Cantaloupe (Cucumis melo, Reticulatus) Fruit is round to oval, sometimes ribbed, sometimes with a netted surface and has interior seed cavity. The edible flesh is orange. Flowers are bright yellow.
How can you tell a cantaloupe?
The melon should be firm but not too soft or too hard. Smell the melon at the stem core (where it was cut) and it should have a good cantaloupe smell; those without smell are under-ripe, and those with unpleasing odor are over-ripe.
How can you tell a cantaloupe or a melon is ripe?
Cantaloupe: Color, Smell and a Slight Tug
The first signal that a cantaloupe (or a muskmelon) is getting ripe is the color under the netting of the fruit changes from green to tan. A ripe cantaloupe also tends to have a pleasant aroma. Finally, check the spot at top of the melon where it attaches to the vine.
What does a true cantaloupe look like?
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 are the two types of cantaloupe?
Let’s take a brief look at the different cantaloupe types out there!
- North American Cantaloupe.
- European Cantaloupe.
- Asian Cantaloupe.
- The Aphrodite Cantaloupe.
- The Sugar Cube Cantaloupe.
- The Athena Cantaloupe.
- The Charentais Cantaloupe.
- The Galia Cantaloupe.
Do cantaloupes ripen off the vine?
Do Cantaloupes Ripen After Picking? 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.
How do you pick out a ripe cantaloupe?
The best way to pick a cantaloupe is by smell. The fruit should have a sweet, slightly musky scent. A good cantaloupe feels heavy for its size, has a rind that resembles raised netting, and has a stem end that yields slightly when pressed with your thumb.
Does cantaloupe ripen in the refrigerator?
A: You can ripen cantaloupe at room temperature, but it will go quickly from ripe to overripe. Melon stored in the fridge can develop a rubbery texture and lose a lot of flavor quickly, so keep them at room temperature.
Can you eat unripe cantaloupe?
Eating it unripe isn’t unsafe, but its quality won’t be that great. Once the fruit is ripe, you have a choice to make. Leaving it on the counter is okay if you know you’re going to eat it within a couple of days. Plus, as melons tend to be quite large, it doesn’t take up precious space in the fridge.
How long does cantaloupe take to ripen?
Cantaloupe matures in about 80 to 90 days. Melons are normally ready to harvest when they start turning yellow on the bottom and the stem starts turning brown.
What are the different types of cantaloupe?
MuskmelonLower classifications
What is the difference between a melon and a cantaloupe?
Honeydew melon and cantaloupe are two members of the same species, Cucumis melo (1). Yet, though they’re closely related, they’re two distinctive fruits. They’re similarly sweet, but honeydew melon has a smooth, light-colored rind and green flesh, while cantaloupe has a darker, netted rind and orange flesh (1, 2 ).
What’s the difference between a cantaloupe and a Tuscan cantaloupe?
Tuscan Style® cantaloupes have a rich, subtly earthy, and exceptionally sweet flavor, containing 14 to 16 Brix sugar levels. This Brix content is higher than traditional cantaloupes, which commonly have around 9 to 10 Brix.
What is the most popular 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.
What is the fruit that looks like cantaloupe?
The Hami melon originated in Hami, Xinjiang, China. It belongs to the muskmelon family and looks very similar to a cantaloupe although it is oblong instead of spherical. It is sometimes referred to as a Chinese Hami Melon or Snow Melon. There are more than 100 cultivated varieties that range from white to yellow.
What is the best cantaloupe?
Go for the gold.
The rind of a ripe cantaloupe should have a gold or orange tint with well-developed netting. If you see a lot of dark green and the net-like textured part appears to be rather thin, the cantaloupe is not ripe. Also examine the spot that shows where the melon was resting on the ground.
How do you tell if a cantaloupe is ripe from the outside?
A ripe cantaloupe should have a beige webbing pattern. That netting should look like raised ridges. And underneath, the cantaloupe should either be cream-colored, sandy gold, yellow, or tan. If the rind is still green or grey, it’s not ripe enough.
Why are my cantaloupes not sweet?
Cantaloupe (Cucumis melo) flavor depends upon environmental conditions. High rainfall or excessive irrigation as the cantaloupes near maturity will adversely affect fruit flavor. Also, diseases which reduce the vigor of the plant and the leaves’ ability to produce sugar will affect fruit flavor.
Should whole cantaloupe be refrigerated?
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.
What color is a ripe cantaloupe?
The color of your ideal ripe cantaloupe should be a beige or sandy-gold. Try your best to stay away from those that are still green. This means they are unripe and not ready to consume.
Do cantaloupes ripen after being picked?
What is the best way to store cantaloupes at home? Melons don’t ripen once they are picked. Instead, they begin to break down and soften. Peak maturity is the day they are picked, so there is no need to wait to eat the fruit.