freshare.net
By Lamar James, U of A Cooperative Extension
08-12-2008TEXARKANA, Ark. - When it comes to picking a melon, everyone has his or her own style, said Carla Haley, Miller County extension agent with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.
First is the sonar method, more commonly known as “thumping.” “When choosing a perfect watermelon, people use different methods, and the most popular is probably ‘thumping,’ “ she said. “In the process, an individual will thump with a finger to hear a dull, hollow sound.
This tells them that the watermelon should be ripe.”
Then, there’s the “judge-a-book-by-its-cover method”:
“If you are not a thumper, you may choose just by appearance and weight,” Haley said. “Choose firm, symmetrical fruit that is free of cracks, bruises, soft spots or mold.
“Ripe watermelons will have a healthy sheen, a dull rind, a dried stem and a buttery yellow underside where it touched the ground,” she said.
Others follow their noses: “There should be a melon-like smell or fragrance,” Haley said. Still others use the deadlift method: “Lift the watermelon; the weight should be heavy for its size,” she said.
Regardless of the method, Haley warns: “If you come across a watermelon that is very hard and white or very pale green in color on the underside, leave it. This indicates immaturity, and an immature watermelon will be slightly acidic instead of sweet.”
Watermelons belong to the cucumber and squash family. Early watermelons were mainly rind and seeds. Although there are about 200 to 300 varieties grown in the world, there are more than 50 varieties of watermelon that are very popular. Some of the most popular have red flesh, but there are orange and yellow-fleshed varieties.
“Today’s varieties are larger, the flesh sweeter, the seeds smaller and the rind thinner,” Haley said. If nothing else, the watermelon is aptly named.
“It is perhaps the most refreshing, thirst-quenching fruit of all,” she said. “Watermelon consists of 92 percent water.”
Watermelons are an excellent source of vitamins A, B6, and C, and they are rich in potassium and high in energy.
“They also contain high concentrations of lycopene, an antioxidant that may help reduce the risks of cancer and other diseases,” she said. “This fat-free and calorie-poor fruit is highly recommended for dieting individuals.”
For more information about watermelons, visit http://www.uaex.edu.