August is on the calendar, which means that the season of one of our most beloved and biggest berries has come - I mean watermelons! On our soda plots, store shelves and markets closer to autumn, there is always a great variety of different varieties watermelons of all shapes, sizes and even colors. It remains for us to figure out how to choose a ripe watermelon, that is, one that will be both sweet and juicy and it is very desirable that it be without extra nitrates and other “chemistry”.
Watermelon, as the brightest representative of gourds, became widely known to the world in the 16-17th centuries, today China is the leader in the cultivation and sale of watermelons, the largest or, more precisely, the heaviest watermelon fruit from China weighed just over 90 kilograms! But the record holder among European watermelons was a watermelon from the Krasnodar Territory - weighing 64 kilograms, presented at the annual Watermelon Paradise festival in 2013!
The first thing we need to know is not even “how” to buy a watermelon correctly, but when exactly it is better and safer to do it! And just you can’t rush - since very early watermelons are most often rich not in vitamins, but in nitrates, because some farmers overdo it with the amount of growth stimulants for melons.
In Russia, the official watermelon season starts from mid-August until almost the end of September. Although melons and gourds from equatorial countries are sold on supermarket shelves almost all year round.
We figured out the introductory part, now let's decide how to choose a watermelon so as not to get upset ourselves and not upset your stomach. There are several basic tips and rules, we will now get acquainted with them.
Of course, many already have their own “signs” and skills from personal experience that will come in handy when choosing a ripe sweet watermelon, and this is good, but we only share those tips that may be useful to readers who do not have practical experience in choosing watermelons.
Choosing a watermelon by tail
I think that each of us has heard about such a method of determining the ripeness of a watermelon as a dried tail - usually this is a sign that the fruit has ripened on its own and, while still in the garden, “withered” and practically separated from its vine. So if you see a beautiful green tail, then you have an early picked fruit, which most likely did not have time to get its natural juiciness and sugar content.
It is necessary to take into account the fact that a long-cut watermelon will also have a dry tail. It is important here to be able to distinguish them, and for this we need to check it for “fragility” - if the tail breaks off easily, then the fruit is fully ripe in the garden, and if it seems to be dried and only bends when trying to break it, then the watermelon was separated from the vine before due date. We conclude that it is better not to buy watermelons whose tail is cut off at the very base - it may be an unripe berry.
What does the yellow spot on the watermelon mean?
Another way to determine the ripeness of a watermelon is the presence and size of a yellow (sometimes orange) spot on one of the fruit's barrels. These spots are a natural formation, they appear due to the lack of pigmentation in the place where the watermelon comes into contact with the soil during its vegetation and ripening.
A ripe watermelon flaunts a spot of rich color, an average size of 7 or 10 centimeters in diameter. Also, a fully ripened fruit may have medium-sized clarified spots throughout the bark. But an overly large and pale yellow spot tells us that the watermelon was harvested from the melon ahead of time.
Choosing a ripe watermelon by sound
The ripeness of watermelon can not only be seen, but also heard. It is believed that a ripe fruit is a "voiced" fruit. In order to check this sonority, you just need to knock on the watermelon and if the echo is enough, then the berry is ripe.
An unripe fruit will give us a muffled sound. If you can do it, then try another option - squeeze the watermelon on both sides with your palms, putting it to your ear, and if you hear a soft crack inside it, then the fruit is ripe and full of sugar content.
Watermelon boys and girls
Who to choose when choosing a watermelon, "boy" or "girl"? It turns out that the difference in them does exist and it is noticeable. Watermelon girls have a fairly flat "butt" with a large brown circle - they have much less bones and at the same time more sweetness. But the watermelon boys from below are more convex and with a very small circle.
The correct size of a watermelon
When choosing a good watermelon, as in many other situations, the golden mean is important. Do not look for the largest or smallest fruit - buy a medium one. Of course, large watermelons look more attractive, but they can be too watery and with less sugar, and besides, they can be grown using nitrates, which we don’t need at all.
