To select a ripe cantaloupe, look for tan cantaloupe with light green lines across it, and avoid choosing melons with brown or soft spots. The melon should be firm but not too soft or too hard.
Will a cantaloupe ripen on the counter?
For the consumer, this means watermelon and similar fruit can be eaten as soon as you bring it home no matter what time of the year it is. However, cantaloupe and similar melons bought in winter probably need to be held at room temperature for a few days or more to allow it to improve.
What does ripe cantaloupe look like?
Check the look and color.
The rind should be a sandy gold, not green, color. Avoid any cantaloupes with discoloration. The perfect cantaloupe should have some give when you press on the stem end. If it is rock-hard, it is an unripe melon.
How can you tell if a cantaloupe is sweet?
A ripe cantaloupe should have an overall sweet smell, but I get the absolute best melon by putting my nose close to the blossom end (the end opposite the stem). It should smell sweet and slightly musky. If it doesn’t smell good, I don’t buy it.
How long does it take for a store bought cantaloupe to ripen?
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.
Should ripe cantaloupe be refrigerated?
Whole melon should be left at room temperature until ripe. Once ripe, place whole, uncovered melons, in the refrigerator. To store melon halves, cover tightly with either ClingWrap or Press’n Seal® wrap. To store cut melon, seal in a GladWare® food protection container and refrigerate.
What happens if you pick a cantaloupe too early?
If you harvest too soon, you’ll be left with a hard, tasteless, or bitter melon, as the sugars haven’t had sufficient time to develop and fully sweeten. And once they’re picked, they won’t continue to ripen.
What month are cantaloupes ripe?
The Best Time To Purchase Cantaloupes
| States | Season | Peak Season |
|---|---|---|
| California (2) | April to December | May to October |
| Arizona (3) | May to November | June to October |
| Georgia (4) | May to October | June to August |
| Florida (5) | April to June | May |
What color are cantaloupe when 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.
Why are my cantaloupe 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.
Why is my cantaloupe tasteless?
According to Penn Live, cantaloupes grow without ripening much at all until they are almost ready to pick. The melons then ripen quite quickly on the vine. So if farmers pick their cantaloupes too soon, they won’t have that sweet, summery flavor you expect.
Will a cantaloupe ripen faster in a paper bag?
Set the cantaloupe in a paper bag once you want to speed up the ripening process. Keep it at room temperature during this process. Place ethylene-producing fruits such as an apple or banana in the paper bag with the cantaloupe to further speed up the ripening.
How do you sweeten an unripe cantaloupe?
If unripe, ripen at room temperature (uncut) up to about 4 or 5 days. Or use the quicker brown-bag method: Set the cantaloupe in a paper bag. Add an ethylene-producing fruit such as an apple or banana.
How long does a cantaloupe last on the counter?
Cantaloupe shelf life:
When the number is kept on the counter, it decreases to about four days. The freshness of the melon can be preserved by storing it in a cool, dark place. Keep the fruit whole to extend its shelf life. Cut fruit will keep in the fridge for three or four days.
What is the best way to keep cantaloupe fresh?
The optimal relative humidity is 95 to 100 percent, which prevents drying. If possible, place cantaloupe in the refrigerator crisper, where the humidity tends to be higher. Under these conditions, freshly harvested cantaloupe, picked at full slip, lasts about 5 to 15 days, depending on variety and growing conditions.
How long can a cantaloupe sit on the counter?
A whole cantaloupe keeps for about 5 to 7 days at room temperature and two to maybe three weeks in the fridge. If the fruit is not fully ripe, add an extra 5 to 10 days on the counter. Once you cut up the cantaloupe, it lasts about 3 to 4 days in the fridge.
Can you ripen a cantaloupe after you cut it in half?
Answer. 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.
Can you leave cantaloupe out to ripen?
How to Store. Let a not-quite-ready cantaloupe ripen at room temperature for up to two days (keeping it in a closed paper bag will speed up the process). Refrigerate a whole ripe melon for up to five days.
Why is my cantaloupe not orange?
The Color Depends On Ripeness
Though the European cantaloupe’s rind may look different, its flesh is also orange. When they’re raw, both kinds of cantaloupe have a green color. Meanwhile, yellow is a sign indicating that cantaloupes are ripe.
How do you sweeten a tasteless cantaloupe?
The salt brings out what little flavor a bad melon has and compensates for any lack of sweetness. It works, truly—trust me. Since, I’ve introduced this idea to the office, and it turns out there are even other ways to gussy up an otherwise drab melon. Some swear by a squeeze of fresh lemon or lime juice.
Does putting salt on cantaloupe make it sweeter?
In small doses, salt magnifies melons sweetness and enhances the flavor. Try it and see just how much better your melon tastes.