A sweet, juicy slice of watermelon is a popular refreshment on hot days. However, not every fruit that looks good on the outside tastes delicious when cut open.

Jordan Carter, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Leger and Son, a three-generation watermelon farm in Georgia, US, stated that buyers can rely on several external signs to select ripe fruit.

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Look for a yellow spot on the fruit's bottom.

The most reliable sign is the part of the rind that was in contact with the ground while the watermelon grew in the field.

"The fruit should have a slightly dull color, and its belly or underside should have a creamy yellow spot", Carter stated. This is where the watermelon rested on the ground during its growth and ripening under the sun.

This area is often called the "field spot". Ripe watermelons typically have a light yellow, creamy yellow, or butter-yellow spot. If the spot is white or pale green, the fruit may not have reached proper ripeness.

Choose a heavy fruit.

When lifting a watermelon, pay attention to its weight relative to its size. According to Carter, watermelons are about 92% water, so a ripe, juicy fruit often feels heavy.

If there are several fruits of the same size, lift each one and choose the heavier one.

Tap the fruit.

Many people habitually tap the watermelon rind to check for ripeness. Carter believes this method is not the most scientific and relies heavily on sound perception, but it can still be a reference.

"Ripe watermelons typically produce a deep, dull sound. Unripe fruits have a higher-pitched and more resonant sound", he explained.

Scratch the rind.

Another method is to lightly scratch the rind with a fingernail. If the outer layer peels easily, revealing a greenish-white part underneath, the fruit may be ripe. For unripe watermelons, the surface usually only shows an indentation or a darker line.

Additionally, choose intact fruits without cracks, dents, or bruises. A few small scratches on the rind typically do not affect the internal quality.

Nhat Minh (According to Simply Recipes)