If the aroma isn’t sweet and pleasant, but rather sour or pungent, throw it out. Are cut up and sit in storage for too long or are moldy. If your cantaloupe half sits in the fridge for like a week, it has to go. Same thing if you can see any signs of mold in the container or bag.
How do you know if a cantaloupe is good or not?
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 if a cantaloupe is not ripe?
On an unripe cantaloupe, the stem end will be firmly attached and smooth at the point where it connects with the melon. As it gets riper, the stem end may rise off the fruit slightly. When the melon is ripe, the stem will separate easily from the melon. Many times the melon may detach from the vine on its own.
How long does it take for cantaloupe to go bad?
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 overripe cantaloupe make you sick?
There’s nothing wrong with eating overripe cantaloupe. It’s just as delicious as cantaloupe at its prime ripeness, just sweeter and muskier. Unless it’s spoiled—don’t eat cantaloupe that looks slimy or has dark spots spreading on it.
Should cantaloupe 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.
What color is a cantaloupe when it is ripe?
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.
What does cantaloupe look like when it’s ripe?
A ripe cantaloupe will have beige, tan, creamy yellow or golden rind. Green rind indicates that the fruit is unripe. The fruit will have a raised, textured webbing on its exterior. Don’t be concerned with discoloration – this is usually just the spot where the melon rested on the ground while being grown in the field.
What does a fully ripe cantaloupe look like?
In fact, most cantaloupes are ready to be picked once they’re fully ripened, changing from green to a tan or yellowish-gray color between the netting. A ripe melon will also exhibit a sweet and pleasant aroma. One way to tell if a melon is overripe is by looking at the rind, which will appear quite yellow and soft.
Will cantaloupe ripen after cut up?
While there isn’t a way to “ripen” a cantaloupe after it has been cut, you should know that cantaloupe farmers around the world have been working with plant breeders on new varieties that have a longer shelf life.
What does bad cantaloupe look like?
Bad Cantaloupe Symptoms and Signs
You might notice liquid seeping out through the rind, and the cantaloupe gives off an unpleasant odor. The flesh becomes darker orange and mushy, too. Mold inside cantaloupe or growing on its rind is another sure sign that you should throw out the fruit.
What does mold look like on cantaloupe?
Blackish to blackish-green mold, typically Alternaria spp, will invariably develop over time on cantaloupes, sometimes first observed at the stem scar where nutrients are exuded at the moment of “slip” or harvest.
How long can cantaloupe sit out uncut?
If melon pieces sit out at room temperature for longer than two hours, throw them out. If you have to wonder how long they’ve been out there, they’ve been out too long. Cantaloupes, watermelons and other melons are great, nutritious foods – but if they’re handled incorrectly, they can make you very sick!
Can cantaloupe give you salmonella?
Unlike other fruits, cantaloupe are not acidic and readily support the growth of pathogens once they are sliced open. Outbreaks of illness linked to melons contaminated with Salmonella are an unfortunate occurrence each year.
What are the first signs of listeria?
The symptoms vary with the infected person: Higher-risk people other than pregnant women: Symptoms can include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions. Pregnant women: Pregnant women typically experience only fever, and other non-specific symptoms like chills and headache.
What causes Salmonella in cantaloupe?
Still, you should take food safety precautions when preparing any produce—especially cantaloupe, because its rough rind can trap salmonella and some other types of harmful bacteria, according to the FDA.
Should you wash cantaloupe?
Foodborne illness prevention
Wash your cantaloupe: By scrubbing the exterior of the fruit with antibacterial soap, you can remove harmful bacteria from the rind before you cut into it. Washing the rind is a simple step, but it can make all the difference.
What does unripe cantaloupe look like?
The easiest indicator to assess is the cantaloupe’s look. If the fruit’s rind is green, that means that it’s unripe. A sweet and juicy cantaloupe will have a yellow, beige, or tan hue beneath its netted texture.
How long does it take for a cantaloupe to ripen on the counter?
Leave the melon out at room temperature until ripe.
Usually, the process will only take about two days, if not quicker. Make sure that the place you store the melon is neither excessively cold or excessively hot. You should also avoid areas that are heavy in moisture or particularly drafty.
How do you use 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. Grilling the melon with a touch of salt to bring out its sweetness, from AniQuadros.
Can you eat cantaloupe that is not ripe?
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.