Excess water can cause flavor to be bland. The two key times when too much water makes the most difference is when the fruits just start forming and about 1 week before ripening. Like most crops, cantaloupes grow and taste best when they get a consistent supply of dampness — not too much, not too little.
What do I do if my cantaloupe isn’t sweet?
He’d rub some salt across his slice of melon with his forefinger. Initially, I was doubtful, but after trying it out, I saw that he was onto something. The salt brings out what little flavor a bad melon has and compensates for any lack of sweetness. It works, truly—trust me.
Why is my cantaloupe ripe but not sweet?
So if farmers pick their cantaloupes too soon, they won’t have that sweet, summery flavor you expect. But if the melons are being picked when they are ripe and ready, then the issue might be the soil or watering conditions. It’s those last two factors that can affect an entire crop should one of them go wrong.
How do you get the sweetest cantaloupe?
Any bit of a stem attached means that the farmer cut off the melon too soon. Smell it. 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.
Will cantaloupe sweeten after picking?
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. Once into the ripening process, fruit will gain sugar, flavor will improve and flesh soften.
Why do my cantaloupe taste sour?
If you bite into a sour cantaloupe, it is usually spoiling, fermenting, or unripe. 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.
Why is my melon tasteless?
Blame it on the weather when your muskmelon harvest is small or the fruit is tasteless. You’ll notice muskmelons lack the usual sweet flavor when the weather is dark and cloudy. Overwatering or excess rainfall as the melons ripen also dilutes the sweet flavor. Poor pollination explains the lack of fruit.
Does cantaloupe continue to ripen after picked?
Unlike other fruits, cantaloupes will not ripen once picked from the vine. At the grocery store, then, what you see is what you get: The fruit will not ripen very much once left on the counter at home, so it’s important to pick a good cantaloupe.
How do you tell if a cantaloupe is ripe at the store?
If you’re trying to buy a ripe cantaloupe at the grocery store, look for the full netting, the color of the rind, and a sweet scent. The rind should still be firm, and there should be no soft spots, bruises, or discoloration.
Which cantaloupe is the sweetest?
The sweetest cantaloupe varieties are ‘Charentais’ and ‘Sugar Cube’. The scrumptious sweetness and smooth dense texture of these French-style melons will rival any dessert.
How do you grow a big sweet cantaloupe?
Plant cantaloupe seeds in full sun in well-drained soil. They’ll need about 85 days to mature, but don’t rush things. Sow seeds only when temperatures reliably stay above 50°F to 60°F. Plant in groups of two or three seeds spaced 2 feet apart.
What can I do with tasteless melon?
What to do? Just pretend it’s a cucumber and cut pieces to add to a Greek salad. Purée the flesh with buttermilk, dill and some ice water for a refreshing cold soup. Or lightly smash chunks and dress them with chile crisp to taste, a splash of lime, salt and pepper, and chopped cilantro.
Can you eat an unripe cantaloupe?
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.
How long does it take for a cantaloupe to ripen?
about 80 to 90 days
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.
How do you prune a cantaloupe?
Using pruning shears, cut lateral vines that grow from the primary up to the eighth leaf node. Take care not to damage the main stem when cutting back the cantaloupe plants. Leave 1-2 lateral vines untouched. Once the melons begin to form, remove all but a single fruit per vine.
What happens if I eat sour cantaloupe?
The bacteria have a long incubation period, which means that it may take as long as four weeks for people who have eaten contaminated cantaloupe to feel ill. Listeriosis typically causes fever and muscle aches, sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms.
Why is my melon bitter?
In the wild, watermelons (shown), cucumbers, and muskmelons produce bitter cucurbitacins to defend against predators. When cucumbers, muskmelons, and watermelons grow in the wild, their fruit contains bitter cucurbitacin molecules, a family of highly oxygenated tetracyclic triterpenes that deter pests from foraging.
Why does my cantaloupe taste like nail polish remover?
These fruits, if grown naturally, are not good stored. You can taste the stored ones straight away, they either have no flavour or they develop an acetone taste akin to nail varnish.
Why does my cantaloupe taste bland?
Excess water can cause flavor to be bland. The two key times when too much water makes the most difference is when the fruits just start forming and about 1 week before ripening. Like most crops, cantaloupes grow and taste best when they get a consistent supply of dampness — not too much, not too little.
How do you make cantaloupe sweeter after cutting?
To speed up the ripening of your cantaloupe in a brown paper bag, make sure to place a banana, apple, or other ethylene-producing fruit in the bag along with your cantaloupe.
Should whole cantaloupe be refrigerated?
Keep whole melons like watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew on the counter for best flavor. USDA research found that storage at room temp may even help keep the antioxidants better intact. Once cut, store in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.