The market offers a product different varieties, dimensions, places of growth. Each time you have to decide the question - how to choose a watermelon so that it is juicy, tasty, safe for health. There are proven rules.

sale season

Watermelon is a seasonal product. It is better to buy it at a certain time.

When to buy watermelons

The most delicious, juicy specimens ripen no earlier than the second half of August. By this time, they have time to absorb the energy of the sun and useful material from the soil.

The most delicious, juicy watermelon is late August or September.

It is useless to try to choose a quality option from early watermelons: they are not very tasty, not sweet, and are saturated with nitrates. The exception is Kuban. But even from here legal parties do not arrive before the end of June.

Market or shop

Quality product you can choose in the market or in the store. Each method has its own characteristics and advantages.

Buying on the market:

• It is better to choose gourds at the point of sale away from the highway or industrial enterprise. They absorb car exhaust, toxins from the air.
• It is useful to take a nitrate meter with you or check this indicator in the controlling structure in the market.
• It is advisable to buy from trusted sellers. Sometimes distributors come to one place for years, so they value their reputation.

The market is understood as an officially operating stationary enterprise.

Shop purchase:

• The store is concerned about its reputation.
• It is easier to choose a product, since there are almost always cut half-samples.
• Upon purchase, a check is issued. It is useful to return money for a defective product. Or make a claim in case of health problems.

There are common points. All sellers must have a quality certificate with a “wet” (color) print for a specific batch. It indicates the place, time of collection, nitrate content, and other characteristics of the crop. If there is no certificate, it is better to choose another place of purchase.

Regardless of the status of the seller, goods sold on the street must be protected from the sun and placed on special decks (at least 15 cm from the ground).

Methods and rules of choice

The question of how to choose good watermelons is simple. Just remember the rules.

Appearance of the peel

Juicy, delicious watermelon easy to choose according to the conditions of the peel:

1. Coloring is uniform. The richer the green, the better.
2. In striped varieties, the stripes are bright, clearly defined, contrasting with the main background.
3. Small light spots are acceptable on the surface. They appear when the fruit is ripe, and chlorophyll has ceased to be produced.
4. The crust of a tasty, juicy berry is shiny, glossy. No matte or waxy finish.
5. Structurally rough, comparable to a piece of wood. Easily scratched, but difficult to pierce.
6. May be dotted with brownish spots. This is a "bee web" - evidence of pollination of the ovaries. These watermelons are the sweetest.
7. There should be no black dots or injection marks: these are signs of the introduction of saltpeter.

Finally, the crust is rubbed with a finger. If the aroma of freshly cut grass is felt, the berry is not ripe. It probably won't taste good.

It is better to choose a watermelon with a large distance between the strips - it is sweeter.

The size and color of the earth spot

Watermelon, although a sweet, juicy berry, grows on the ground. Lies on one side under the sun for months. A spot forms at the point of contact with the ground. Its coloration stands out from the general background. Such a site is called a "barrel" or "cheek".

It is worth choosing an instance with the following “barrel” characteristics:

• quantity - one;
• shade - thick yellow or orange;
• diameter - 6 - 11 cm.

Too large, light, unevenly colored "barrel" happens with watermelon, which did not ripen on melon.

A large lightish barrel signals: the berry ripened in an unfavorable climate. It is not so juicy, tasty.

Dry tail is a sign of ripeness

A tasty, juicy specimen is easy to choose from the tail of a watermelon. When it is ripe, the flow of moisture from the ground stops, the tail dries up. A green tail is a sign that the berry was picked unripe. Over time, it turns yellow, dries out, but there are differences:

• the tail of mature fruits is yellow-brown, easily broken;
• in immature sluggish, does not break off; may be dry but greenish;
• if the stalk is cut off, inspect the tip of the tail to establish whether it broke off on its own or was cut off.

Instances with tails cut off “under the root” should not be chosen.

How to choose a watermelon by weight and size

It's nice to put in front of your family or guests not a watermelon, but a watermelon. But often such specimens are “stuffed” with chemistry. It is dangerous for children, people with poor health.

Connoisseurs advise choosing a berry of medium size - 4 - 7 kg.

Small specimens are not particularly tasty or juicy. Such "balls" are bought for the winter, to pickle.
It is a risky business to choose a giant watermelon sold in July or early August.

Integrity and integrity of the watermelon

Choose sweet, healthy, juicy berry lighter in skin conditions:

• It should be solid: without dents, soft spots (more often it is rot), cracks, scratches.

