Is Winter Melon The Same As Cantaloupe?

Honeydew melons are also said to be a type of “winter melon,” but “winter melon” can also refer to an entirely unrelated Asian fruit. Even “cantaloupe” is confusing, because what Americans call a cantaloupe is different than the so-called “true” cantaloupe, also known as the European cantaloupe.

What is another name for winter melon?

Ash gourd, also known as Benincasa hispida, winter melon, wax gourd, white pumpkin, and Chinese watermelon, is a fruit native to parts of Southern Asia (1). It grows on a vine and matures into a round or oblong melon that’s approximately the same size and color as a watermelon.

What melon is similar to cantaloupe?

Persian Melon
A cultivar of the musk melon family, Persian melons are elongated and smooth with yellow banded skin and orange flesh. They taste similar to cantaloupe, but their large size makes them milder in flavor.

Is winter melon like honeydew?

The winter muskmelons include types like the honeydew, Crenshaw, casaba, Juan Canary, and Santa Claus. Unlike the cantaloupes, when the fruits are ripe, the stem of the winter melon does not separate (abscise) from the vine, so other methods of determining maturity are required. Figure 1. Juan Canary melon.

What is winter melon in English?

Definition of winter melon
1 : any of several muskmelons (such as a casaba or honeydew melon) that are fruits of a cultivated vine (Cucumis melo indorus) 2 : a large white-fleshed melon that is the fruit of an Asian vine (Benincasa hispida) and is used especially in Chinese cooking.

Can I eat raw winter melon?

Unlike a watermelon, the flesh and seeds are white, it’s relatively tasteless, and it cannot be eaten raw. Instead, recipes with winter melon often call for steaming, simmering, or parboiling, but be careful not to overcook it—it can get mushy.

What is winter melon good for?

Winter melons, in addition to vitamin B and C, have high quantities of zinc, potassium, phosphorus, iron, dietary fiber, and other vitamins and minerals in trace amounts. These nutrients together make for a very strong dietary supplement, which is why winter melon is a widely respected plant throughout the world.

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.

What are the sweet cantaloupe called?

Galia Cantaloupe
The Galia has a sweet, pale yellow, or green flesh.

Which is the sweetest melon?

Honey Globe Melon
Many describe this type of melon as one of high quality and extremely sweet. And it’s the delicious taste of the Honey Globe that sets this apart from other melons. The light green flesh is thick and succulent and, because over 15% of its weight is sugar, it’s one of the sweetest melons.

How do you eat winter melon?

Winter melon should not be consumed raw. First, the skin and seeds must be removed. Then the flesh of the fruit can be sliced or cubed and lightly cooked. The fruit can be simmered, steamed, grilled, roasted and parboiled for about five minutes.

What does winter melon taste like?

Wintermelon by itself has a very mild and somewhat bland flavour when the fruit is still unripe. The taste is similar to that of cucumber – refreshing and vegetal, with a slight grass-like flavour. When aged, wintermelon loses some of its taste and becomes slightly bland but still retains its refreshing properties.

What is the best tasting melon?

Cantaloupe, honeydew, and watermelon are the best known melons, but also be adventurous and try casaba, Crenshaw, Persian melons or other varieties. Some are grown in the United States. Others are imported from Central America and New Zealand. Enjoy the taste of summer with melons.

How do you cut a winter melon?

Prepare

1. Slice the skin off with a knife and discard it.
2. Separate the melon into 4 equal parts, and then further into 8 parts.
3. Cut off the very soft part with the seeds and discard it (it has a bad mouthfeel after cooked)
4. Slice or cube each part of the melon into evenly sized pieces.

How can you tell when a winter melon is ripe?

You should be ready to harvest after about 110 days of growth. Winter melons are ready to harvest when the mature fruit has an ashy appearance, and the stem has withered and turned brown. The ripe melon will smell sweet on the stem end and will be large and heavy.

What is winter melon called in Chinese?

Apr 05, 2021. Common Chinese Name: 冬瓜, Dong Gua. Common English Name: Winter melon, wax gourd. Common Form: Large melon/squash with either a snowy light green or waxy dark green skin and white flesh in the center with tan seeds. They are usually sold in slices because they are huge.

Does winter melon need to be refrigerated?

Store. Unwashed whole winter melon can be stored in a cool, dark, dry place for up to 5 months. Once sliced, you should always wrap it with plastic wrap and store it in the fridge, where it will last up to 1 week.

What is that white stuff on winter melon?

The immature melon has thick white flesh that tastes sweet. By maturity, the fruit loses its hairs and develops a waxy coating, giving rise to the name wax gourd. The wax coating helps to give the fruit a long shelf life of up to a year.

Can winter melon be frozen?

If you’re not going to use all of it, wrap peeled and seeded chunks in plastic and freeze. Winter melon is best eaten cooked, not raw. Recipes abound on the Internet for winter melon soup, stir fry, drinks and even pickles. You can also freeze peeled and seeded chunks for later use.

Is winter melon good for kidneys?

Winter melon helps the liver and kidney to perform at optimum levels.

Does winter melon help you lose weight?

Winter melon is a low-calorie food because it is mostly made up of water and fiber. The water content makes it a good choice for weight loss because it helps keep you full. It’s also high in fiber, another nutrient that helps keep you feeling full longer and prevents cravings.