Why Is My Cantaloupe White Inside?

The flesh becomes darker orange and mushy, too. Mold inside cantaloupe or growing on its rind is another sure sign that you should throw out the fruit. Fungal growth can take on a variety of appearances, but it’s often white or darkly colored. Sometimes it’s fuzzy.

Why is my cantaloupe white?

Unlike rind, the flesh of cantaloupe is similar in most species, which means, no matter the one you’re handing is from North America or Europe, its flesh should be orange. The unripe cantaloupe flesh has a pale green or white color.

How do you know if a cantaloupe is bad on the inside?

Feel light, hollow, or super soft.
If the melon seems empty inside or the rind is soft, it’s lost most of its water and it’s no good.

What color should cantaloupe be inside?

The cantaloupe should either be completely yellow, tan, sandy gold, or cream-colored, without any green or gray areas. Its webbing should be slightly raised.

How can you tell if cantaloupe is moldy?

As for the inside of the fruit, when the flesh appears to look dark orange or brown, it’s probably past its prime. If there’s mold on the inside, it should also be tossed. This growth will appear fuzzy in texture and either white or dark in color (via The Whole Portion).

How can you tell if a melon has gone bad?

How to tell if cut cantaloupe is bad or spoiled? The best way is to smell and look at the cut cantaloupe: discard any cantaloupe that has an off smell or appearance; if mold appears, discard the cut cantaloupe.

Can overripe cantaloupe make you sick?

Overripe fruits are prone to developing moldy patches. But that doesn’t mean you can’t eat them or that they will make you sick if you do. According to the Food and Drug Administration, it’s fine to eat fruit with moldy patches as long as you remove the affected area.

Can you get listeria from cantaloupe?

Listeria can get in cantaloupe
Cantaloupes may look innocent, but they are the source of the most deadly foodborne illness outbreaks in recent years. In 2011, a listeria outbreak in cantaloupes caused foodborne illness in 147 people and killed more than 30. Shockwaves from the outbreak are still felt today.

What does spoiled cantaloupe taste like?

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.

Can cantaloupe make you sick?

Melons and food poisoning
While melons do not naturally contain bacteria that can make you sick, their outer skin or rind can become contaminated because melons are grown close to the ground. Eating melons that have been contaminated with harmful bacteria can make you sick.

What is the best way to tell if a cantaloupe is ripe?

Cantaloupe is a seasonal fruit and warm spring weather brings the right time to start purchasing cantaloupe. To select a ripe cantaloupe, look for tan cantaloupe with light green lines across it, and avoid choosing melons with brown or soft spots. The melon should be firm but not too soft or too hard.

What color is 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.

How can you tell if cantaloupe is good?

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.

Is it safe to eat moldy cantaloupe?

Most likely the edible flesh is unaffected if the mold is truly superficial, however, all but the dedicated or bargain-conscious consumers are unlikely to pick up and then purchase an even partially moldy melon.

Can you cut mold off cantaloupe?

Suslow and Patricio both warn that any nicks or cuts in the rind or any mold on the rind or at the blossom end can be a pathway that pathogens can use to get into the flesh of the melon. Once you’ve brought the melon home, don’t wash it until you’re ready to eat it, Suslow said.

How long is cantaloupe good in fridge?

seven to 10 days
A whole, uncut cantaloupe or honeydew melon should last for seven to 10 days in the refrigerator. A whole, uncut watermelon is even sturdier: It should be good for two weeks.

Why is my watermelon white inside?

Cross-Pollination
If you buy seed from an unreliable nursery, or are new to saving your own seeds, you may mistakenly grow the offspring of a red-fleshed watermelon that has cross-pollinated with a citron melon — the watermelon with the hard, white flesh that cannot be eaten fresh.

What happens if you eat gone off melon?

Consuming spoiled watermelon can quickly lead to food poisoning. The first signs that something is wrong will appear within a few hours and include: Fatigue and headache. Nausea and vomiting.

Should you put cantaloupe in the refrigerator?

If buying fresh-cut cantaloupe, be sure it is refrigerated or surrounded by ice. After purchase, refrigerate cantaloupes promptly. Wash hands with hot, soapy water before and after handling fresh cantaloupes. Scrub whole cantaloupes by using a clean produce brush and cool tap water immediately before eating.

What happens if I eat spoiled cantaloupe?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a person infected with the bacteria usually has a fever and muscle aches, which are often preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. Additional symptoms can be a headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions.

How does Salmonella get into cantaloupe?

Cantaloupe is particularly susceptible to contamination because it grows on the ground, where it can come into contact with bacteria from animal feces harbored in soil or rainwater runoff. However, like any fruit or vegetable, it can also pick up pathogens during harvest, handling or preparation.