Any damage to the peel is a gateway for dirt, germs, bacteria.

• The same applies to cut watermelons. Even if the halves covered with cling film are in the store.

Often the seller offers to choose a watermelon personally and cut it. It should be borne in mind that the watermelon is dirty.

How to choose a good watermelon by sound

Classic way choose a tasty, ripe, juicy copy - tap on the crust with your knuckles.

When tapped, a juicy ripe fruit will “respond” with a sonorous, booming sound, while an unripe one will respond with a dull sound.

An overripe watermelon with an excess of moisture beginning to “wander” also responds deafly when tapped.

You can put your ear to the crust and squeeze the fruit a little: the ripe one will slightly crackle or crackle. The main thing is not to overdo it.

Another way to check ripeness. The watermelon is placed on one hand, and the other is gently tapped. If vibration from blows is felt on the holding hand, this berry is tasty, juicy.

The color and structure of the pulp

The pulp conditions are determined after cutting:

• It should be moderately red or pink, depending on the variety. But not purple-scarlet: this color distinguishes nitrate or overripe specimens.
• texture delicious, juicy pulp porous, sugar-grained. A smooth cut surface is a sign of nitrate.
• If penetrated with white or yellowish veins, the product is saturated with nitrates, pesticide residues.

The pits of ripe fruits are dark brown or black. Whites give out nitrate or immaturity.

How to choose a watermelon girl

Even a person far from botany knows: there are watermelons-boys and watermelons-girls.

They differ visually and in taste:

• The lower part ("ass") is flat, the circle is large brown. The “boys” have a convex bottom, the “ass” is small, more like a dot.
• "Girls" are slightly flattened in shape, "boys" are elongated vertically.

Many tend to choose "female" copies. They are considered tastier, sweeter, juicier.

How to Choose a Delicious October Watermelon

The watermelon season ends at the end of September. However, in October, the remains of the crop are brought. In October, it is better to choose an “immature” specimen - with a slightly yellowish side and a green tail.

Experts say that all watermelons ripen by October, and good ones by the standards of July or August turn out to be overripe in autumn.

The advantage of late watermelons is the absence of "chemistry". But they are just as juicy and delicious.

Precautionary measures

Even the “correct” watermelon should not be eaten right away:

1. First, pour boiling water over, then wash with running water. It is better to use a basin: it is easier to wash and the quality is checked along the way. If the watermelon does not sink, it means that it is ripe and sweet. It is better to throw out the drowned one or return it to the seller.
2. Nitrate is checked by immersing a piece in water. A slightly pinkish coloration of the water is acceptable. If it is strongly stained, and the flesh has turned pale, it contains an excess of nitrates.
3. There are more nitrates near the crust, so children are given a core - it is the most delicious, juicy, and safe.

Juicy watermelon is tasty, low-calorie, but you should not get carried away.

Watermelon season is a good time to cleanse the body, saturating it with minerals, vitamins, and other useful nutrients that the berry is famous for. At the same time, enjoy savoring the juicy, deliciously tasty pulp.

The main thing is to choose the "right" instance.

Irina Kamshilina

Cooking for someone is much more pleasant than for yourself))

Content

Sweet, juicy and velvety pulp of watermelon pleasantly refreshes on a hot day and quenches thirst. In addition, it is a source of iron, potassium, magnesium, folic acid, fiber, pectin and vitamin C. At the same time, it becomes necessary to solve the problem - how to choose a watermelon, because to determine the juicy and delicious fruit not so difficult. The main thing in this matter is a competent approach, otherwise, there is a great risk of getting light pink instead of scarlet pulp without any pleasant taste.

How to choose a good watermelon

It is necessary to choose such a berry correctly due to the fact that harmful substances may be present in some watermelons. Poisoning with nitrates, the content of which in the fetus sometimes exceeds the norm, causes headache, nausea and vomiting. In addition, do not buy melons near highways, because. Car exhaust contains heavy metals and harmful substances. To buy a ripe fruit, take into account the following main criteria:

• seasonal ripening;
• appearance;
• the sound that a watermelon makes when tapped on it;
• "floor";
• tail type.

Seasonality of ripening

In order not to buy an unripe fruit, take into account the month in which you decide to purchase melons. The most delicious watermelons ripen during the season, which starts from mid-August and lasts until the end of September. Early fruits are usually saturated with nitrates, because producers who want to harvest faster feed gourds with growth stimulants and nitrogen fertilizers. If you want to enjoy healthy products without any consequences for your health, then try to be patient and take into account the full ripening period.

