How to Pick Cantaloupe

Cantaloupe is a great summer melon that can be eaten with cottage cheese, cinnamon, mixed with other melons, and is also great plain!

But what most people don't know is how to pick a cantaloupe.

An overripe cantaloupe can taste too strong and have a mushy texture.

Follow the simple guide below to learn how to pick cantaloupe, the right way!

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Use your nose! Smelling a cantaloupe is a great way to tell if it is ripe or not. The more aromatic the better!

2. Use your hand. Thump on the side of the cantaloupe with your knuckles. If it makes a low sound, it is ripe. The higher the sound, the less ripe your cantaloupe is.
   
   There should be no soft spots when you press on the cantaloupe rind. A slight give in the rind is desirable, but any mushy spot is bad news! (It is rotting.)

3. Use your eyes. If the color of the cantaloupe rind looks uniformly light brown, it is ripe. But if you see green, it still needs some time before it is ready.

4. Look at the shape of the cantaloupe. If it has one side that is flat and light colored, that is great! That means that the cantaloupe was allowed to ripen on the vine, giving it all of the vital nutrients it needs and creating a healthy, tasty melon.

5. Check out the small smooth spot where the vine used to be. There should be no mold. A most vine spot is a good sign.