Ripening After Picking Unlike cantaloupes and certain other fruits, watermelons do not continue to ripen after they are picked. Many websites advise placing your watermelon in a paper bag and leaving it on your counter, but this will have no effect on the watermelon and is a waste of both your time and a paper bag.
What’s the best way to ripen a watermelon?
Wrap a picked, unripe watermelon in a paper bag. This could help it ripen some if you inadvertently obtained a melon that does look ripe. Store it at room temperature, not in refrigerator. Check every few days to see if the watermelon has ripened.
Will watermelon continue to ripen after cut?
Unfortunately, no. Unlike some other produce, watermelons do not continue to ripen once they are picked. So whether you are shopping for watermelon at the grocery store or farmers’ market, or harvesting them from your own garden, you want to make sure you are bringing home a ripe melon.
How do you know if a supermarket watermelon is ripe?
1. Do a thump test. A ripe watermelon should have a deep hollow sound when you thump the rind with your hand, similar to a knock on the door. An unripe melon will have a more high-pitched resonance, whereas an overripe melon will sound more like a thud.
Do you need to ripen watermelon?
“In general, melons will not change significantly once they’re harvested from the vine,” Green explains. She says that cantaloupes, honeydew, and watermelon are all non-climacteric fruits, which means that once they’re harvested, they won’t continue to become tastier or sweeter like peaches or bananas will.
Will watermelon ripen in the refrigerator?
Watermelon does not ripen after harvesting, but it can get mushy in the refrigerator if it is a little overripe when picked, even before you cut into it. Store uncut watermelons in a warm, dry place for two to three weeks. Once you have cut the watermelon, you can store it in the refrigerator for two to three days.
What can I do with not ripe watermelon?
If your garden produces under-ripe watermelon, try your hand at a crisp and refreshing salad: Feta cheese, olives and mint or basil tossed with watermelon chunks. Melons are a challenge to grow around here.
Can you ripen a melon in the microwave?
Exposing unripe fruit to ripe fruit increases the unripe fruit’s exposure to ethylene gas to speed up the process. Combining ethylene gas with the heat from a microwave helps kickstart the process.
Why is my watermelon hard and crunchy?
When a watermelon gets too ripe for its own good, the juicy crisp texture of the flesh can turn gritty and dry. If you cut it open, you might see the flesh actually pulling away from the seeds. If your watermelon is mealy, it’s still safe to eat.
How can you tell if a watermelon is sweet?
You want to find the melon that is heavy for its size. This usually means it will be sweeter and will have more water content. Look for an orange creamy field spot. The darker yellow field spot usually means it was on the vine longer and is full of flavor.
Does knocking on a watermelon work?
Using your knuckles, rap on the middle of the watermelon while holding it up to your ear, or flick it with your finger. A ripe watermelon will have a hollow sound when knocked. An unripe watermelon will have more of a higher-pitched sound, while an overripe one will make a “thud” or a lower-pitched sound.
Can u eat unripe watermelon?
Eating watermelon that isn’t fully ripe isn’t dangerous, but it’s not as good as a ripe melon. The first factor is obviously taste — there’s no point in snacking on a flavorless watermelon. But in addition to flavor, ripe melons also have more nutrients than unripe ones.
What does smacking a watermelon do?
When you knock on a watermelon, what you’re listening for is a hollow sound. This means the flesh is ripe and that juices are moving around inside the watermelon. If the watermelon produces a flat “smack” when you thump on it, the flesh and juices inside are not at their sweetest and most fluid. Pick another melon.
How do I make my watermelon sweeter?
A small sprinkle of salt doesn’t just offer a salty-sweet kick, it also brings out the sweetness in the watermelon, making this the perfect hack for when you dig into a lackluster slice. Trust me, I’ve had people FREAK over this simple trick; it’s a game-changer.
Why does my stomach hurt after eating watermelon?
But here’s the bad news: Watermelon can also bring on big-time bloating. That’s because it’s packed with fructose, a natural sugar that is tough on our GI system because it’s hard for it to be completely absorbed. That causes gas, and sometimes an upset stomach in some people.
What can I do with underripe melon?
Uses for an Unripe Cantaloupe
- Turning it into a soup — with mangos, or a white gazpacho with grapes and almonds.
- Making a melon jam or chutney.
- Using it as a thick base for a smoothie, or blending it with lime juice and honey for cantaloupe agua fresca.
How long can you keep an uncut watermelon?
That depends a lot on whether you’ve cut it up or not. 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.
How long does it take a watermelon to ripen?
It’s typically a range like 80 to 120 days. If you’re growing watermelon from seedlings your bought, just note when flowers open. It typically takes about five calendar weeks for a watermelon to go from flower to ripe fruit.
How do you ripen fruit overnight?
The Paper Bag Method
Just add your fruit into a paper bag, seal it, and wait a few days! The key here is ethylene. Ethylene is a natural gas given off by fruit that helps in ripening. To speed things up even faster, we recommend adding in an apple or banana!
Can you ripen fruit after cutting it?
Q Why do fruits such as peaches and melons stop ripening when they are cut open? A Cutting fruit damages cells and removes the protective peel, exposing the flesh to the environment and altering its chemistry. Some fruit does actually continue ripening.
How do you ripen fruit in a paper bag?
PAPER BAG METHOD
All you need to ripen fruit is a paper bag. Yes, really! Simply place the unripe fruit in a paper bag and it will trap the ethylene gas, causing the fruit to ripen quicker! Place a ripe banana or apple in the bag with the unripe fruit to speed the process up even more!
Justin Shelton is a professional cook. He’s been in the industry for over 10 years, and he loves nothing more than creating delicious dishes for others to enjoy. Justin has worked in some of the best kitchens in the country, and he’s always looking for new challenges and ways to improve his craft. When he’s not cooking, Justin enjoys spending time with his wife and son. He loves exploring new restaurants and trying out different cuisines.