Appearance

One of the signs of the ripeness of the fruit is the appearance. Examine it and make sure that there are bright contrasting stripes on the surface. They, like a shiny hard crust, are considered a sure sign of the ripeness of the fruit. If they are not found, then feel free to pass by and continue your search. Also, make sure that the surface of the watermelon is free of dents, soft spots, small cracks, scratches, and other damage. The fact is that through them microbes and bacteria can easily penetrate into the fetus.

It will be good if the fruit has a slightly elongated or spherical shape, an even and uniform color - this is a huge plus in favor of choosing a specific product. Be sure to rub the crust, because. immature products will have a pronounced smell of fresh hay. In addition, do not buy cut fruits - in this case, even the presence of certificates may not protect against possible health problems.

What is the sound of a ripe watermelon

Do not forget that melons should be sold either on the counter of the store, or in stalls with an awning or on special decks located above the ground. In order not to choose an unripe or, conversely, overripe fruit, be sure to tap it with your fist. A ripe watermelon makes a sonorous, clear sound. If he turns out to be deaf, then refuse to buy and continue your search. In addition, put your ear to the fruit and lightly squeeze the berry - a slight crackle is a sign of quality.

The presence of nitrates in the berry

Try to choose melons of medium size. Large fruits, despite their tempting and appetizing appearance, are often grown using nitrates. As for the small ones, they often turn out to be not very sweet, although everything will depend on the variety. Pay attention to the cut watermelon (if the seller has it). If the bones turn out to be white, then the watermelon is either unripe or contains a lot of nitrates. Seeds should be black or dark brown.

Additionally, you should be alerted by the incredible bright color of the pulp with a lilac tint. Another point that may indicate an excess of nitrates is a smooth gloss on the cut surface. Do not forget that nitrates are concentrated closer to the crust, in this regard, leave the children with a juicy core - it is just the most delicious. You should not try a berry if its flesh is riddled with yellow or light yellow fibers.

How to recognize a good watermelon

The process of finding a berry suitable for consumption can take a lot of time, because. you have to examine the fruit from all sides and make sure that there is a bright striped peel. The stem is of particular importance. If it is not there, then there is a possibility that it was torn off on purpose, because. goods passed through long-term storage and long transportation. To choose delicious gourds, pay attention to:

• yellow spot on the side;
• bright striped crust;
• crust;
• tail;
• sound;
• gender (boy or girl).

yellow spot on side

Since the fruit lies on one side, a light spot is formed over time at the point of contact with the ground, which has a yellow or orange tint. In another way, it is also called "cheek". You should be alerted by an unevenly colored, too light or large surface. This is a sign that the berry did not lie on the melon. The optimal size of such a spot is considered to be 5-10 cm. Another sure sign of ripeness is light spots of small sizes. They appear over the entire surface of the watermelon peel after the production of chlorophyll stops.

Bright stripes on the peel

Choosing the right watermelon is a little more difficult than it might seem at first glance. Another important sign of the ripeness of melons is the presence of contrasting stripes, and bright ones. The color should be bright green. If you haven't noticed them, or they are only slightly visible, then continue with your selection. It is better to spend more time looking for a tasty and ripe berry than to be convinced later that the purchase made was a waste of money.

Thick and shiny crust

The rind should be smooth and shiny, but due to the fact that sellers constantly rub their products, choose a watermelon from the back of the display. In addition, the crust must be firm, because it hardens when the fruit reaches maturity and stops absorbing water. Try to pierce the crust with your fingernail, if this fails, then you have a product of really excellent quality. Despite the good density, such a crust can be easily scratched. Before choosing the product of interest, make sure that the peel does not have a matte coating, and the pattern is clear.

dry ponytail

The stalk is just as important when choosing the right watermelon as other criteria. The tail must be dry, because. it dries up when the melon product is fully ripe. If the stalk turned out to be green, then in front of you is a fruit that was plucked before full ripening, although in long-harvested unripe watermelons, the green tail gradually acquires a yellow tint. Another difference between ripe and unripe berries is that the stalk of a ripe fruit is brittle and breaks easily, while an unripe one is more sluggish.

