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How Can You Tell if a Watermelon is Ripe?

HowLongFresh ExpertJul 24, 2025

Key Points

  • Watermelon doesn’t ripen any further once it has been picked, so it's worth your while to select it carefully at the store

Overview

Watermelon doesn’t ripen any further once it has been picked, so it's worth your while to select it carefully at the store. To determine if a watermelon is ripe, you should look for two key clues. First, lift up a few watermelons that are about the same size. The melon you want is the heaviest of the bunch — a ripe watermelon consists of more than 90% water, so the heavier the better, says the National Watermelon Promotion Board. Second, turn the watermelon over and take a look at its underside. It should have a creamy yellow spot from where it sat on the ground and ripened in the sun, notes the Watermelon Board. If you don’t see this spot — or if it’s there, but it’s a greenish-white color instead of yellowish — it’s probably not ripe enough. Take a pass and move on to the next melon.Long-Lasting Produce Stock up and enjoy Your Questions Answered Steak that's changed color

Key Points

  • Watermelon doesn’t ripen any further once it has been picked, so it's worth your while to select it carefully at the store

This information applies to: beef, chicken, cranberry, eggs, ground beef, hamburger, pie, potatoes, salad, shrimp, steak, stuffing, turkey

Tags

cooking expiration freezing leftovers refrigeration safety storage thawing

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