The Only Way To Tell If Your Watermelon Is Ripe

It’s well and truly watermelon weather. Well, it is where I am, anyway (and considering I’m in the UK, I’m going to make the most of it – we don’t get this kind of warmth that often!). As the days heat up, those big, pink, juicy slices become more and more appealing. If they’re ripe, that is. 

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But if you’re buying a whole watermelon, how do you ensure you get a good one? Obviously, the best way to tell whether a watermelon is ripe is to slice into it – but that’s not exactly something you can do in the middle of the fruit aisle. Luckily, there’s one telltale sign that ripe (and unripe) watermelons have that will let you know whether it’s worth buying or not. 

All About That Base

As Allrecipes states, both the simplest and most effective way to tell whether a watermelon is ripe or not is to check its underside. When watermelons are ready to eat, they’ll have a yellowy, creamy tint on the bottom. This yellowish tint is also referred to as the “field spot” or “ground spot,” as it’s what the melon sits on when it’s growing. If, however, this spot is pale green or white, then it’s not ready to go, and you should leave it where it is.

Don’t be tempted to purchase it hoping that it’ll ripen when you get it home, either. Watermelons are what’s known as non-climacteric fruits, which means that their sugar content doesn’t develop once they’re cut off the vine. If it’s unripe in the store, it’ll stay unripe when you get home. Incidentally, grapes and strawberries are the same.

What About Tapping?

Tapping a watermelon is often cited as a way to tell whether it’s ripe, but in truth, it doesn’t really give you much information on that front. What it will tell you, though, is whether it’s been bruised or not. If tapping your watermelon produces a dull or uneven sound, it’s a sign that the liquid in the watermelon flesh has been released due to damage. 

Although we say that checking out its base is the only method, in truth, there are some others. Regular stripes, a shriveled stem, and a heaviness to the watermelon are all signs that it’s a good one. They’re not quite as easy as checking out the field spot, though, so start with that first. And leave your watermelon-slicing knife at home, for the love of god.