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How to choose a melon by appearance
When choosing a melon, please note that there should be no stains, dents or cracks on the melon. As if the seller did not assure that she burst “from ripeness”, “sweetness” and “excess juice”, there is nothing useful in this fruit, an attempt to buy and eat it is fraught with serious food poisoning.
Greenish streaks or spots on the skin of the melon may indicate its immaturity, brownish – that the fruit has begun to deteriorate. Unusual stains (such as pinkish or blue-gray) often appear after spraying with preservative aerosols.
It is believed that the “nose” (trace of the flower) at good ripe melon should be slightly soft. And the “tail” (trace from the stem) is always dry to the base, and not just slightly dry.
How to choose a melon “by touch”
The fruit should be firm, and in the area of the nose and tail – slightly soft, this is evidence that the melon is ripe and, most likely, will be tasty. In overripe, the peel becomes too soft and easily squeezed by fingers, and unripe hard as a stone.
You can also try lightly scrubbing the peel: ripe melon easy to scratch. But the smoothness or roughness of the peel does not indicate the deliciousness of the melon, but depends on its variety.
How to choose a melon “by smell”
Ripe melon has a sweetish honey-fruity-floral aroma. Experts assure that, depending on the variety, it may contain notes of vanilla, pineapple, pear … But these are nuances. The main thing – good melon smells delicious and pleasant. If the smell is too sweet and sugary, most likely she is overripe. The lack of smell indicates that the melon is not yet ripe.
How to choose a melon by sound
Unlike watermelon, ripe melon, if you tap on it with your palm, it will emit a dull sound, and an immature one will make a sonorous sound.
What kind of melon should you choose?
The most popular domestic varieties that hit the shelves of our markets are “Collective farmer”, similar to a smooth yellow ball, and a rough, oblong green-yellow “Torpedo”… Some people think the former is more aromatic and the latter sweeter. But this is all a matter of taste. “Torpedo” is better to take larger, the most delicious melons are usually large.
Choosing a melon “Kolkhoz woman”, on the contrary, does not need to chase the size: fruits of a 10-centimeter diameter reach ripeness, and the giants may turn out to be overripe or “overfed” fertilizers.