Sound at tapping, color, shape, stem and brown spot: all help predict what your watermelon will taste like.
Watermelons are the most popular summer favorite, not only because of their delicious taste, but also because they are very healthy due to their high water and fiber content. They are also an excellent source of vitamin C, calcium, magnesium and potassium, as well as vitamins A, B1, B3 and B6.
However, if you buy the wrong watermelon from the vendor, the fruit will not taste as good and may not even be consumed. Fortunately, there are tricks to help you tell which watermelons will taste good by looking at the stem and some other features.
Tricks to buying watermelons
When buying watermelons, you can tell a lot by the sound a good watermelon makes when tapped, the roundness of its shape, the color of the stem and its surroundings, and the shade of the spot on its skin.
The sound of a good watermelon
Tapping is an old trick in the buying process. You can tell a lot about the ripeness and flavor of a watermelon by the sound it makes when you tap the skin, as if it were a door. The taste of the melon is expected to be at its best when the sound is deep and hollow. You should choose the watermelon that has the deepest sound compared to the others.
The shape of the watermelon is also a tell-tale sign
There are two types of watermelons: more rounded and more elongated. Female fruit is round, while male fruit has an oblong shape. The former may be sweeter, while the latter may have a more watery taste.
What do the stem and its surroundings tell you?
A small piece of the stem is always found on one side of the watermelon, and its condition is also very telling. If it’s still green, the watermelon is probably not fully ripe, but if it’s dry, the melon is likely to have a delicious, full flavor.
The area around the stem is also worth observing if it is a striped watermelon. If there is a denser, darker effect of striping around the stem, the fruit is likely to be more flavorsome. If, however, this darker spot is spread over a smaller radius, the product you buy will not live up to your expectations.
The melon and its spot
A lighter spot can usually be observed on the skin. If it is whiter, it is not worth reaching for your wallet, because the watermelon will not be tasty enough. If, on the other hand, the spot is a nice yellow color, the taste will be amazing.