Benefits and calories of watermelon
The pulp of watermelon is very rich in such elements necessary for our body as fructose and glucose, folic acid and thiamine, carotene and riboflavin; magnesium, potassium and calcium, phosphorus, iron, as well as natural ascorbic acid.
As for the calorie content, despite the high sugar content of watermelon pulp, only 30-38 kilocalories per 100 grams of the product. Proteins - 0.6 grams, fats - 0.2 grams, carbohydrates - 8 grams. Thanks to these qualities, watermelon is included in and on the menu. proper nutrition, there are also watermelon fasting days for.
It is believed that watermelon has good diuretic and choleretic properties. The natural ascorbic acid in this berry is a natural antipyretic.
Most often, watermelon is eaten in a “raw” form, that is, without thermal or other processing, but there are also technologies for the production of watermelon honey and, watermelon oil is prepared from seeds, which is similar in composition to almond and.
Ways to cut a watermelon beautifully
So, if our watermelon has already been selected and bought, and even delivered to the table, then you can not only wash it and eat it, but also add a little creativity to this process, of course, you will have to spend more time and effort on this, but look, what a spectacular treat we can have!
The prices for the "material" are not very high, so we can safely practice before surprising our relatives or guests.
Of course, a special device, a portable ecotester or nitrate meter, is ideal for this, but it is very expensive and unfortunately not available to many ordinary people. And this means that we will have to use, so to speak, "folk" methods.
Let's start with a visual analysis - a natural fruit in the cut, first of all, should not “surprise” us with color - neither with too bright pulp, nor suspicious shades, and secondly, it should not have dense yellow veins, you should also be wary if the cut is too smooth without characteristic graininess.
You can also use ordinary water to check watermelon for nitrates at home - for the first method you need a small piece of watermelon and a glass of ordinary water - the pulp must be dipped in water and allowed to stand for fifteen to twenty minutes. If the fruit has an excess of nitrates, then the liquid will acquire a bright pink or red color with "suspicious" shades.
Another household way to test watermelons for nitrates will require more water, but you don’t have to cut the watermelon. A not very large fruit can be lowered into a basin of water, and if it remains afloat, then you can eat, but if the berry has gone to the bottom, then it is better not to risk it. To test large watermelons, you can draw water into the bath and conduct the same experiment. I hope our advice will help you choose sweet watermelon. Eat healthy and for health.
First of all, you should pay attention to the stripes. A good watermelon has a shiny skin, the stripes on it are bright. Watermelons with an uncharacteristic or blurry pattern are best put aside, because this can be a sign not only of the immaturity of the berry, but also a symptom of a disease, for example, a viral mosaic.
According to folk observations, from striped watermelons, you need to choose the one in which the distance between the dark stripes is wider.
And how to choose a delicious watermelon if it is all dark green or almost white?
How to determine if a watermelon is tasty by the size and color of the earthen spot?
You need to look for the watermelon that has a yellow spot on its side - this is the place where the berry came into contact with the ground. The color of this spot should be reddish, yellow or light brown. But a white earthen spot indicates that the watermelon is unripe. Spot size should ideally be between 5 and 10 cm.
What should be the stem (tail)?
Through the ponytail I received a watermelon nutrients. In fact, when the watermelon is ripe, this part of it should dry out and fall off. Accordingly, the green stalk of a store-bought watermelon should alert you. The tail of a ripe berry will be brittle. Be sure to check it out!
However, you should not completely trust this sign, because unscrupulous traders pick green watermelons, and the stalks dry during transportation and storage. In addition, the tail can dry out due to twisting or breaking of the whip long before the watermelons ripen. Also, trusting a dry stalk, you can bring an overripe watermelon to the table.
Is it true that the largest watermelons are the tastiest?
Truth. A large mass of watermelon indicates that the berry is ripe. The norm is the weight of 10-17 kg. But there is a reasonable limit to everything: an abnormally huge berry, most likely, was grown with the help of artificial feeding. Look for the golden mean.
