Place melon on the clean and sanitized cutting surface.
- Cut the melon using a clean and sanitized knife.
- Wrap or package the pieces in sanitary packaging.
What are the benefits of eating cantaloupe?
Cantaloupe Health Benefits
- It’s low in carbs. Cantaloupes are 90% water. That’s almost as juicy as a watermelon.
- It hydrates you. Cantaloupes are filled with electrolytes.
- It may help fight diseases. Compounds called phytonutrients in cantaloupes give it anti-inflammatory properties.
Why are cut melons potentially hazardous?
If you don’t properly wash the melon before you cut it, you might introduce E-coli to the inside of the melon. The bacteria will attach onto the knife blade from the surface of the dirty melon and travel through the melon, once the cuts are made, it contaminates every slice.
How does cantaloupe get Listeria?
Cantaloupe rinds are full of nooks and crannies, each perfect for harboring bacteria and allowing it to flourish, Tocco said. Because many food-borne pathogens — E. coli, salmonella, listeria — are found in soil, the layer of plastic can give a slight food-safety edge over melons grown on dirt, Tocco said.
What are the first signs of Listeria?
The symptoms vary with the infected person: Higher-risk people other than pregnant women: Symptoms can include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions. Pregnant women: Pregnant women typically experience only fever, and other non-specific symptoms like chills and headache.
How can you tell when cantaloupe is ripe?
To select a ripe cantaloupe, look for tan cantaloupe with light green lines across it, and avoid choosing melons with brown or soft spots. The melon should be firm but not too soft or too hard.
Will a cantaloupe ripen on the counter?
Unlike other fruits, cantaloupes will not ripen once picked from the vine. At the grocery store, then, what you see is what you get: The fruit will not ripen very much once left on the counter at home, so it’s important to pick a good cantaloupe.
Should you eat cantaloupe seeds?
Cantaloupe seeds are exceptionally good for you
Kidadl states that the seeds are not only packed with a significant amount of vitamins such as vitamin K, vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin C, zinc, magnesium, potassium, selenium, and fiber, but they also act as an added source of protein for those on a plant-based diet.
What’s the best way to store cantaloupe after you cut it?
For cut wedges of cantaloupe, cover the surfaces and refrigerate for up to three days. (If possible, leave the seeds intact. They prevent the flesh from drying out.) Cubes without the seeds will last one to two days in a resealable container in the refrigerator.
Is it OK to eat cantaloupe everyday?
Most adults need to eat anywhere from one to two cups of fruit per day and cantaloupe is a stellar choice: not only is it chock full of water, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, says Amy Shapiro, RD, CDN, and founder of Real Nutrition, you don’t even need to be wary of the sugar found in fresh fruit.
How do you sweeten cantaloupe?
How Do You Sweeten a Cantaloupe? If your cantaloupe is not harvested in the right season, chances are it won’t be sweet. So you can sprinkle sugar or sugar substitute onto the cantaloupe and toss it gently until it has been evenly distributed.
Can you eat too much cantaloupe?
If there is too much potassium to process at once, you can develop a condition known as hyperkalemia. Having too much potassium in your blood increases your risk of a heart attack. Eating too much cantaloupe may also be hard on your intestines and cause diarrhea, stomach cramps, and other digestive problems.