How to Choose the Best Watermelon and Melon: Expert Tips for Summer

Watermelon and melon are iconic symbols of the summer. In the intense heat, it’s important to stay hydrated, and there's more than one way to do that! Watermelons and melons are made up of about 90% sweet water, which is why they earn a permanent place in every fruit box taken to the beach. How can you pick the perfect one?

Experts from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development provide the following tips:

Watermelon should have a matte finish. A shiny, glossy surface actually indicates that it's not ripe enough while a faded or dull color may suggest the fruit was stored for too long, which can reduce quality.

Melon should have an orange-tinted skin with a fresh, vibrant, and uniform color. If it’s a netted variety, check that the netting is complete and covers the entire surface of the fruit.

Check for spots on the watermelon. Every watermelon has one pale spot where it touched the ground while growing, which is normal. If there are multiple yellow or pale patches, it indicates that the watermelon was exposed to too much sun, which can reduce its quality.

A fresh, green stem indicates the fruit is recently picked, whereas a dry stem likely means the fruit has been off the vine for several days. For melon, a stem is a sign of longer shelf life. A stemless melon could suggest over-ripeness or even fermentation.

Touch the fruit and try to feel how firm it is. Choose the firmest watermelon or melon you can find as softness may indicate that it was stored too long, compromising its quality.

Observe the shape. A symmetrical fruit, whether round or oval usually means the fruit developed properly and won’t have hollow spaces inside. (Note: Watermelons harvested early in the season—March to April—are more likely to have small hollow areas, which is normal.) For netted melons, the netting should be dense and evenly distributed for best quality.