Here’s What You Need to Know to Pick the Perfect Watermelon

Watermelon is summer's star fruit; learn tips to select the ripest, most flavorful melons.

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Inspect thoroughly: Avoid melons with cuts, dents, bruises or soft spots.

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Look for the "ground spot": It should be creamy or buttery yellow, not white/green.

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"Thump" test: Hollow sound indicates ripeness; ringing means underripe; thud signals overripe.

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Heft it: A heavier melon for its size can indicate more juiciness.

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Watch for webbing: More webbing or scars means more pollination and sweetness.

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Wash before cutting: Scrub rind to prevent transferring microbes to flesh.

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Harvest time: 80-90 days for home garden melons, look for dull rind and brown tendrils.

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