Loud and deep sound

Tap each watermelon with your fist, listen carefully for the sound. For ripe melons, it should be clear, sonorous. In unripe watermelons, the sound is usually deaf. True, it is very difficult to hear the ringing through a strong and thick peel. Despite this, one should not neglect such a well-known method for checking the ripeness of the fruit. Additionally, you can squeeze the berry a little - it should crackle slightly.

"Boy" or "girl"?

Not every buyer of such products knows that watermelon has a gender. Distinguishing a "boy" from a "girl" is not so difficult. The female fruit has a perfectly flat bottom with a large circle. Brown on the skin. Male watermelons are characterized by a convex lower part and a very small circle. To choose better berries female, because they are the sweetest and most delicious. In addition, they have an order of magnitude fewer seeds.

The most delicious varieties

To choose a ripe and sweet watermelon, check out the distinctive features and characteristics of popular varieties. Find out how much they weigh on average, what skin color they have, etc. When choosing, keep in mind that a ripe berry should be heavy, but an overripe version is in most cases much lighter. In addition, never ask to cut the fruit to determine the ripeness - this opens up access to microbes, which develop especially rapidly in the hot season. Popular and widespread varieties are:

• Crimson Gloria;
• Astrakhan;
• Kherson;
• Skorik;
• Photon;
• Chill.

Crimson Gloria

This variety was bred on the Crimean peninsula. It has a long shelf life and good disease resistance, thanks to which it is perfectly transported over long distances. It has gained considerable distribution in the south of the country - one of these regions is the Volgograd region. The average weight of the variety ranges from 10-17 kg. The crust is thicker compared to the Astrakhan species, thanks to which the fruit is reliably protected from damage during long-term transportation. The pulp is tender and sweet.

Astrakhan

This type of fruit is one of the most popular and in demand in Russia. By the end of August, as a rule, sweet and largest Astrakhan watermelons begin to appear on the shelves. As a separate variety, it was bred in 1977 through the efforts of one of the country's leading breeders at that time. This fruit has a spherical or slightly oblong shape. The pulp of a ripe berry is juicy, fragrant, coarse-grained. Its color is bright red.

The color of the Astrakhan fruit is green. The pattern on the surface consists of spike-like stripes that have a dark green tint. The average weight varies between 8-10 kg. During the dry season, voids may appear inside the fetus, but no effect on taste qualities they don't provide. In general, it is better to buy a good quality fruit with sweet and tasty flesh without any voids.

Kherson

The berries of this species never grow too large - in most cases their weight does not exceed 10 kg. If you are shown a 15-20-kilogram giant and at the same time assure that you have a Kherson variety, then do not believe this - it is either of a different type, or it was grown using a large amount of nitrates. Watermelon has a rounded shape and an average bark thickness of 9-12 mm. The pulp is red, sweet, juicy, grainy, so this species is very popular.

Early maturing varieties Skorik and Foton

Among the varieties available today, there are many precocious ones. One of them is Skorik, which has pronounced taste properties. The fruits are striped and large, and the seeds are black. The shape is spherical or spherical-flattened. Skorik is the earliest Russian type of watermelon. The pulp is dense, bright red. The average weight is from 2 to 4 kg. This species is valued for its relatively large size, rich watermelon flavor and juicy honey-sweet pulp. The surface is smooth, the background is green, and the pattern is presented in the form of dark green stripes with blurry edges.

Deciding to choose an early grade product, pay attention to Photon. The fruit is medium in size, slightly oblong in shape, weighing approximately 4 kg. A light green pattern in the form of wide stripes of a dark green hue. The seeds are round and black, and the flesh is red, friable and tender. After harvesting Photon is stored for about 2-3 weeks. Transportation is well tolerated. Ripe Photon has a pleasant and sweet taste, fresh fragrance.

Hybrid variety Kholodok

If you plan to choose a mid-late look, then you will like Kholodok. The average weight is about 4.2 kg, so we can assume that this species is large. Chill has an elongated spherical shape with a medium and leathery bark, so it is not so difficult to distinguish this variety from others. Its flesh is granular, juicy, intense red in color with a pink tint. The seeds are large - they reach 1.5 cm in length, and sometimes more.

Where is the best place to buy watermelon?

Before you learn how to choose a watermelon, you need to decide on the place of purchase. To do this, you need to go to specialized stores or walk along the rows of stalls, which must be equipped with an awning. If melons and gourds are presented on special decks, then make sure that they are located at a height of at least 15 cm from the ground.

