How to Choose the Perfect Cantaloupe
Picking the right cantaloupe can be as easy as listening to it. When the fruit is ripe, it will offer a distinct sound that is not sticky or dull. Once you learn this technique, you won't forget it and it will prove incredibly useful during your next trip to the grocery store or a visit to a local market.
Identifying a Ripe Cantaloupe
Most cantaloupes ripen fully when they change color from green to a tan or yellowish-gray, visible between the netting on the outer skin. A ripe melon will also give off a sweet and pleasant aroma. To avoid overripe cantaloupes, examine their rind. If it is quite yellow and soft, it may have gone past its peak ripeness.
Signs of Ripeness
When your cantaloupes turn orange-yellow, emit a strong cantaloupe scent, and the vine easily releases the melon, it is a sign of ripeness. The taste will certainly be worth the wait, and you will find grocery store cantaloupes pale in comparison once you enjoy the ones you grow at home.
Understanding the Ripening Process
Young cantaloupes are typically greenish in color and firm, but as the plant matures and the cantaloupes ripen, you'll notice changes in the vine's appearance, and the fruits themselves will transition from green to more orange or yellow. The sweeter the fruit, the more yellow it will be. Be cautious of overly ripe cantaloupes, which often have soft ends. When you pick up a ripe cantaloupe, you should be able to smell the fruit even through its rind, and the side in contact with the ground will be more yellow than the rest of the fruit. If you're uncertain, it's better to choose a slightly underripe cantaloupe than one that is overripe. Once picked, cantaloupes will continue to ripen if stored properly, provided they were not picked too young, in which case they will likely rot. Overripe cantaloupes cannot be reversed.
By paying attention to the appearance of the plant, the fruit itself, its texture, and its aroma, you can select the best cantaloupe. Imagine the perfect cantaloupe you’ve had from a supermarket or other source, and strive to replicate that in your homegrown ones, just a few days earlier to be safe.
Good luck, and enjoy!