To tell if a watermelon is bad, examine the outer rind for a consistent green or green-striped color. Dark-colored or moldy spots, which will look fuzzy and be black, white, or green, indicate the melon isn’t fresh.
How do you tell if a watermelon is bad?
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.
What color does watermelon turn when bad?
Look for the yellow spot
Look for a spot that’s yellow in color, which means it’s been ripening on the vine for a long time. A light-colored or white spot means the melon was picked too early. And too early means a fruit that’s fakakta.
Is white watermelon bad?
Farm it Yourself claims that a watermelon that’s white in the middle could be underripe, so you might want to be a little wary of your fruit. The nutrient lycopene produces the more familiar pink or reddish-colored flesh and is more present in these riper watermelons and other fruits.
Is dark red watermelon bad?
Red or Deep Pink Flesh
This will mean that your melon is ripe, sweet, and healthy. If the watermelon has a different color, then it has gone bad, and you should not eat it.
Can you get sick from eating bad watermelon?
Melons and food poisoning
Eating melons that have been contaminated with harmful bacteria can make you sick. Contaminated melons have been linked to cases of food poisoning caused by Salmonella bacteria.
What does an overripe watermelon look like?
An over-ripe melon will have paler pink flesh, more a shell pink than hot pink. The rind may be greener, and the outside will be more splotchy or discolored. If there are any dark blotches, consider the melon over-ripe and choose another one.
What color should watermelon be inside?
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. However, if the spot is smaller or looks more white than yellow, then the melon may not be as ripe.
Is it OK to eat light pink watermelon?
You can check the concentration of nitrates in a watermelon and avoid poisoning by placing a little piece of its pulp into clean water at room temperature. If the fruit is dangerous, the water will take on a bright pink color and you’re better off throwing the melon away.
How can you tell if a watermelon is good inside?
Look for an orange creamy field spot. The darker yellow field spot usually means it was on the vine longer and is full of flavor. If the field spot is white that’s a sign that the melon is not quite ripe.
Why is my watermelon all white inside?
White flesh in a watermelon can indicate that the watermelon is not yet ripe. These fruits take a long time to ripen and become red, so if you pick the watermelon too early, it will be white inside.
What does pale watermelon mean?
A white, pale green or nonexistent field spot is a sign that the watermelon did not have enough time to ripen and produce sugar, which will leave it flavorless.
What do you do with a white watermelon?
White Wonder watermelons can be cubed and tossed into green salads, mixed into fruit bowls, blended into smoothies, or pressed into juice for cocktails and sparkling beverages. The watermelon’s subtly sweet flavoring allows the variety to be used in most recipes calling for watermelon.
How long is watermelon good in 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.
Can watermelon go bad in the fridge?
A whole watermelon keeps for about a week at room temperature and up to two weeks in the refrigerator. Cut watermelon lasts between 3 and 5 days in the fridge. Make sure to wrap it tightly or place it in an airtight container, so it doesn’t dry out. Like other fruits, watermelon doesn’t last that long.
How long does it take for watermelon to go bad?
Watermelon will keep for 7-10 days at room temperature. After two days at 32°F, watermelons develop an off-flavor, become pitted and lose color. Freezing causes rind to break down and produces a mealy, mushy texture. Once a melon is cut, it should be wrapped and stored between 9-36°F.
Can watermelon give you salmonella?
A Salmonella outbreak in Norway with almost 20 people sick has been linked to watermelon. Folkehelseinstituttet (FHI) reported that of 13 ill people interviewed so far, all of them ate watermelon in the days before becoming sick.
How long is uncut watermelon good for?
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.
Can you get e coli from watermelon?
In most cases, the E-coli germs don’t do too much to the rind of the melon. It’s the cutting of the melon that can cause the problem. If you don’t properly wash the melon before you cut it, you might introduce E-coli to the inside of the melon.
Why does my watermelon look like raw meat?
In reality, what’s happened to this watermelon is a natural condition called “hollow heart.” That’s right. This piece of fruit literally looked exactly like that when it was cut open. “Hollow heart” develops when there is poor pollination during the growth process that creates cracks inside of the watermelon.
Why is my watermelon pink and not red?
But finding watermelons of different colors is totally natural, due to cross-breeding among different varieties. It’s the same reason why some watermelons are seedless while others aren’t. And it’s not like a yellow watermelon is somehow better than a pink one because of the color.