Is it possible to determine the ripeness of a watermelon by the sound?
Can. This is the old fashioned way. You need to knock lightly. If, when tapped, the sound is sonorous and the peel of the watermelon springs a little from the impact, feel free to buy! But a dull sound, on the contrary, should alert you - the watermelon is most likely unripe.
How to determine the quality of a cut watermelon by pulp?
If the color of the pulp is unevenly red and with purple spots, then there is an excess of nitrates in the watermelon. This will also be indicated by multi-colored bones (black and white in one berry) as well as yellow streaks from the peel to the pulp.
In addition, the pulp on the cut of the “correct” watermelon will be with grains (as if sugar). Unnaturally glossy insides indicate that the watermelon contains nitrates.
When should you buy watermelons?
As a rule, watermelons start selling almost from the beginning of summer. However, if you do not want to eat a product of chemicals, it is worth waiting until about mid-August.
The enticing word bazaar, with many-sided associations and a special microclimate, and the strict word supermarket, suggesting a procedural order and thoughtful display of goods. Wherever we go shopping, we need to master the ability to choose among the many offers, and today we will tell you how to choose a watermelon. For an exhaustive answer to the question, we will describe in the article all the nuances that will allow you to find a good product, highlighting it from the total mass according to indicative characteristics.
No wonder how watermelon is loved all over the world. Americans have not regretted choosing the warmest month of the year for watermelon festivals. Slavs ripe watermelon decorates August and September.
Sweet and juicy watermelon fits perfectly into non-traditional food systems. Vegetarians and raw foodists have long chosen it as a delicious component for light salads and desserts. Earlier, we were already lucky enough to plunge into creative cooking and choose for you all the best
Furthermore! In many peoples of the world, among the advice of healers, we find medical procedures with watermelon. The most famous of them:
And each time, the quality of the watermelon - its sweetness, juiciness and safety of the composition - at least our mood and well-being during a meal, or even health after a meal, or a watermelon cleansing diet, depend.
How to choose a good watermelon appearance? - the burning question of the season. In answering it, the systematization of knowledge and the refutation of myths will provide us with some valuable universal advice.
We proceed to the description, armed with two desirable characteristics - sweet ripe watermelon + without excess nitrates.
How to choose a ripe watermelon: instructions
There are many signs that most often circulate in popular rumor as signs of a ripe sweet watermelon: a yellow spot on the side, a dull sound when tapped, a dry tail, not too large.
Let's deal with the listed and less popular signs in order.
yellow spot on side
This is a clear indication that the watermelon is ripe. Its size should be within 5-10 cm in diameter. The stain may even have an orange tint!
But the white spot, on the contrary, reflects the immaturity of the watermelon. A spot that is too large indicates a long maturation in insufficiently warm conditions. This makes the watermelon less sweet and less ripe. Therefore, a spot larger than the palm of your hand should definitely alert you.
It is convenient that this feature is the same for all varieties, as it arises due to the contact of the watermelon with the ground in the garden.
Contrasting stripes on the peel
For striped varieties, regardless of the intensity of the color, it is the bright contrast of the stripes that indicates that we have a good ripe watermelon.
The hardness of the peel of a ripe watermelon
When the berry is fully ripe, it is almost impossible to pierce it with a fingernail.
IMPORTANT!
If you have already come across an UNripe watermelon, do not try to set aside for ripening. This is not possible under any circumstances. It is better to use unripe watermelon in cooking - in recipes for salted and pickled preparations. Unless, of course, this not the most successful purchase has signs of an excess of nitrates.
Smooth and shiny skin
This is usually a sign that the watermelon is ripe. However, do not forget about the tricks of merchants who constantly rub watermelons. Therefore, choose the fruit from the depth of the calculation.
Muffled sound when tapped
Alas, this sign is not a universal indication of how to choose a ripe watermelon.
