Why Does My Cantaloupe Have Dimples?

If it’s “dimpled,” it’s been harvested mature. If the woody stem is still attached (and visible), the fruit has been cut off the vine.

How can you tell if a cantaloupe is bad?

Look at the inside and outside of the cantaloupe
Let’s start with the outside appearance: So Yummy advises that if you see bruising or discoloration, or see any liquid coming through the rind, then the melon is no longer good. If there’s some mold, you can still salvage it.

How can you tell if a Cantelope is good?

The Feel. The cantaloupe should have just the right level of firmness – not soft, but not too tough either. Press down on the stem end – it should have just a bit of give. If it’s too tough, it needs a few more days to ripen, but if it’s too soft, it’s past its prime.

Is a cantaloupe bad if it has soft spots?

Step 1. Check the outside of the melon for bruises, soft spots, or tears. Bruises and soft spots indicate a melon that is overripe and may have gone bad. A cantaloupe with a damaged outer rind will spoil quickly.

What does mold look like on cantaloupe?

Blackish to blackish-green mold, typically Alternaria spp, will invariably develop over time on cantaloupes, sometimes first observed at the stem scar where nutrients are exuded at the moment of “slip” or harvest.

Can you get sick from overripe cantaloupe?

The bacteria have a long incubation period, which means that it may take as long as four weeks for people who have eaten contaminated cantaloupe to feel ill. Listeriosis typically causes fever and muscle aches, sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms.

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.

How can you tell if a cantaloupe is sweet?

You should pick the cantaloupe up and gently twist its stem. If it detaches easily, then that’s the plant telling you that you’ve got yourself a sweet, juicy cantaloupe! If the stem resists, then it’s probably not ready yet, and you should try again a couple of days later.

Do cantaloupes ripen after they’re picked?

However, cantaloupe and similar fruit will continue to ripen after harvest. Once into the ripening process, fruit will gain sugar, flavor will improve and flesh soften.

Should cantaloupe be refrigerated?

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 do white dots on fruit mean?

When dates are exposed to warm environments for long periods of time, the sugar in them begins to ferment (which causes the alcohol smell) and crystalize (which are what the white dots are). So no worries, you’re not eating insect poop. It’s only wonderful, natural sugar.

Will a cantaloupe ripen in the refrigerator?

Will a cantaloupe ripen if it is in the refrigerator overnight? No, it will not ripen once it is in the refrigerator.

How long is cantaloupe good in fridge?

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.

Can I 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.

What happens if you eat moldy cantaloupe?

Richards says it’s unlikely that you’ll experience side effects as a result of eating moldy fruit. She does note, however, that there are a few symptoms to keep an eye out for, such as nausea, vomiting, gas, and diarrhea. These, she says, could be signs of gastrointestinal distress.

What are the white spots on my melon?

Have you noticed white spots or whitish veins in your squash and melon plants? If so, you likely have powdery mildew. Powdery mildew, mainly caused by the fungus Podosphaera xanthii, infects all cucurbits, including squash, cucumbers, gourds, watermelons and pumpkins.

Can cantaloupe be poisonous?

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.

Should you wash cantaloupe?

Washing and serving
To prevent spoilage and mold growth during storage, it is best to wash cantaloupes just before you eat or prepare them. Even though you do not eat the rind, it is important to wash the cantaloupe before you cut it. First, wash your hands with hot, soapy water for 20 seconds.

Why does my cantaloupe taste like nail polish remover?

These fruits, if grown naturally, are not good stored. You can taste the stored ones straight away, they either have no flavour or they develop an acetone taste akin to nail varnish.

How do you disinfect cantaloupe?

1. Using a clean vegetable brush, scrub cantaloupe rind under running water, then rinse under running water.
2. Immerse the whole cantaloupe in a sanitizing solution made by mixing ½ teaspoon of regular, unscented laundry bleach for each gallon of water for 2 minutes.
3. Dispose of sanitizing solution.

How do you prevent Listeria in cantaloupe?

To help prevent infection, the CDC recommends you do the following:

1. Rinse fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water before eating, cutting or cooking them.
2. Scrub farm produce, such as melons and cucumbers, with a clean produce brush.
3. Dry produce with a clean cloth or paper towel.