When choosing a ripe cantaloupe, look for one that’s symmetrical and feels slightly heavy. The color should be a creamy, light yellow-orange with little to no green. Ripe cantaloupe should smell sweet and a little musky.
What is a true cantaloupe?
Dubbed as the ‘true cantaloupe,’ European cantaloupes or Cucumis Melo Cantalupensis are characterized by their gray-green and tough rinds. The rinds are slightly netted or, more often, not netted at all. Their exteriors are smooth, light colors with green stripes and no spider-web-like crisscross patterns.
How do you tell if it’s a good cantaloupe?
Cantaloupe is a seasonal fruit and warm spring weather brings the right time to start purchasing cantaloupe. 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.
What does a fully ripe cantaloupe look like?
In fact, most cantaloupes are ready to be picked once they’re fully ripened, changing from green to a tan or yellowish-gray color between the netting. A ripe melon will also exhibit a sweet and pleasant aroma. One way to tell if a melon is overripe is by looking at the rind, which will appear quite yellow and soft.
Are there different types of cantaloupes?
How Many Cantaloupe Types Are There?
- North American Cantaloupe.
- European Cantaloupe.
- Asian Cantaloupe.
- The Aphrodite Cantaloupe.
- The Sugar Cube Cantaloupe.
- The Athena Cantaloupe.
- The Charentais Cantaloupe.
- The Galia Cantaloupe.
What’s the difference between a melon and a cantaloupe?
There is a taste difference in the two. Honeydew melon is slightly sweeter with a firm, green flesh, while cantaloupe has softer, orange flesh.
What looks like a cantaloupe but is green?
Galia. A cross between a honeydew and a cantaloupe, a Galia melon’s rind is netted like a cantaloupe, but the smooth lime-green flesh is like a honeydew. Unlike many other melons, the tenderness of the stem end is not a good indicator of ripeness. Instead, use your nose to smell for its distinct tropical aroma.
How do you tell if a cantaloupe is ripe at the store?
If you’re trying to buy a ripe cantaloupe at the grocery store, look for the full netting, the color of the rind, and a sweet scent. The rind should still be firm, and there should be no soft spots, bruises, or discoloration.
How long does it take for a cantaloupe to ripen on the counter?
Leave the melon out at room temperature until ripe.
Usually, the process will only take about two days, if not quicker. Make sure that the place you store the melon is neither excessively cold or excessively hot. You should also avoid areas that are heavy in moisture or particularly drafty.
Does cantaloupe continue to ripen after picked?
However, cantaloupe and similar fruit will continue to ripen after harvest. Once into the ripening process, fruit will gain sugar, flavor will improve and flesh soften.
How many cantaloupes will one plant produce?
Each plant can produce anywhere from four to eight delicious melons.
Is there such a thing as a white cantaloupe?
The unripe cantaloupe flesh has a pale green or white color. These melons offer a quite bland flavor with stiff texture as well as the lack of fragrance – which is edible but tastes no more than a vegetable.
Why are my homegrown cantaloupes not sweet?
According to Penn Live, cantaloupes grow without ripening much at all until they are almost ready to pick. The melons then ripen quite quickly on the vine. So if farmers pick their cantaloupes too soon, they won’t have that sweet, summery flavor you expect.
What is the best type of cantaloupe?
11 of the Best Cantaloupe Cultivars
- Charentais.
- El Gordo Hybrid.
- Hearts of Gold.
- Olympic Express Hybrid.
- Planters Jumbo.
- Sarah’s Choice Hybrid.
- Top Mark.
- Zena.
Will cantaloupe raise your blood sugar?
The high amount of liquid content gives cantaloupes a low glycemic load score of 4. That means your body digests it slowly and it won’t make your blood sugar spike. So it’s a great pick for people with diabetes.
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.
Is there a Mushmelon?
Muskmelon, also known as Cucumis melo, is a species of melon that belongs to the gourd family. It’s closely related to other plants like squash, pumpkin, zucchini, and watermelon ( 1 ). Muskmelon has ribbed, netted or smooth skin and a sweet, or bland flavor with or without a musky aroma.
What is the melon that looks like a cantaloupe?
Galia. Description: The galia melon is a true cross-breed. It resembles a large orange or lemon, has the texture of a cantaloupe, and possesses the flesh of a honeydew. The melon is a cross between two other muskmelon cultivars.
What type of cantaloupe is the sweetest?
The sweetest cantaloupe varieties are ‘Charentais’ and ‘Sugar Cube’. The scrumptious sweetness and smooth dense texture of these French-style melons will rival any dessert.
What Colour is a cantaloupe melon inside?
Cantaloupe Melon
Cantaloupes have orange coloured flesh and are deliciously sweet and juicy.
Will melon ripen after cut?
Will a honeydew melon ripen once it’s cut? Nope. Unfortunately, melons don’t ripen after they’re harvested, so what you buy is what you get.