In addition, retail outlets should be located away from highways, because. transport exhausts are absorbed by melons instantly. Also, do not forget that the tender watermelon pulp is the optimal breeding ground for microorganisms that enter through inconspicuous cracks along with dirt and dust. It is unlikely that you will be able to choose and buy safe products in such places. Although, many buyers neglect this recommendation.

Quality certificate

To choose melons that are really safe for health, pay attention to the watermelon certificate. Ask the seller to show it. If it is, then familiarize yourself with the data indicated in it: the place of collection, the harvest period, the content of nitrates and other characteristics. Based on them, you will be able to make a final conclusion whether to choose one or another product from a particular seller or not. If you are offered a photocopy of the certificate, then it must be in color, and the text must be clear.

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How to choose a ripe and sweet watermelon - ways to determine by sound, dry tail and stripe color

The end of summer is coming soon, which means it's time for delicious and sweet watermelons. By the way, did you know that the fruits of this annual herbaceous plant are morphologically considered to be a berry?! In this short instruction, I want to tell you how to choose the right ripe watermelon so that it is ripe and sweet. Since childhood, many believe that the ripeness of a watermelon can be determined by the sound, or rather by the knock. The mature sound is more deaf. And if you press it, it will crunch. And if the knock is sonorous, then it has not yet matured.
In fact, there are much more signs of watermelon ripeness. Let's look at them all.

On a ripe watermelon, a dry tail

The tail of a watermelon indicates its maturity: green indicates that the fruit was plucked too early and its taste will no longer be as juicy. Ripe will be the one that has already dried hard tail.

And if you are lucky and you are on melon, then in order to choose a guaranteed ripe watermelon there will be one that has a dry tendril on the stalk. Here it is:

On this basis, professional pickers on melons determine a ripe watermelon when they are loaded into transport.

How to determine maturity by soil stain

While the fruit is growing, it lies on the ground and this part of it has a yellowish color. It's called "Earth Spot". So the most ripe, and therefore very sweet, will be the watermelon, in which the earthen spot will be closer to dark yellow or even orange. The greener the fruit, the lighter the spot, closer to white. Here is a prime example:

On the right is the “correct” watermelon. But the one on the left was plucked early and he was not ripe, so you should not take him.

We are looking for the right watermelon on the bee web

If you are looking at watermelons in a store when buying, then the so-called “bee web” will help you find the sweetest one. There she is:

These are small brown spots, somewhat reminiscent of a web. They tell us that during pollination, the bees often touched the ovary of the fruit, that is, pollination was very intensive, which means the fruit will be sugar!

Boy or girl?

Did you know that watermelons are also distinguished by gender. "Men" are distinguished by a narrower and elongated shape. They have large seeds, and the taste is not very bright, but the flesh itself is very, very juicy. "Girls" are smaller and rounder. They seem to be squashed. They have a very sweet rich taste and small seeds.

A big watermelon is a ripe watermelon!

Another way to choose a ripe and sweet watermelon is to look for medium-sized specimens weighing between 6 and 10 kilograms. At the same time, a good fruit is always quite heavy for its size.

The largest specimens are also not worth taking. The fact is that even "local" fruits (that is, grown in Russia) weighing more than 15 kilograms are pumped up to the eyeballs with nitrates. Unfortunately, the content of nitrates cannot be determined by eye.

Try to buy watermelons in trusted places. The point of sale must be equipped with a tray for these fruits and covered with an awning. Alternatively, a covered truck. Buying watermelons piled on the ground, and even next to the road, is clearly not worth it.
The most delicious watermelon should also be outwardly beautiful - shiny, not sluggish, without cracks, dents and scratches. The stripes are clear and contrasting. Through damage to the crust, dirt and bacteria enter the fruit and this can not only spoil the taste, but also cause indigestion.
Many sellers offer to cut a piece of watermelon you like for a sample. Doing this is not worth it. As a rule, sellers do not wash knives and bring bacteria that are unnecessary there, because of which it can quickly disappear.

Greetings, our dear readers. The heat is unbelievable this year. This is bad for some, good for others, but they say watermelons will be very sweet. Let's find out how to choose a sweet watermelon that is truly ripe and preferably harmless.

To begin with, I only learned how to choose watermelons last year, I think. Too bad it's just the end of the season. Well, this year I never made a mistake and chose the right one. So the technique works and I share them with you.