Because such a sound is also formed when overripe watermelons are tapped. And eating an overripe watermelon can cause serious damage to health due to the souring of the red pulp.
IMPORTANT!
Even the souring of the pulp, imperceptible to the taste, is an excess of pathogenic bacteria and toxic substances. Therefore - IMMEDIATELY sniff the cut! When cut, a fresh, ripe watermelon should smell like freshly cut grass.
The second sign of an overripe watermelon is a matte, as if oily, peel. This, even on the counter, noticeably distinguishes it from good ripe watermelons, in which the skin is smooth and shiny.
dry ponytail
It's a shame, but this sign, popular among the people, only indicates that the watermelon was picked more than 3 days ago.
Not too big
Again, not a perfect guide to choosing a ripe watermelon.
Although the thought of the people seems logical: a large size can be a sign of nitrate feeding. However, there are varieties of watermelons that themselves ripen to a large size and normally weigh up to 17 kg!
Crimson Gloria
For example, Crimson Gloria watermelon, the average weight of which should range from 10 to 17 kg. This variety was created in the Crimea specifically in order to transport it over long distances.
Now it is often planted in the mainland South of Russia (for example, in the Volgograd region). It is distinguished by well-defined light stripes, a slightly oblong shape, a noticeably thick skin and a not bright red color of the flesh.
Kherson watermelon
But the Kherson watermelon cannot weigh more than 10 kg! Choosing a watermelon of the most beloved variety in Ukraine, you can safely arm yourself with a folk omen. Weight more than 10 kg for Kherson watermelon is a sure sign of excess nitrates.
You can distinguish Kherson from Crimson Gloria by the peel. The skin of Kherson watermelon is darker in color and relatively thin.
Varieties Skorik and Photon
Since we are talking about varieties, let's focus on the two most popular of the early ripening ones - Skorik and Photon. The first has a dark green uniform color, and the second has a noticeably light striped peel. Their maximum weight is 7 kg.
If you want to eat watermelon back in mid-July, you can also rely on popular belief about low weight. Otherwise, you will end up with a specimen overfed with nitrates. However, remember that any early-ripening watermelon will not be as sweet and juicy as its long-ripening relative in late summer.
Hybrid Chill
Finally, let us draw your attention to the interesting variety Kholodok, which was created with an eye on long-term storage. Hybrid Kholodok is a long-ripening variety that ripens only by the end of August.
The main task in its selection was solved with a "Hurrah!". The term of its maximum storage even in an apartment is up to the New Year! To do this, just hang it in a net in a dry, dark place (a ventilated closet on the balcony, a well-maintained cellar, basement or barn).
Find out the date of collection of the party according to the documents
The seller's documents must indicate this date legibly and clearly. The shelf life of most varieties does not exceed 3 weeks. After 2-3 weeks, the watermelon sours (imperceptibly to the taste buds!).
If in 2-3 weeks the watermelon does not turn sour, then, for sure, it is treated with slaked lime, alabaster or paraffin. Just imagine how many harmful substances penetrate through the peel into the pulp of such storage champions!
IMPORTANT! Whichever watermelon you choose, remember to WASH THOROUGHLY before using it - WARM WATER + BRUSH!
When choosing where to shop for groceries, a sober mind should be put at the forefront to weigh the benefits and threats and choose a good ripe watermelon.
Of course, it is so convenient to buy gifts of summer nearby - at a spontaneous market near the crossroads. However, if you are already a fan of market trading, then it is much wiser to choose watermelons in a solid market with properly organized sales points.
Invulnerability to dirt from the outside is a deceptive illusion that arises when we look at a thick-skinned watermelon. In fact, WATERMELON - LIKE A SPONGE!
Through the damaged peel, everything penetrates into it! This happens especially quickly with cuts and punctures with a knife. Dirt, bacteria, heavy metals and toxins environment. The longer such a watermelon is not sold, the more dangerous it is for an inattentive buyer.
