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. This may come as exciting news for those who love watermelon for its sweet, juicy flavor.
What does it mean if a watermelon is split inside?
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. Reddit. “Hollow heart” develops when there is poor pollination during the growth process that creates cracks inside of the watermelon.
Can you get sick from eating spoiled 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. Melons can become contaminated in the field by: soil.
When should you not eat watermelon?
If you take a bite and the fruit is sour or fizzy, spit it out and chuck the rest. A good rule of thumb is to eat pre-cut watermelon by the expiration date, or at the most, within five days of buying the fruit.
What happens when a watermelon cracks?
Cracked Watermelon Fruit
Watermelon splitting occurs as a result of excessive water accumulating too quickly in the fruit.
Can you eat watermelon with mosaic virus?
Are squash and melons affected by mosaic virus safe to eat? “Yes,” says Nebraska Food Safety Educator Carol Larvick, citing information from Minnesota Extension. “These viruses are specific to plants and do not harm humans.
Is it OK to eat watermelon with hollow heart?
As hollow heart isn’t a disease, but a problem in the pollinating process, if your watermelon is affected by the issue then it should still be safe to eat, according to the experts. In fact, they may taste even sweeter than an unblemished fruit because its natural sugars are concentrated along the cracks in the flesh.
Why did my watermelon split when cut?
Causes of Watermelon Splits
The most common cause for a bursting watermelon is erratic watering. Whether it’s due to poor irrigation practices or drought followed by heavy rain, excessive accumulation of water can put the fruit under a lot of pressure.
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.
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.
What should not be taken 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.
How long should I wait to drink water after eating watermelon?
People with stomach problems or sensitive stomachs should definitely avoid having water for at least 40-45 minutes after consuming watermelon. To be on the safer side, have water at least 20-30 minutes after having watermelon.
Can watermelon have worms?
Rindworm is a general term referring to a number of insect larvae that feed on the surface of watermelon fruit. The most common culprits are the larvae of the cucumber beetle or corn rootworm. These larvae live in the soil and feed on the underside of the developing melon.
Is cracked watermelon good?
The “broken heart,” “hollow heart” or cracked center that is sometimes found inside a watermelon is caused by weather conditions during the growing season. This flesh is still good and safe to eat. Some folks say watermelon with these internal cracks are sweeter due to concentration of the sugars.
Why did my melon split?
Melon splitting occurs when the vine takes up too much water too quickly. The fruit rind is unable to expand rapidly enough to accommodate the growing flesh. A heavy rainfall just before harvest is often responsible for this. Even if fruit does not split, heavy rain or irrigation will decrease its sweetness.
Is watermelon OK for dogs?
The answer is yes, with a couple of precautions. First, seeds could cause an intestinal blockage, so make sure you remove them. It’s also a good idea to remove the rind because it can cause gastrointestinal upset.
How do I know if a watermelon has a virus?
The symptoms of infection can vary depending on the species of the host, the cultivar, environmental factors and strains of the virus, but the main symptoms to look for are mottling and mosaic.
Is mosaic virus harmful to humans?
The mosaic virus is not harmful to humans or pets since the virus is specific to plants.
Can watermelon carry a viral infection?
A large number of viruses have been reported from time to time to infect this crop viz., watermelon mosaic virus-1 [1], watermelon mosaic virus-2 [2], zuchini yellow mosaic virus [3], cucumber mosaic virus [4-9], papaya ring spot virus [10], watermelon chlorotic stunt virus [11] melon necrotic spot virus [12],
Why is my watermelon hard and crunchy?
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.
Why do people put watermelon in water?
Watermelon fruits are still transpiring, but due to the nature of the fruit (thick rind, waxy surface); transpiration is lower than in leaf tissue, leading to water buildup in the fruit.