How to Cut Honeydew
- Use a Hardy Slicer to trim off the ends of the honeydew.
- Stand the melon up on one end and trim away the rind.
- Cut the honeydew in half lengthwise.
- Use a spoon to scrape the seeds out from the center of each half.
- Lay the halves flat on the cutting board and cut in half to create quarters.
How do you soften a honeydew melon?
She recommends that you ripen them faster in a perforated paper bag. When ripe, refrigerate. Cut melons should be wrapped in plastic to contain the odor. Do not remove the seeds until ready to eat because the seeds keep the flesh from drying out.
Will a honeydew ripen on the counter?
Should honeydew be stored in the refrigerator? Actually, yes! Since it won’t ripen on your counter, you can store honeydew melon in the fridge when you bring it home. Just make sure to wash the rind really well before cutting it up, since honeydew grows on the ground (and you don’t want to eat that dirt).
Why is my honeydew melon hard?
Give it a feel.
Find the blossom end, which is opposite the end where it was attached to the vine. Give it a press with your thumb and it should feel slightly springy with a slight give. If it’s rock hard, it’s underripe, and if it’s total mush, it’s definitely past its prime.
Can you ripen a melon in the microwave?
Exposing unripe fruit to ripe fruit increases the unripe fruit’s exposure to ethylene gas to speed up the process. Combining ethylene gas with the heat from a microwave helps kickstart the process.
How do you ripen a honeydew melon once cut?
Unfortunately, melons don’t ripen after they’re harvested, so what you buy is what you get. But if you slice into a honeydew and it happens to be underripe, don’t despair. You can try blending it into smoothies or making a gazpacho, or tossing slices on the grill to bring out some of its sweetness.
How do you tell when a honeydew is ripe?
When ripe, the color of the rind should be a creamy yellow rather than green, and the rind will become smooth and waxy rather than dusky. If you press on the bottom of a ripe honeydew (the opposite end from where it’s attached to the vine), it should feel slightly soft or at least a little springy.
How do you know if a honeydew melon is ripe?
The best indicator of ripeness is aroma. If the honeydew’s sweet, lightly floral fragrance is noticeable, it’s probably ready to cut and eat. The outside of the melon should feel firm but give slightly to pressure, particularly on the end where the stem was. If it feels rock-hard, give it a little more time.
What can I do with underripe melon?
Uses for an Unripe Cantaloupe
- Turning it into a soup — with mangos, or a white gazpacho with grapes and almonds.
- Making a melon jam or chutney.
- Using it as a thick base for a smoothie, or blending it with lime juice and honey for cantaloupe agua fresca.
How do you prepare honeydew melon?
To prepare a honeydew melon, remove the ends with a knife and halve the melon. Remove the seeds with a spoon and cut the melon into wedges. Hold each wedge, remove melon skin from the flesh, and cut it into cubes. Serve on a plate.
How long can honeydew last in fridge?
A whole, uncut cantaloupe or honeydew melon should last for seven to 10 days in the refrigerator.
Is honeydew supposed to be crunchy?
Pleasingly soft when ripe, honeydew melon tastes a lot like a sweet, slightly musky cucumber with nectarous juice. As honeydew melons ripen, their fragrance becomes stronger and the fruit becomes sweeter. Raw honeydew melon seeds are inedible, but toasting them with a dash of salt makes for a fresh, crunchy snack!
How long does it take for a honeydew melon to ripen?
Tip. Honeydew melons mature in 65 to 100 days, depending on the cultivar.
Do melons ripen in the fridge?
Melons ripen and sweeten when left out of the fridge. Plus, the fridge can deplete the nutritional value in certain melons. Once cut open, you should refrigerate your melons. Honeydew, however, won’t ripen inside or outside of the fridge; it stops ripening once picked.
How do you sweeten honeydew?
Toss your cut honeydew melon with fresh lemon or lime juice (start with just a squeeze of juice, and add more if necessary). This brings out the natural flavor of most room-temperature melons. Toss the melon pieces with a little bit of sugar or honey, and let the pieces sit at room temperature for a few minutes.
Does a brown paper bag ripen fruit?
Placing unripe fruit into a brown paper bag and closing it actually does help the fruit to ripen faster. As the fruit ripens, a hormone known as ethylene is produced and emitted as a gas. The bag traps the ethylene around the fruit while still allowing air to reach it.
How do you ripen fruit without a paper bag?
Grab a jar of rice instead! Much like the brown bag, the rice traps the ethylene gas and helps the fruit ripen faster. This method is most popular for ripening hard mangos. Fully submerge your mango in the rice and check every six to twelve hours!
Is it safe to eat unripe honeydew melon?
An immature honeydew melon will remain hard, bland, and, frankly, inedible, so it’s vital they are picked once they’ve moved over to maturity. The confusion between mature and immature melons comes about because mature honeydews can still be unripe.
How long does cut honeydew melon last in the fridge?
four days
Whole honeydew melon keeps quality for about a week on the counter and two to three weeks in the fridge. Cut, sliced, or pureed honeydew lasts up to four days in the fridge. Honeydews retain quality much longer if you store them in the fridge than if they sit at room temperature.
Should melons be refrigerated?
Melon: Melons, including watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew, should be kept at room temperature until you cut into them to ensure they have the best flavor. Once they’ve been cut into, store them in the refrigerator and be sure to eat within four days.
How do you pick a ripe honeydew in the grocery store?
Honeydew
- Don’t pick a green honeydew; pick a white or yellow one.
- Feel the outside of the smooth rind.
- The blossom end (opposite of the stem) should give a bit when light pressure is applied.
- The whole melon should have a strong, sweet smell.