Why is it commonly called winter melon? It may be because the fruit can be stored for many months, so when it’s harvested during late summer and autumn months, it can be eaten three to four months later in the wintertime.
Is cantaloupe good in the winter?
With cold season upon us health and immunity are top of mind. California cantaloupe is a healthy, happy option for battling colds and strengthening the body’s ability to combat the inevitable cold season!
When should you not eat cantaloupe?
How To Tell If Cantaloupe Is Bad?
- 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.
- Have large bruises or discolored areas.
- Smell off.
- Are cut up and sit in storage for too long or are moldy.
Are melons good in winter?
Best used in soups, winter melon absorbs the flavors of the ingredients it is cooked with. In a popular banquet version of winter melon soup, the fruit serves as a cooking vessel, main ingredient, and the serving dish. The soup is steamed inside a whole winter melon and served that way at the table.
Is cantaloupe a winter melon?
Seasonally, melons are divided into two categories: the summer melon and the late or winter melon. Summer melons include varieties of muskmelon (which in North America are known as the cantaloupes—with their yellow-tan netted rinds) and varieties of true cantaloupe, with their smooth rinds.
What is the best season for cantaloupe?
From June through August, cantaloupes are at their peak of flavor. Along with tasting great, they’re an excellent source of vitamin A, beta-carotene and vitamin C. Whether you enjoy them sliced, cubed or halved, cantaloupes are a refreshing, healthy addition to salads, desserts, beverages and more.
What melons are ripe in winter?
Honeydew, casaba and Cavaillon melons are classed as winter melons because they ripen more slowly than other melons and are usually not ready until late fall. After harvest, they even continue to ripen in storage.
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.
Can you get sick from cantaloupe?
If you feel ill within two months of eating contaminated cantaloupe, see a physician immediately and make sure to tell your doctor about what you’ve eaten. In high-risk groups, including pregnant women, the bacteria can be fatal. Listeriosis can be treated with antibiotics, however.
What are the side effects of eating cantaloupe?
Cantaloupes are a good source of this mineral, which can help lower your blood pressure. But too much of it may cause problems if you have kidney disease. That’s because your organs may not be able to filter out all the extra potassium, This can lead to a serious condition called hyperkalemia. Fiber.
Is it OK to eat watermelon in winter?
Absolutely! Watermelon is growing somewhere at any point during the year, which means it’s always available. Check out this handy chart to see where your watermelon is coming from. To get your watermelon fix during colder months just look for minis or “fresh cut” containers of watermelon in the produce aisle.
What melons are in season?
During the months of May to September, melons are in season. While available year-round in a supermarket, melons are much more affordable during the summer season. The three most popular melons in America are cantaloupe, watermelon, and honeydew.
Can you eat watermelon year-round?
Watermelon is available year-round (use this handy chart to see where your watermelon is coming from) – just look for “fresh cut” containers of watermelon in the produce aisle. What are fresh cuts? They’re the pre-cut fruits and vegetables that are located right in the produce section (usually next to the bag salads).
What are winter fruits?
Fruits to Eat During the Winter
Clementine’s, mandarins, tangerines and oranges often reach their peak during December, and grapefruit from temperate southern states comes into season by January. Kumquats, pomelos, and lemons are also harvested throughout the winter season.
What fruit is in season right now?
Fruits: Apples, apricots, avocados, bananas, blackberries, blueberries, cantaloupe, cherries, cucumbers, honeydew melon, lemons, limes, mangoes, peaches, plums, raspberries, tomatoes, and watermelon.
Why does cantaloupe taste 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.
Are cantaloupes available year round?
Scoop some up now while it’s in season. Muskmelons (that is, orange cantaloupe and green honeydew) are available from July through August and sometimes as late as mid-October in warmer climates. Related to squash, watermelon and cucumbers, these fruits are savored for their juicy goodness and sweet punch of flavor.
How do you ripen a cantaloupe quickly?
To quickly ripen a cantaloupe, place it in a large brown paper bag with a ripe apple or banana. Roll the top of the paper bag to close it. Leave the bag out at room temperature for a few days, checking periodically to test the ripeness.
Should uncut cantaloupe 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.
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.
Can cantaloupe ripen after picked?
Some, like watermelon, do not continue to ripen once harvested. Therefore, flavor will not improve nor will they become sweeter—t is what it is at harvest. However, cantaloupe and similar fruit will continue to ripen after harvest.
Gerardo Gonzalez loves cooking. He became interested in it at a young age, and has been honing his skills ever since. He enjoys experimenting with new recipes, and is always looking for ways to improve his technique.
Gerardo’s friends and family are the lucky beneficiaries of his delicious cooking. They always enjoy trying out his latest creations, and often give him feedback on how he can make them even better. Gerardo takes their input to heart, and uses it to continue refining his culinary skills.