In fact, a lot of things can be found on the Internet about how to identify a ripe watermelon. But they don't always work. Of course, it is easier for those who grow these watermelons in the region. I think it's always sweet. But what about those who live in Siberia, like ourselves, or in the Far East?

If, for example, watermelons appear in the Kuban already in June, and even sweet ones, then in Siberia and further north, they appear at the end of July, then August and in September you can still buy.

Only those that appear in July, we don’t buy the very first ones at all. There are either no ripe ones, or there are so many nitrates that the hair just stands on end on the arms. We will also tell you how to distinguish a natural watermelon, stay with us until the end.

This is where I look first. We will never take watermelons before mid-August. The fact is that choosing a sweet watermelon earlier is almost impossible. Only from mid-August you can buy sweet berries.

Watermelon Selection Methods

By this time, they have time to collect the sun and all the vitamins. Those that appear earlier are either immature and bland, or full of nitrates.

But there are precocious varieties, you say. Yes, there are, but it takes time to transport them, also consider. This will depend on the type of watermelon. For example, this year I was on vacation in June in the Kuban. At the end of June, an early ripening variety was bought there. Just a meal. Sweet and very ripe.

The appearance of the crust.

Choosing a sweet watermelon is easy enough by looking at the appearance of the berry.

Here A few key features of a delicious watermelon:

• the stripes forming the pattern must be clear;
• the peel is glossy;
• the crust is hard, it is impossible to damage it without effort;
• when the colored layer of the peel is damaged, a recognizable smell of fresh grass appears.

Signs indicating immaturity or disease of the fetus:

• the pattern is broken or uncharacteristic, the stripes are blurry;
• dullness of the peel;
• the crust can be easily damaged even with a fingernail.

Choose watermelon with more space between the stripes, as they are considered to be sweeter.

Does the size of the watermelon affect the quality?

Let's just say there are many varieties. There are varieties when the weight of a watermelon reaches 20 kg. Therefore, choose a medium watermelon. In this regard, the rule of the golden mean always works.

In most cases, large watermelons are said to be grown using nitrates. But small watermelons are often unripe.

Again, it all depends on the type of watermelon. If you do not understand the varieties, just choose a medium size.

Yellow spot on the side.

This spot is not a sign of unripe watermelon or disease. Just a watermelon lay in this place on the ground and the sun, of course, did not get there.

Yellow spot on watermelon (large)

It is also easy to determine the ripeness of the berry by this speck. It should be as yellow as possible.

But buying a watermelon with a white circle on its side, you run the risk of running into a tasteless product.

The size of the spot also requires attention. Be aware that a large spot indicates that the watermelon has been ripening for a long time in not too warm conditions. Because of this, the fruit loses its taste and becomes less juicy.

Watermelon damage.

Mindfulness will help you choose a sweet watermelon. The berry should not have any damage, even small ones:

• cracks;
• dents;
• incisions;
• rotted areas (even very small ones!).

The fact is that the juicy and nutritious pulp of a watermelon is an ideal breeding ground for bacteria, which, together with air and roadside dust, can get inside in abundance.

Eating watermelon with such a surprise can lead to poisoning and gastrointestinal upset. The same applies to cut watermelons, so do not try to save money by buying not a whole watermelon, but only a half. Such frugality can cost you dearly.

Sometimes we are offered to cut a watermelon to taste the ripeness. See that the knife is clean from the seller and if you bought such a watermelon, then you need to eat it quickly. Do not keep it for a long time, even in the refrigerator.

The ringing and crackling of watermelon.

They constantly say that you need to knock on a watermelon and then you will understand whether it is ripe or not. Yes, only few people remember how a ripe watermelon should actually sound. I guessed this myself more than once.

Remember: a ripe and juicy watermelon makes a sonorous, booming sound, and an unripe watermelon makes a deaf sound.

An overripe watermelon also sounds dull, in which there is already too much moisture and it has begun to sour. It is also better to refuse such a purchase. Thus, a voiced sound is good, a deaf sound is bad.

In addition, to be sure, you can put pressure on the watermelon, squeeze it with your hands, it should crunch a little. Yes, just do not overdo it, you can crush it))) A slight crackle indicates the ripeness of the berry.

Watermelon girls are sweeter.

choose the "gender" of the watermelon

Watermelons are also divided by gender. This division has nothing to do with biology and exists only to simplify the selection process. Indeed, watermelons-girls in practice turn out to be more juicy and sweet. There is an assumption that this is due to the characteristics of pollination.

