3 Simple Tips for Picking Ripe Cantaloupe
- LOOK – Cantaloupe should be a nice golden yellow color. Don’t pick cantaloupe that are greenish.
- FEEL – You should be able to feel the edges of the outer skin.
- SMELL – Place the flower end or the “button” of the cantaloupe just under your nose and take a whiff.
How do you pick out a good cantaloupe?
The best way to pick a cantaloupe is by smell. The fruit should have a sweet, slightly musky scent. A good cantaloupe feels heavy for its size, has a rind that resembles raised netting, and has a stem end that yields slightly when pressed with your thumb.
How do you know when to pick a ripe cantaloupe?
Cantaloupe: Color, Smell and a Slight Tug
The first signal that a cantaloupe (or a muskmelon) is getting ripe is the color under the netting of the fruit changes from green to tan. A ripe cantaloupe also tends to have a pleasant aroma. Finally, check the spot at top of the melon where it attaches to the vine.
What color is a ripe cantaloupe?
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.
Will cantaloupe ripen off the vine?
Some, like watermelon, do not continue to ripen once harvested. Therefore, flavor will not improve nor will they become sweeter—t is what it is at harvest. However, cantaloupe and similar fruit will continue to ripen after harvest.
How do you pick a melon?
Tips for Picking a Ripe Melon
- Pay Attention to Size and Weight. Whether it’s large or small, a ripe melon will feel heavy for its size.
- Check for Defects on the Rind. Turn the melon in your hands and carefully inspect the surface area.
- Look at the Color.
- “Knock” on the surface.
- Give it a Sniff.
Why is my cantaloupe crunchy?
If it feels hard, you should allow the melon to ripen at room temperature for another day or so. On the other hand, if the cantaloupe yields too much or feels mushy, the fruit is likely over-ripe. Similarly, you should pick up the melon as you check it over, as well.
How long does cantaloupe take to ripen?
Cantaloupe matures in about 80 to 90 days. Melons are normally ready to harvest when they start turning yellow on the bottom and the stem starts turning brown.
Why do cantaloupes turn yellow?
Manganese Toxicity and Deficiency
Cantaloupe plants only need a small amount of this micronutrient, 20-100 ppm to be exact. Despite what little is needed by the plant, manganese deficiency can also occur, creating intervenal chlorosis, or yellowing.
What does a yellow cantaloupe mean?
Meanwhile, yellow is a sign indicating that cantaloupes are ripe. However, you may notice that some melons’ rind remains green after ripen, or even after being spoiled. This is more often related to the U.S cantaloupe since some new species have been created to prevent discoloration.
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.
Should cantaloupe be green or yellow?
The first thing you want to look for is the general color. It shouldn’t be green anymore – especially a dark green color. It should be a lighter green, turning yellow. The most important thing to look for is to look at the stem end.
What color should a cantaloupe?
There should not be a stem attached, instead, there should be a slight cavity at the end of the melon. The melon should have course netting on the rind with a light green, gray, buff or yellow coloring between the netting. If the melon is overripe, you will see a softening of the entire rind and soft watery flesh.
Why are my cantaloupes not sweet?
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.
How do you make cantaloupe sweeter?
Heat brings out melons’ sweetness, so make sure to plant them in a location that warms up early in spring and stays hot through the end of September. The south side of a fence or wall is ideal as the structure will absorb heat and light from the sun and reflect it back onto the melons.
How can you tell if a melon is good?
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.
Why does my cantaloupe taste like vinegar?
If your cantaloupe is fermenting, you may experience a slight fizziness in your mouth and an astringent, sour smell and taste. Due to the sugars in cantaloupe, yeasts can cause it to ferment. It is sadly usually best to instead toss a fermented cantaloupe.
What does an 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.
Can dogs eat cantaloupe?
So, can dogs eat cantaloupe? Yes, in moderation. The tasty melon is safe for pups and can be a healthy alternative to traditional treats, especially if your dog is overweight. Even the seeds are harmless, but you should avoid feeding them to your dog intentionally, as they can be a choking hazard.
How many cantaloupes will one plant produce?
Each plant can produce anywhere from four to eight delicious melons.
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.