What’s better in the summer than biting into a sweet, juicy watermelon? But, how often do you find yourself stumped at the store or farmers market asking yourself, “How do you pick the best watermelon?” Let these tips answer that question, so on your next watermelon-hunting trip, you’re ready for picking.
Mike Bunch, watermelon farmer on Murfreesboro Farms, shares his tips for picking the best watermelon at the grocery store or farm stand.
- Look for a melon with a somewhat pale yellowish bottom
- When you pat it, you don’t want it to sound like a dead piece of wood.
- Choose a watermelon that is uniform in shape and heavy for its size.
- The dark green skin might have lighter green stripes. Some varieties may be entirely dark green, even dark green with yellow spots or even yellow.
- Look for a creamy yellow spot on the underside, where the watermelon rested on the ground. Watermelon becomes more yellow as the melon ripens.
- Avoid melons with soft spots, dents or cracks.