Choosing is quite simple, look at the speck, in the place where the flower once was:

If the spot is flat and rather large, then it is a girl. In male watermelons, the spot is convex and smaller in size.

Such a watermelon will be sweeter, provided it is ready to eat.

Is a dry tail a sign of ripeness or not?

It is believed that when a watermelon, ripening, can no longer take in nutrients and moisture, and under its own weight separates from the bush. In general, the theory is correct, but it turns out that in practice the watermelon can be separated from the food paths before being cut.

The tail dries out in 3 days, so a green watermelon with a dry tail may well lie on the counter.

If you still do not want to give up this method, pay attention to the tip of the tail. Even with a dried stalk, you can determine whether it was cut or broken off naturally.

The structure and color of the pulp.

And this can only be determined when you cut the watermelon. But sometimes on the counter you can find half a watermelon wrapped in cling film. By the way, it does not allow bacteria to get inside.

Then, of course, it is easier to study the product, but even if you just opened a watermelon at home, still pay attention to the color, structure of the pulp and the bones themselves.

The color should be pinkish. The scarlet color indicates in large numbers nitrates or that he overripe. In any case, such a berry should not be taken.

The structure should be porous, granular. They also talk about such watermelons - sugar.

Also pay attention to the bones, they should be black or dark brown. If they are white or there are a lot of them, then such a watermelon is not ripe or it has a lot of nitrates.

How to choose a sweet watermelon, ripe and delicious, we talked. In the complex of the above tips, you can easily choose the right berry. But there are also a few other things to be aware of.

Don't buy watermelons from the curb!

Then, instead of pleasure, you can get serious poisoning. There are a lot of harmful substances from cars. Naturally, they fall on the watermelon, and they are deeper and then poisoning will result.

It is also worth paying attention to the point of sale and not buying from dubious sellers. Not infrequently, we hear recommendations that you need to ask for a certificate for watermelons. This is correct and feel free to ask him.

If it is, read the data indicated in it: the place of collection, the harvest time, the content of nitrates and other characteristics. Based on them, you will be able to make a final conclusion whether to choose one or another product from a particular seller or not. If you are offered a photocopy of the certificate, then it must be in color, and the text must be clear.

Choosing the right sweet watermelon will help attentiveness, but not only to the berry itself, but also to the place of sale.

In the market or shop, pay attention to the following:

• sunlight does not fall on watermelons (canopy, shop premises);
• removal from the roadway;
• storage pallets are located at a height of at least 20 cm from the floor or the ground and do not show any damage;
• availability of a certificate of the Epidemiological Surveillance Service for each consignment of goods for the market;
• Availability required documents on the purchase of goods from trusted suppliers.

In addition, to protect children from nitrates or poisoning, the following should be done:

• nitrates accumulate in the peel and the pulp next to it, so do not try to give the kids the pulp from the middle and do not give the skin;
• before use, pour boiling water over the watermelon and rinse it well with running water.
• if not difficult, pour plain water into a transparent glass. Put a piece of pulp there, preferably not from the center of the watermelon. The water should not be colored near the pulp, if only a little pinkish from the watermelon juice. If there is a lot of colored water around the pulp, it itself becomes pale, then there are a lot of nitrates in such a watermelon.

check for nitrates

Some popular varieties of watermelons.

Choosing a sweet watermelon is not so difficult, but the above methods are common, of course you can’t go wrong. But it is worth knowing a little about the popular varieties that fall on our tables.

1. Watermelons Kherson. Kherson sugar watermelons never grow too large, their weight does not exceed 10 kg. If you are shown a twenty-kilogram giant and they say that he is from Kherson, do not believe it. It is either of a different variety, or grew on some nitrates. The appearance of watermelons of this variety is classic: bright light stripes, an oblong shape, soft pinkish flesh and a rather thin peel.
2. Astrakhan. As a separate variety, it was bred in 1977 through the efforts of one of the country's leading breeders at that time. This fruit has a spherical or slightly oblong shape. The pulp of a ripe berry is juicy, fragrant, coarse-grained. Its color is bright red. The color of the Astrakhan fruit is green. The pattern on the surface consists of spike-like stripes that have a dark green tint. The average weight varies between 8-10 kg. In the dry season, voids may appear inside the fruit, but they do not have any effect on the taste.
   
