Should watermelon have a spot or not? Should you be knocking on the watermelon and hearing a certain sound? Should it smell a certain way? There’s lots of wives tales surrounding how to pick a good watermelon, so let’s get down to the bottom of it! This post is all about how to select, store and prepare watermelons, straight from two California watermelon growers.
(This post is an excerpt from The Produce Nerd’s Grocery Guide, with input provided by Chad Crivelli from Crivelli Farms and Derek Azevedo from Bowles Farming Company. You can learn more about the Grocery Guide, which covers this information for 55 different produce items, with input from 26 crop-specific companies HERE.)
What to look for when picking the best quality watermelons?
- Crivelli Farms: In the store, most watermelons are all generally of good quality. they are picked and boxed in the field by an extremely gifted crew. I don’t know how they do it, but there are a select group of people who can judge these melons in the field in an instant. They go through the field and cut the melons so the crew can come behind and pick them up and box them. When the watermelon is growing on the vine, it has a small curly leaf that dries. When dry, that means that the watermelon is ripe and sweet. Once in the store, it is hard to choose sweeter ones. The most important thing is to look for California grown!! The full-sized melons generally are sweeter than the minis. Most will have white or yellow bellies. This is normal and fine. It is from the sun not contacting the bottom part that is laying on the ground. A watermelon’s rind is thicker than most other melons. Because of this, they can handle small scratches and rub marks. They don’t bruise, but they would crack if they were hit hard enough.
- Bowles Farming Company: I always try to buy California-grown watermelons. Particularly from the end of June through October. A good California Watermelon is hard to beat! Watermelons are somewhat difficult to determine ripeness. Some of the most skilled artisans on our farm are the “cutters” or individuals that have developed the skills to properly identify which watermelons to “cut” for harvest versus leave on the vine for a few extra days to mature. I look for a watermelon with a darker rind and clearly defined white stripes, accompanied by a good yellow ground spot. Most importantly, the best watermelons feel heavy for their size when you pick them up.
Common issues to avoid when selecting watermelons?
- Crivelli Farms: Watermelons shouldn’t have soft spots or dark spots.
Are there any new cultivars that are being grown that might have different quality indicators or common issues to look out for?
- Crivelli Farms: There are several new varieties in the works, most of which are improvements on sugar content. We’ll see how they work out.
What is the best way to store watermelons at home?
- Crivelli Farms: Once home, it should be stored on the counter. Once cut, cover the unused portion in saran wrap and refrigerate.
What is your favorite way to eat and prepare watermelons?
- Crivelli Farms: My favorite way to eat a watermelon is in the field, sprinkled with chili powder that I carry in my truck.
- Bowles Farming Company: I personally buy Mini or Personal Watermelons. I would rather buy two mini’s and eat one and save the second one than try to store 1/2 of a 15lb watermelon in my refrigerator, plus my kids like the size of the smaller slices. One creative way I like to serve watermelon is to throw a few slices on the BBQ grill for a few minutes to get a quick sear on the sides. It slightly caramelizes the sugar, which gives a unique flavor, plus it makes a cool side when garnished with a bit of mint or cilantro.
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