Summer’s Favorite Fruits: How to Select the Perfect Melon at the Grocery Store

There’s no bigger summer letdown than cutting into a newly bought melon, only to find the insides looking pale, dried out, or moldy. For many shoppers, picking a perfectly ripe watermelon, cantaloupe, or honeydew can be challenging. Often, we simply pick up the closest one, place it in our cart, and hope for the best. While you may not be able to feel for firmness or smell for sweetness like you can with some fruit, there are ways to ensure you wind up with a picnic-worthy melon. Try these tips during your next visit to your local Foodtown grocery store.

Tips for Picking a Ripe Melon

Melons are one of the more challenging types of fruits to shop for at the grocery store, simply due to the sturdy nature of their rind. Whether selecting a watermelon, cantaloupe, or honeydew, there are several ways to ensure ripeness:

Pay Attention to Size and Weight. Whether it’s large or small, a ripe melon will feel heavy for its size. Pick it up and make a note of how heavy it feels. A melon that feels heavier than it looks is juicy and refreshing! A melon that seems lightweight may be dried out and bland.
Check for Defects on the Rind. Turn the melon in your hands and carefully inspect the surface area. Avoid any melons that have bruises, cracks, or soft spots.
Look at the Color. No matter the melon, a dull rind is an indicator of being perfectly ripe so avoid those with a shiny surface. In addition to the green surface of the rind, watermelons usually have a splotch of pale yellow on one side—this is simply where it rested on the ground during harvest. Cantaloupes are known for having a tan netted texture on the rind; the color beneath this should be a golden orange shade.
“Knock” on the surface. Holding the melon in your hands, give the surface a light knock. It should have a deep hollow sound, which means the melon is ripe and juicy.
Give it a Sniff. Though watermelon does not give off a scent when uncut, ripe honeydew melon or cantaloupe gives off a faintly sweet aroma. Press lightly on the softer underside of the melon, right where the stem was, and give it a deep sniff.

Melon Recipes to Savor Seasonal Summer Fruit

Though watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew are delicious on their own, there are so many ways to dress them up for a refreshing summer recipe. Many shoppers are surprised to find out just how versatile melons can be! Take a savory twist with this Honeydew, Fennel, and Olive Salad from Bon Appetit, or combine two classic flavors, with a Prosciutto, Cantaloupe, and Cashew Salad.

Shop Fresh Melons in Foodtown’s Product Department

At Foodtown, we always remind our customers that It’s Smart! to shop for the season. As summer approaches, watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew are juicier, sweeter, more flavorful, and more affordable than any other time of year! Use these tips during your next visit to Foodtown, and you’re sure to be pleased when you cut your first slice.

Locate your nearest Foodtown grocery store to shop fresh melons at affordable prices. Don’t forget to view our weekly circular for the latest sales.