3. Crimean Crimson Gloria. Watermelons of this variety can be really big. The weight of one copy on average can vary from 10 to 17 kg. In addition, watermelons of this variety are able to withstand long-term transportation. They are also grown in the south of Russia. By appearance reminiscent of Kherson, but differ in thick skin and heavy weight.
4. hybrid chill. The peculiarity of watermelons of this variety is that they can be stored for a very long time, until the New Year. It is only necessary to provide the fetus with comfortable storage conditions. To do this, place it in a dry, dark place. However, representatives of this variety appear on the market only in early September, as they ripen late.
5. Skorik. Watermelons of this variety are early and appear on the shelves among the first. You can distinguish them by the dark green uniform color of the skin and low weight - no more than 7 kg.
6. Photon. It also applies to early varieties and differs from Skorik only in that it has a light skin with pronounced stripes.

We also offer you to watch a useful video on this topic.

Now you know exactly how to choose a sweet watermelon, just be careful. And that's all for us, leave your comments below, join us on Odnoklassniki. Good appetite.

How to choose the right sweet watermelon - proven methods. updated: November 15, 2019 by: Subbotin Pavel

Do all the tips on how to choose a watermelon really work when choosing this giant "berry"?

By the way, is the “berry” a watermelon? The botanist will answer: "No"! The fruit of a watermelon is called "pumpkin", like other gourds: pumpkins, melons, zucchini and even cucumbers.

Size matters?

There is an opinion that large watermelons are tastier. Among the many modern varieties watermelons are medium-sized for 7-15 kg, large for 20-30 kg, and small for 3-5 kg. How to choose a ripe watermelon, focusing on size? As a rule, on a particular showcase there are fruits of one variety. Therefore, you should not buy a small watermelon, if it lies among the large ones, most likely, buy an unripe one.

Contrasting stripes - ripe watermelon?

The color of the skin depends on the variety. There are dark green watermelons completely without stripes. But, if you choose a striped watermelon from several dozen fruits of the same variety, compare them with each other. Ripe fresh watermelon has contrasting stripes, rich color and a shiny surface. Cloudy stains and a matte coating indicate that the watermelon is most likely sluggish or unripe.

Are "girls" sweeter than "boys"?

Have you also heard that "watermelons" are sweeter?
You can find them by a large spot on the “ass”, the size of the spot is the size of a five-ruble coin.

How to choose a watermelon - "girl"? Such watermelons are found approximately one in twenty. And to find it, you have to turn over a couple of centners. But this spot has nothing to do with the gender of the fetus. The size of the spot depends on the size of the flower that gave the ovary in this place. And all flowers that bear fruit can only be female by nature. Therefore, any watermelon has an equal chance of growing sweet.

Is a dry brown ponytail better than green?

How to choose a ripe watermelon according to the condition of the stem?
Let's think about when the stalk of the plant begins to dry?

When the fruit is plucked and lies for a long time.

When the plant finishes growing.

In the first case, a dry "tail" may be found in an unripe watermelon, which has long been waiting for its buyer. And in the second, at a ripe August watermelon, recently brought from melons.
The green tail can be both ripe and unripe watermelon.
How to choose a ripe watermelon according to this rule, if the probability of making a mistake is so high?

Looking for a yellow barrel

Why can the side of a watermelon remain yellow?

The watermelon lies sideways on the ground, the sun does not hit it.

The presence of a small light spot indicates that this is a real gourd, and not a greenhouse crop, plucked ripe, and did not ripen along the way. A sure sign - you must take it!

Do it once!

Remember how the hippopotamus from "Well, you wait!" chose watermelons, squeezing them with his powerful paws? He did this, expecting to hear the sonorous crackling that juicy sweet fruits make. The sound should be as if the watermelon is about to crack. But if, without athletic training, it is difficult for you to lift and attach a fifteen-kilogram “weight” to your ear several times, then it will be difficult for you to use this rule.

Voiced or deaf?

This is the point where there is the most disagreement. According to the logic, tapping on a hollow surface in which there are voids will be voiced, and deaf - on a dense, elastic, filled with liquid. But in the case of watermelons, sources disagree and call the sound of a ripe watermelon either deaf or sonorous. How to choose a ripe watermelon by sound? You will have to develop your ear and learn to distinguish the “correct” sound of the watermelon you like from your own experience.

Now you know that the answer to the question: “How to choose the right watermelon?” Depends on the case. Take note of the recommendations that are convenient for you and remember that, starting from mid-August, all watermelons are ripe.