Watermelon

​What To Avoid When Buying Pre-cut Watermelon

If you see pre-cut watermelon that is unrefrigerated, without ice, or not stored in a cooler case, it’s best to skip it. Pallian explains, “Cut watermelon is a ‘Time/Temperature Control for Safety’ food,” and once the rind is removed, the moist, sugary flesh, along with warm temperatures, create the ideal conditions for bacteria like Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli to multiply.

Similar to pre-cut cantaloupe, microbes on the rind can be transferred to the flesh when it’s cut. Add to that warm storage, and it speeds their growth. So not only is cold watermelon more refreshing, it’s generally safer.

​What To Avoid When Buying Whole Watermelons

Any break in the rind is a serious red flag, from “a crack, a soft mushy spot, a bruise, or a puncture,” says Pallian. “An intact rind is the melon’s only barrier against contamination.”

When that rind is broken, bacteria can easily get into the flesh before you even think of bringing it home. Beyond the rind, watch for mold near the stem, a sour smell, or a sloshing sound when shaken—all signs the melon is in decline. Unlike avocados, watermelon doesn’t really get better once you bring it home. What you pick is what you get.

How To Choose the Best Watermelon

Pallian’s number one rule is to pick it up. Watermelon is about 92% water, so heavier generally means juicier. Compare a few similar-sized melons and choose the one that feels weighty in your hands.

Next, look at the ground spot, the patch where the melon rested on the soil. A ripe watermelon should have a creamy yellow spot. If it’s pale or white, it usually means it was picked too early.

She also recommends skipping shiny melons in favor of a dull, firm rind. If a stem or tendril happens to be attached (rarely), it should be brown and dry, because it signals that the melon ripened on the vine.

The old “knock test” isn’t a myth, but Pallian says it’s the least reliable indicator of the bunch. You should use it as a tiebreaker, but not a primary deciding factor. Despite what you might have been taught, you don’t need to be the person knocking on every watermelon in the produce aisle.

And always, check for safety first, use these ripeness clues to narrow it down. You’ll have a much better shot at cutting into one that lives up to the effort of hauling it home.