That is why the media every year highlights cases of unfortunate poisoning and intestinal infections. But many less severe cases remain behind the scenes!
In order not to replenish the number of unlucky ones, let's remember the signs of a conscientious outlet, where to choose the right ripe watermelon:
- Specially designated sales area (watermelons and melons);
- Necessarily under a canopy that protects from the sun and rain;
- Categorically away from the roadway;
- 20 cm - the minimum height to which the storage pallet must be raised above the ground;
- Availability of a certificate of the epidemiological surveillance service for each purchased batch.
The supermarket is the most understandable place for food shopping for many "children of asphalt" who grew up in the city during the era of active development of the store trade.
There are several stable reasons in favor of choosing a watermelon in the store:
- Watermelons are constantly stored under the roof;
- Watermelons stay away from the roadway;
- Storage trays have the right height to protect against scratches, damage and penetration of harmful substances;
- Watermelons are purchased in bulk from large trusted suppliers.
However, there are also disadvantages. The general impression of neatness from shopping in a supermarket often pushes us to choose not a whole watermelon, but a cut or half, which are carefully wrapped in cling film.
Our advice: stop buying cut watermelon once and for all!
- Unknown reason for dividing a whole watermelon;
- Dirt with bacteria, actively penetrating from the peel of a watermelon;
- Insufficient hygiene of hands and tools during butchering;
- Covering the cut with a film, which creates a greenhouse effect for the accelerated reproduction of bacteria.
All this should discourage you from choosing a cut watermelon, even if you like the look of its juicy flesh. It is better to choose a good smaller watermelon, maybe a different variety, but in no case halves of large fruits.
The rest of the signs right choice ripe sweet watermelon in the store are the same as in the market.
Despite the abundance of new varieties and hybrids, most Russians will call the Astrakhan variety of watermelons, bred back in the 70s of the 20th century, the classic and most popular variety.
It is distinguished by an advantageous property for trade - stability during storage and transportation. By the end of August, the sweetest and largest Astrakhan watermelons fill the shelves. And here the question arises of how to choose an Astrakhan watermelon, and what are the external signs of a popular variety.
An average portrait of a delicious Astrakhan watermelon:
- Shape - rounded or slightly oblong;
- The surface is smooth;
- Skin color - green;
- Pattern - spike-like dark green stripes;
- The color of the pulp is bright red;
- The taste of the pulp is very sweet and juicy;
- The average weight of a watermelon is 8-10 kg.
Below are a few photos of ripe Astrakhan fruits to help you choose a sweet watermelon:
How to choose the right watermelon without nitrates
The maximum allowable concentration of nitrates in watermelon: 60 mg per 1 kg of berries.
Pay attention to the following signs of excess nitrates:
- ROUGH YELLOW FIBERS IN THE PULP that go through the flesh to the peel is a sure sign of excess nitrates.
- UNUNIFORM PULSE COLOR (sometimes lighter, sometimes darker, especially with an increase in color intensity from the peel to the center) is another sign of an excess of nitrates.
- CRACKS IN THE PULSE IN THE HALF CUT: When there are cracks in the red pulp on the middle cut, then most likely there is a lot of nitrates in the berry. They were added to speed up ripening, as a result, the watermelon began to grow rapidly and rapidly, from which the flesh cracked.
- TOO SMOOTH PULSE can be both a sign of nitrates and an accurate indication of a lack of sufficient sweetness. Sweet sugar watermelon has red flesh with a noticeable structure - pronounced sugar grains and "sugar islands" on the cut.
- MULTI-COLORED PITS, when one watermelon has completely dark and light pits.
NITRATE TEST WITH WATER
If you bought a watermelon, but doubts prevail, you can use the test with plain water. Crush a tablespoon of watermelon pulp with a fork in a glass of water (about 150 ml).
- If after a while the water becomes slightly cloudy - in front of you is a watermelon without excess nitrates.
