» Hollow heart of watermelon is caused by inadequate pollination of female flowers. » Watermelon varieties with dense fruit flesh are less susceptible to hollow heart. » Hollow heart is more common on fruit that is set early in the season.
Is a watermelon good if its hollow?
Hollow heart watermelon is totally fine to eat
According to Watermelon.org, internally cracked watermelons are safe to eat and may even taste sweeter than a regular watermelon since the melon’s sugars consolidate along the surface of the cracked flesh.
What does it mean if a watermelon is hollow?
Poor pollination is the primary reason causing hollowheart. Scientists were able to approve that seedless watermelons are more likely to develop hollowheart when the pollenizer plants (diploid watermelons) are located further away from the seedless plants.
How do you tell if a watermelon is rotten inside?
If the flesh of your watermelon is slimy, off-colored, foul-smelling, or growing something fuzzy, this means it has gone bad and should be thrown away (after being wrapped in layers of plastic bags to avoid stinking up the whole kitchen). These traits also apply to pre-cut and pre-packaged watermelon.
How can you tell if a watermelon is overripe?
Consumers who still want to thump the watermelon should listen closely when their finger flicks the fruit. “An unripe watermelon will ‘ping’ when thumped. An overripe watermelon will ‘thud. ‘ The one you want to buy is somewhere in between,” Egel said.
What should the inside of a watermelon look like?
Watermelon should have dark and light green alternating colors on the outside and a dark pink reddish inside when it is fresh. If the inside color looks dull you may want to check the other signs as well. Any signs of mold inside or outside are indicators that you should not eat it.
Can you eat a watermelon with white heart?
If your watermelon flesh looks solid white instead of white-streaked, you can rule out white heart and consider whether you have planted the wrong watermelon seeds. But if streaks at least one-quarter inch are running through the colored flesh, white heart may be the issue.
What does under ripe watermelon look like?
Ground Spots and Sugar Spots
If you can’t find the ground spot, it’s likely that the melon was harvested too soon and didn’t have a chance to fully ripen. Or, if there is a ground spot but it’s more white than yellow, that is also an indication that it may have been picked from the vine too early.
Can you eat watermelon with swirls?
The patterns can be downright magical: Symmetrical swirls and curlicues amid gaps in the sweet, red flesh. To farmers, though, this kind of natural watermelon art—which goes by the name hollow heart—hurts. The fruit is perfectly edible, but a field with too many affected melons can be difficult to sell.
Will overripe watermelon make you sick?
Consuming spoiled watermelon can quickly lead to food poisoning. The first signs that something is wrong will appear within a few hours and include: Fatigue and headache. Nausea and vomiting.
Is overripe watermelon safe to eat?
Is Overripe Watermelon Safe to Eat? When a watermelon gets too ripe for its own good, the juicy crisp texture of the flesh can turn gritty and dry. If you cut it open, you might see the flesh actually pulling away from the seeds. If your watermelon is mealy, it’s still safe to eat.
How long will an uncut watermelon keep?
two weeks
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.
When should you not eat a watermelon?
The easiest way to tell is to check the skin for any soggy spots and patches of greenish-blue, black, or white mold. Even if the exterior looks OK, there’s a chance that the fruit could have gone bad. If the flesh has noticeable dark spots or is covered in anything slimey, you should toss it.
How do you tell if a watermelon is good?
If the watermelon is ripe, the field spot should be a large, yellow patch on one side of the melon. If it is ripe, the color should be a creamy, almost butter-like yellow. The bigger the yellow belly and the creamier the color means the more time the melon spent ripening on the vine.
How long can you keep watermelon in the fridge?
If you’re worried about your watermelon spoiling, you can pop the whole thing in the fridge; FreshDirect says that you can keep a whole watermelon in the fridge for up to three weeks, at best.
What should not be eaten with watermelon?
Avoid mixing your watermelons, muskmelons, cantaloupe and honeydews with other fruits. Try not to mix acidic fruits, such as grapefruits and strawberries, or sub-acidic foods such as apples, pomegranates and peaches, with sweet fruits, such as bananas and raisins for a better digestion.
Is watermelon OK for dogs?
Only give your dog seedless watermelon or pieces of watermelon from which you’ve removed all of the seeds. Scoop out the fruit with a melon baller or cut it into small bites, being careful to remove any part of the rind.
Do watermelons ripen after being picked?
Some, like watermelon, do not continue to ripen once harvested. Therefore, flavor will not improve nor will they become sweeter—t is what it is at harvest. However, cantaloupe and similar fruit will continue to ripen after harvest.
What to do if you pick a watermelon too early?
Watermelon does not ripen after harvesting, but it can get mushy in the refrigerator if it is a little overripe when picked, even before you cut into it. Store uncut watermelons in a warm, dry place for two to three weeks. Once you have cut the watermelon, you can store it in the refrigerator for two to three days.
How long does it take for a watermelon to ripen?
It’s typically a range like 80 to 120 days. If you’re growing watermelon from seedlings your bought, just note when flowers open. It typically takes about five calendar weeks for a watermelon to go from flower to ripe fruit.
Can you do anything with unripe watermelon?
I also found some suggestions for using unripe watermelon, many of them involving adding vodka. Several sites said you can use the rind to make preserves, whether the watermelon is ripe or not. Some said blend the watermelon and add simple syrup made with equal amounts of sugar and water for a refreshing drink.