Ripe cantaloupe is sweet, juicy, and tender. It has a distinctive sweet flavor, and should not be sour or bitter. Unripe fruit has not fully developed its sweetness and tends to be lacking in flavor and crunchy, while overripe fruit has a mushy, mealy texture.
Is cantaloupe sweet or sour?
Sweet and sour melon
Commercial melons generally produce sweet fruits known, for example, as Charentais, Cantaloupe, Honeydew, Amarello, Piel de Sapo, Kirkagak, Hamy, Ananas, Galia and Oriental. These are usually consumed as dessert fruits.
How can I tell if a cantaloupe is ripe?
As with cantaloupe, color is your first sign of ripeness. The melon’s green rind will take on a creamy yellowish color. If the color is right, gently push on the end of the melon opposite from the stem. If there is a slight give, the melon is probably ripe.
How can you tell a sweet cantaloupe?
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.
Which is sweeter cantaloupe or watermelon?
As for sugar content, watermelon has about 18 grams of the sweet stuff per wedge, according to the USDA. By comparison, honeydew has around 10 grams of sugar per wedge, while cantaloupe has eight grams of sugar per wedge.
What is cantaloupe supposed to taste like?
Ripe cantaloupe is sweet, juicy, and tender. It has a distinctive sweet flavor, and should not be sour or bitter. Unripe fruit has not fully developed its sweetness and tends to be lacking in flavor and crunchy, while overripe fruit has a mushy, mealy texture.
Why is cantaloupe so bitter?
A bitter, sour-tasting cantaloupe is a melon whose sugars have not developed correctly. Premature harvesting, overwatering, or disease are all culprits for an odorless, tart-tasting and sour cantaloupe fruit.
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 do you sweeten a cantaloupe?
How Do You Sweeten a Cantaloupe? If your cantaloupe is not harvested in the right season, chances are it won’t be sweet. So you can sprinkle sugar or sugar substitute onto the cantaloupe and toss it gently until it has been evenly distributed.
Will a cantaloupe ripen on the counter?
Unlike other fruits, cantaloupes will not ripen once picked from the vine. At the grocery store, then, what you see is what you get: The fruit will not ripen very much once left on the counter at home, so it’s important to pick a good cantaloupe.
Why are my cantaloupe not sweet?
The melons then ripen quite quickly on the vine. So if farmers pick their cantaloupes too soon, they won’t have that sweet, summery flavor you expect. But if the melons are being picked when they are ripe and ready, then the issue might be the soil or watering conditions.
Which cantaloupe is sweetest?
Crenshaws also have peachy flesh, similar to a cantaloupe’s, which is juicy and sweet to taste. In fact, it is known to be one of the sweetest melons there is.
Does uncut cantaloupe need to be refrigerated?
Keep whole melons like watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew on the counter for best flavor. USDA research found that storage at room temp may even help keep the antioxidants better intact. Once cut, store in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
Does cantaloupe raise blood sugar?
The high amount of liquid content gives cantaloupes a low glycemic load score of 4. That means your body digests it slowly and it won’t make your blood sugar spike. So it’s a great pick for people with diabetes. It hydrates you.
What is the sweetest melon?
Crenshaw. One of the sweetest varieties available, the Crenshaw ripens from midsummer through autumn. The thick, pink-orange flesh has a heady aroma and works well with prosciutto and other charcuterie.
What is the healthiest melon to eat?
Both cantaloupe and honeydew melon are good choices, though cantaloupe contains more antioxidants. A good choice to reduce your risk of foodborne illness is the variety of melon with the honeydew melon rind and cantaloupe flesh.
Why does cantaloupe burn my tongue?
Symptoms of a cantaloupe allergy
They can be triggered by the presence of a very small amount of cantaloupe or other melons. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include: itchy mouth. tingling sensation in your mouth.
Why does cantaloupe taste like nothing?
Excess water can cause flavor to be bland. The two key times when too much water makes the most difference is when the fruits just start forming and about 1 week before ripening. Like most crops, cantaloupes grow and taste best when they get a consistent supply of dampness — not too much, not too little.
Why does cantaloupe smell like garbage?
The melon should have a robust and sweet fragrance. If you get any hint of rotten fruit or a funky, garbage-like smell, avoid it as it means the fruit is starting to rot.
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.
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.
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.