How to Pick a Watermelon That's Perfectly Sweet and Juicy

You know summer has arrived with the season's first bite of watermelon. It's so disappointing, then, when that bite is dry, underripe, and lacking sweetness. No matter how you're using watermelon, eating it by the slice, making a stunning watermelon cake, or stirring up a refreshing watermelon sorbet; you want each fruit you bring home to be ripe and dripping with juice. But with a few tips and tricks from the National Watermelon Promotion Board and Lee Wroten, vice president of Global Produce Sales in Lakeland, Florida, you'll know how to pick a perfect watermelon that's brimming with sweetness and juice.

The next time you head to the grocery store or farmers market, keep the four S's in mind. They'll help you learn how to pick a ripe watermelon with the best flavor.

Meredith

How to Pick a Perfect Watermelon

These helpful tips will help you choose a ripe watermelon.

1. Sheen

"A watermelon tends to lose its natural sheen and color over time," Wroten says. Look for a fruit that's shiny and vibrant in color when picking a watermelon to enjoy this summer. If the skin appears dull or doesn't have much color, that's an indicator that the watermelon is a little past its prime and won't be as juicy as other fruits. A few scratches are ok, but avoid any melons that have bruises, dents, or any cuts that have punctured the rind.

2. Shading

Look for a creamy yellow spot on one side of the melon any time you want to pick a ripe watermelon. This is the side of the melon that was resting on the ground as it grew; the spot turns yellow as the watermelon ripens, so a sunny yellow shade is a sign of a juicy, ripe melon. If the spot is pale white, that means the watermelon was picked before it could fully ripen on the vine. The top should also be a bright green hue with well-defined stripes.

3. Sound

The knock test is a well-known trick for how to pick a good watermelon. It takes a little practice to master, but it can help you choose a juicy melon. Before taking a watermelon home, give it melon a pat and listen for a hollow, drumlike ring. A flat or dead thud can clue you in about bruising, overripeness, or a lack of juiciness.

4. Size

Because 92% of a watermelon is (appropriately) water, the fruit should feel heavy relative to its size. Lift up the melon: If it feels heavier than you expected and meets the other criteria above, proceed to the checkout line. If it seems light, keep looking to pick a juicy watermelon; the lack of weight means the watermelon may not be as juicy.

How to Prep and Store Watermelon

In addition to these four tips, as you learn how to pick the perfect watermelon, remember to avoid melons that are wet, dented, bruised, or cracked, just like you would for any other fruit. And while it may come as a surprise since watermelon has such a tough rind, wash your melon before cutting into it. Similar to avocados, if the outside of your watermelon isn't clean before making the first cut, your knife can transfer bacteria from the rind to the juicy fruit inside. A quick rinse under clean, running water with vinegar should be all you need to do.

Also, keep in mind that watermelons don't ripen any further after they're harvested, which is why it's so important to know how to pick a ripe watermelon when you're at the store. Once you've chosen a melon to bring home, refrigerate the whole fruit for up to four days to help it stay fresh. If you plan to use the watermelon soon, it can be stored on the counter or in the pantry for one to two days. After cutting up the melon, slices will keep in the fridge for up to three days as long as they're tightly wrapped or kept in a covered container.

Some of the same tips you'll use at the grocery store also apply to homegrown melons. So, once you know how to pick a sweet watermelon when you're shopping, maybe the next step is trying to grow your own at home! Setting up your own watermelon patch is simple (the main thing you need is plenty of sunlight)—then learn how to know when it's time to harvest them from the vine. No matter where you get your watermelons, there are plenty of cool, refreshing recipes to try, and even a few surprising ones, too.