- If the water has turned red - do not risk eating a purchase! There are too many nitrates in the pulp.
It is especially advisable to carry out the test when serving watermelon to children or at a crowded feast, when the risk of poisoning will affect many people, including the most vulnerable.
IMPORTANT!
You can play it safe from nitrates by selecting special pieces of pulp. Nitrates in watermelon are distributed unevenly - closer to the rind and to the stalk. In a situation that is incomprehensible to you, if you still want to feed children with watermelon, give them only the pulp cut from the middle.
A feature of folk speech is the ability of people to briefly describe a complex concept with an easily recognizable symbol. So, the pedestrian crossing became a "zebra", and connectors for electronic devices acquired the names "father" and "mother".
Not bypassed the national language ingenuity and watermelons. The same traders in the markets sometimes offer us to buy a “girl”, arguing that girl watermelons are sweeter, and there are an order of magnitude fewer seeds in them.
How to choose a ripe watermelon "girl"? "Boy" differs from "girl" in two ways:
- Relief of the butt.
- The depth of attachment of the tip or the spot that remains from the tip when it is cut off.
The “boys” have a raised ass, the tip is deepened inward, and the speck is pulled together into a small point. The “girl” has a flatter butt and a large spot.
You can easily see the difference in the photo below.
Boy
Girl
To choose the sweetest watermelon, you should look for a “girl”, although it is believed that there are much fewer of them on the shelves - no more than 20% of the total crop sold.
At the same time, it should be noted that many breeders and experienced sellers are skeptical about such a division of watermelons.
If you want to surprise your guests with beautiful and practical cuts, take the advice of our chef.
When you do not know how to choose the right watermelon, then buying it is like a lottery for you. If you're lucky, enjoy the juicy sweet taste. If you're not lucky, you'll end up in a hospital bed. Keep this in mind by carefully studying the intricacies of choosing watermelons, and protect yourself and loved ones from dirt, heavy metals and nitrates. And then even not the sweetest watermelon will please you.
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August and September are always associated with watermelons. But to buy a ripe, sweet, and wild-grown watermelon, there are a few tricks to follow. For example, take a tape measure with you to the store and measure the fetus, then you will not be mistaken with the choice. And before serving, dip a piece of pulp in clean water room temperature to avoid trouble.
We are in website We love sweet watermelons. Therefore, so that you never make a mistake when choosing a berry, we have collected for you helpful tips from Internet users and added a bonus in which we will tell you how to choose a truly delicious and ripe watermelon.
1. Yellow crust is a sign of high nitrate concentration
Although someone thinks that the holes through and through are traces of insects, and not from nitrate needles, still try not to take such a watermelon. Even if the berry is good, some of the pulp will be spoiled.
3. Do not eat watermelon with a large cavity inside
Breaks in the pulp indicate that the fruit is overripe or contains growth hormones. Overripe watermelon can be slightly bitter, and watermelon with growth hormone can cause poisoning. Therefore, it is better not to eat such berries.
4. Before eating a watermelon, dip the pulp in water
To test a watermelon for nitrates and avoid poisoning, dip a piece of pulp in clean water at room temperature. If the berry is dangerous, the water will turn a rich pink color. It is better not to eat such a fruit.
5. Watermelon should not be light when you pick it up.
Sometimes even a beautiful smooth skin, a yellow spot and a dry tail do not guarantee that a watermelon is tasty. Be sure to weigh it before buying: it should be dense and heavy. If the store does not have scales, trust the sensations. A ripe berry should be quite heavy when you pick it up.
Bonus: How to Pick a Delicious Watermelon
1. Choose fruit without dents
A ripe and sweet watermelon should be shiny, even and without visible damage. Small dents can be the result of bruises. In such places, the spoilage process occurs faster, it is likely to throw most of the fruit into the trash.
2. Holes and shallow holes in the peel should not be afraid
Many Internet users write that such depressions are traces of melon growers' needles that cut watermelons with nitrates. If the recesses are not through, you should not be afraid of them: these are traces left by wireworm larvae. They do not affect the quality and taste of the berry.
