In recent years, the trend of "hugging winter melon to sleep" has become popular in China as a method for cooling down and preventing heat stroke during summer. Many adults and children have adopted this fruit as a natural cooling body pillow, with some pet owners even buying winter melons for their animals to cuddle. However, social media users have recently reported incidents of "winter melons exploding in the middle of the night", splattering rotten, foul-smelling pulp across bedding.

Explaining this phenomenon from a professional perspective, Ao Qingyan, a senior agronomist at the Chengdu Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences, stated that fresh winter melons contain up to 96% water. Water has a high specific heat capacity and strong heat absorption capabilities. At room temperature, a winter melon's temperature is typically lower than the human body's (around 36℃ to 37℃). Therefore, when held close, body heat quickly transfers to the fruit, providing a cool sensation similar to holding a cold water bottle.

Giant winter melon becomes a "body pillow" for sleeping. *Photo: Xiaohongshu/Hubei Daily*

Concurring, Doctor Hung Thu Lam, Director of the Disease Prevention Center at Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine No. 2 (Hunan University of Chinese Medicine), added that from a traditional medicine perspective, the outer skin of winter melon also helps clear heat and relieve summer warmth effectively.

However, experts emphasize that winter melons do not provide continuous cooling. As the fruit absorbs body heat, its temperature gradually rises. After approximately one-half to one hour, the winter melon's temperature will approach that of the human body. At this point, it ceases to cool and instead becomes a damp and warm body pillow.

Delving deeper into the explosion mechanism, Ms. Qingyan explained that the winter melon's outer skin has a dense wax layer that acts as a seal and protective barrier. Nevertheless, body heat combined with the enclosed space of blankets and pillows inadvertently creates a "stable temperature incubator" for the fruit. Additionally, sweat and frequent friction from hands and feet can easily damage this protective wax layer, creating favorable conditions for bacteria and mold to penetrate.

In a warm and humid environment, microorganisms multiply rapidly, decomposing sugars and organic matter within the melon's pulp and continuously releasing gases like carbon dioxide. Since these gases cannot escape through the sealed skin, internal pressure builds. When this pressure exceeds the skin's tolerance limit, a compressed gas mixture, consisting of rotten pulp and sour water, violently explodes from weak points, such as the stem end.

Experts warn that using winter melon for cooling is only a temporary, low-cost solution with many potential risks, including damage, cracking, and mold growth. Hugging a winter melon throughout the night warms the fruit, which is the primary cause of these "melon explosions". Therefore, people should not blindly follow this trend.

Furthermore, direct cooling with winter melon is not a safe option for everyone. Doctor Hung Thu Lam advised that individuals with spleen and stomach deficiency, yang deficiency, as well as the elderly, children with weak immunity, or those with sensitive skin should avoid hugging winter melons close to their bodies. Direct cold exposure or accidentally inhaling mold from a damaged fruit can cause skin and respiratory irritation.

Winter melon explodes on the bed. *Photo: Cover News*

If consumers still wish to try this cooling method, they should: choose intact black-skinned winter melons without dents or scratches to ensure the wax layer is complete and slows bacterial penetration; select a moderately sized fruit. Before use, wash it thoroughly and scrape off any fuzz or small spines on the skin to prevent skin irritation.

Winter melon should only be used for short-term cooling before sleep. When preparing to go to bed, move the fruit to a cool, airy place near the bed and place a towel underneath it. Do not hug the winter melon close to your body throughout the night. People also need to check the fruit frequently, replace it approximately once a week, and discard it immediately if it shows signs of softening, abnormal swelling, or emits a sour smell.

Binh Minh (According to HK01, Sinchew)