Summer’s officially here, which means, it’s the season of watermelons. However, you may be left disappointed if you end up picking one that’s not as sweet and juicy as you expected.
Unlike other fruits, spotting the “perfect” watermelon may be tricky as the color of the peel doesn’t change as it ripens. So, a food scientist has explained a couple of tests that help you pick the “sweetest” fruit.
How to pick the ‘sweetest watermelon’
Food scientist Jessica Gavin uses one of her TikTok videos to show an easy hack that helps you spot the “perfect watermelon” every single time.
The first step is to do a visual check. She suggests picking a fruit that’s symmetrical without any cuts or bruises on the surface as that can compromise the quality.
She claims that a fruit that’s even in size means it has been watered well with its flavor distributed throughout. The next step involves turning it over to see if it has a yellow splotch at the bottom.
The yellow color at the bottom represents the side the fruit was sitting on while growing. “The deeper the yellow color, the more sweet and juicy the melon will be,” Jessica explains.
You need to pick up the watermelon for the third test. As it’s made up of 92% of water, the fruit must feel heavy for its size.
The fruit must feel firm when you tap on the surface, whereas it should sound hollow like a drum when you tap on the yellow spot underneath. If the watermelon you’ve picked checks all the boxes, it’s a “keeper”, says the food scientist.
Many health benefits of the Summer fruit
Watermelon is a favorite Summer fruits thanks to its juicy pulp and refreshing taste. It also comes with several health benefits, as noted by Healthline.
The compounds found in the fruit such as lycopene and cucurbitacin E, are believed to have anticancer effects.
Studies show watermelon helps lower cholesterol and blood pressure, thus benefitting heart health. The fruit includes vitamins and minerals such as magnesium, potassium, and vitamins – important for overall health.
The other benefits of watermelon include preventing macular degeneration, reducing muscle soreness, aiding skin health, and helping digestion.
Watermelon also helps keep the body hydrated in summer, which is important to avoid several health issues including a heatstroke.
Jessica is a Certified Food Scientist and Certified Culinary Scientist. She identifies herself as a “teacher at heart”. She holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Food Science from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, California. Jessica also has an Associate’s Degree in Culinary Arts.
Jessica started her food blog in 2012 after pursuing a career in nutrition product development. She boasts over 10 years of experience as a Senior Research Scientist in the industry.