3. When picking a watermelon, look for small beige marks on the skin.
Such beige "scars" on the smooth skin of a watermelon are places where the bees tried to "taste" the pulp. Internet users checked and decided that such a watermelon is often very sweet.
4. A ripe watermelon weighing 4 kg must have a circumference of 61.9 cm or more
According to the magazine "Young Technician" in 1986, a ripe watermelon weighing 4 kg should have a circumference of 61.9 cm or more. Internet users checked the information from the Soviet publication, and it turned out
How to choose a ripe and sweet watermelon? In the summer, with the start of the watermelon season, many people have this question. The market offers a product of different varieties, sizes and places of growth. How to choose the most ripe, juicy, tasty, and most importantly safe watermelon, we will consider in this article.
Watermelon sale season
To choose the right watermelon, you must first choose the right time to buy it. Watermelon is a seasonal product, so it is better to buy it at a certain time. To make the watermelon tasty, ripe and juicy, the ideal period is from mid-August to mid-September.
If you decide to choose an early watermelon, then most likely it will not be tasty and sweet, and besides, it is saturated with nitrates. Even from the Kuban, legal parties do not arrive before the end of July.
Methods and rules for choosing a watermelon
To choose a good, high-quality watermelon, remember the following rules:
Appearance of the crust
- The rind of the watermelon should be shiny and glossy, the color is uniform, the color is saturated, green.
- In a striped fruit, the stripes should be clearly defined, bright, contrasting with the main background.
- The crust should not have a dull or waxy coating, it should be hard, easily scratched, but difficult to pierce.
- The sweetest fruit may have brownish spots, the so-called "bee web", this indicates that the bees often touched the dependency of the fruit during pollination.
- The watermelon should have rough brown meshes, the more such meshes, the sweeter the watermelon.
- Small light spots are considered the norm, they appear after the fruit ripens, when chlorophyll ceases to be produced.
- You can rub the rind of the watermelon with your finger, if after that you feel the aroma of freshly cut grass, the fruit is unripe.
The size and color of the earth spot
Watermelon grows on the ground, ripens within a few months, and a spot forms at the point of contact with the ground. An earth spot is a yellow spot where a watermelon lay. It is called "cheek" or "barrel". In a mature fruit, this spot should be one, brownish-yellow in color, with a diameter of 6-11 cm.
If the “barrel” has an uneven color, is too light or even white, this indicates that the fruit did not ripen on melons or in an unfavorable climate. Such a watermelon will not be juicy and tasty.
Dry tail - ripe watermelon
Delicious, juicy watermelon is easy to identify by its tail. When the fruit is fully ripe, the flow of moisture from the ground stops and the tail dries up.
A green tail indicates that the watermelon was picked unripe. Over time, it also becomes yellower and dries out, so the main differences are:
- In a mature watermelon, the tail breaks easily, has a yellow-brown color.
- In an unripe watermelon, the tail is sluggish, does not break off, it can be dry, but greenish in color.
- If the stalk is cut off, you should look at the tip of the tail to determine if it broke off on its own or was cut off.
- A watermelon with a tail cut off “under the root” is not worth buying.
How to choose a watermelon by weight and size
It happens that you want to immediately buy a big, just a huge watermelon, but you should not do this. It is especially risky to acquire such a fruit in July or early August. This is dangerous to health, because it can be “stuffed” with growth stimulants or other chemicals. And too small watermelons may not be tasty and not juicy.
It is better to choose a medium-sized watermelon, not large and not small, weighing from 4-7 kilograms.
Integrity and integrity of the watermelon
To choose the most ripe, tasty and juicy berry, the peel must be: whole, without scratches, cracks, dents and soft spots.
Remember, dirt, bacteria and germs get into the watermelon when the integrity of its peel is violated.
Therefore, do not buy already cut watermelons or one with a damaged peel.
Vendors often offer to pick and cut a watermelon, but remember that it is dirty.
How to choose a delicious watermelon by sound
- When tapped, a ripe and juicy watermelon will “respond” with a sonorous and booming sound. An unripe or overripe fruit is deaf.
- You can put your ear to the crust and squeeze the watermelon a little, a ripe one will crackle or crackle a little.
- You can check the ripeness of a watermelon in another way. A watermelon is placed on one hand, and the other is lightly tapped, if on the holding hand you feel vibration from the blows, then the watermelon is good.
Structure and color of watermelon pulp
The structure and color of the pulp can be determined after purchase:
- The color depends on the variety and should be pink or moderately red. If the color is purple-scarlet, the fruit is either overripe or contains nitrates.
- The texture of tasty pulp should be porous, sugar-grainy. If the cut surface also indicates the presence of nitrates.
- If the flesh of the watermelon is all riddled with white or yellowish veins, this indicates that the product is saturated with nitrates, pesticide residues.
Ripe watermelon pits are dark brown or black in color. White pits are a sign that the watermelon is underripe or nitrate.
How to choose a watermelon girl
Among farmers, the division of fruits into a boy and a girl is common.
They differ visually:
- girls have a more round shape, slightly "flattened" and they are more tasty, sweet, juicy;
- boys they have an elongated shape, they have a “convex” bottom, the “ass” is small, resembles a dot, their taste is somewhat watery.
How to choose a delicious watermelon in October
The watermelon season ends at the end of September, and you still want to enjoy the delicious fruit. In October, the remnants of the crop are brought in, so in October it is better to choose an “immature” watermelon, which has a yellowish “barrel” and a green tail.
As a rule, by October all watermelons are already ripening, and good ones by the standards of August become overripe in autumn. But they have a great advantage - they have no chemistry, they are just as tasty and juicy.
Market or shop?
You can buy watermelon both in the store and in the market, the main thing is that the place meets certain requirements.
Watermelon on the market
A good market is a fenced area specially designated for this purpose. Tents by the road are not considered, because buying watermelon in them, you can get severe poisoning instead of enjoying the taste.
Requirements that must be met by the owner of a trading place engaged in the sale of watermelons:
- the presence of a canopy that protects watermelons from direct sunlight;
- distance from the roadway;
- special storage racks located at a height of at least 20 cm from the ground;
- availability of a certificate of the Epidemiological Surveillance Service for each consignment of goods.
Watermelon in the store
When buying a watermelon in a store, pay attention to the following points:
- watermelons are not stored outdoors, under the sun or near the roadway;
- storage racks are located at a height of at least 20 cm from the floor and do not have any damage;
- availability of the necessary documents for the purchase of goods from trusted suppliers.
How to check the quality of watermelon
Before you start eating even the most “correct” watermelon, you need to:
- Before rinsing the watermelon with running water, it is doused with boiling water. You can check the quality of a watermelon with water and a basin. You need to pour ordinary water into the basin, lower the watermelon, and if it does not sink, then you have chosen a ripe and sweet one. If the watermelon sank to the bottom, it is better to return it to the seller or throw it away so as not to risk health.
- To test a watermelon for nitrates, you need to lower a small piece of watermelon into water. If the water has acquired a bright color, and the flesh, on the contrary, has become pale, such a watermelon contains nitrates. Slightly pink coloring of water is allowed.
- The largest amount of nitrate accumulates near the rind, so it is better for children to give the core of the watermelon - a tasty, juicy and safe part.
The pulp of watermelon has a high nutritional value, it contains many healthy substances: vegetable fiber, organic acids, pectin, vitamins and trace elements. Calorie content is only 38 kcal per 100 grams. Therefore, the watermelon season is the best time for delicacy, as well as cleansing and healing the body.
Knowing the above tips, secrets and subtleties will help you choose the right watermelon that will delight you with a refreshingly sweet, juicy and healthy pulp.
