Summer is the time for cold ice cream and refreshing watermelon fresh juice. But how to choose the right watermelon if these largest berries are so similar to each other? We have prepared several effective ways to help you choose good watermelon. Not only so that you enjoy the taste of the berry, but also so that in the summer you do not have to run to hospitals.

watermelon look

An unripe watermelon can be easily identified by its peel. The stripes of an unripe berry will be dim, fuzzy, somewhat blurry. If the peel is easily pierced with a fingernail, then the fruit is not yet ripe. If it is impossible to pierce the skin of a watermelon with a fingernail, then the berry will be ripe. Also rub the skin of the berry. Fresh fruit always has the smell of freshly cut grass.

Sometimes you want to buy half a watermelon, because the whole one is not eaten in one race. At points of sale for such customers, they are cut in advance and covered with a film. But remember that the counters at the sellers are dirty and the knives used to cut the berries are not washed often. And under the film, a greenhouse effect occurs and the bacteria that are there begin to develop at a very intense speed. That is why we strongly recommend buying watermelons only as a whole.

A cut watermelon is always better to sniff. If you hear a sour smell, then we do not recommend eating it. In such a watermelon, the skin will not be elastic and smooth, but oily.

Ideal condition

If the watermelon seller only cares about the amount of revenue, then you should definitely be careful. The seller can sell watermelons directly from the ground, in unsanitary conditions. Always check if the sellers follow the conditions for the proper storage of the striped berry.

Watermelon - like a sponge - absorbs everything. Buying watermelons that are sold along the road or from the ground is not safe. According to sanitary standards, it should be at a distance of 20 cm from the ground. To do this, pallets are placed on the ground at retail outlets, and only then watermelons are laid out on them.

If the watermelon still comes into contact with the ground or the outlet is located near the road, then very harmful dirt, heavy metals and bacteria also appear in the composition of the watermelon. If there is at least one small crack, then this will only speed up the process of getting harmful substances into the berry. And this may cause healthy person damage to internal organs, headaches, nausea, allergic reactions, etc. So we advise you to choose a watermelon without scratches and cracks on the skin.

Size doesn't matter

Many buyers are afraid to buy large berries. In most cases they are right, but there are exceptions. We will tell you how to choose a watermelon, guided by its size.

There is such a variety of thick-skinned watermelon called Crimsen Glory. Without the use of nitrates, it reaches a weight of 10-17 kg. This variety is specially bred in the Crimea so that it can be transported over long distances. A distinctive feature of this variety will also be a thick skin, an oblong shape and bright light stripes.

But an ordinary Kherson watermelon should not reach such sizes. It looks darker than the previous variety. And by weight, it is not more than 10 kg, unless, of course, nitrates were used when growing Kherson watermelon. The optimal weight for this variety is 5-7 kg.

Also small sizes should be watermelons of early ripening varieties "Photon" and "Skorik". Their weight reaches no more than 6-7 kg. They sing quickly and therefore do not grow to large sizes. These 2 varieties are not as juicy and sweet as the rest, but you can enjoy them already in mid-July.

tailed berry

Often buyers focus on dry ponytails. The tail dries out within three days. But a dry tail is not at all an indicator that the watermelon is ripe, tasty and healthy. It's just a sign that it was ripped off at the right time. So how to choose a ripe berry, focusing on the tail?

The watermelon should still have a tail. If there is no tail, then this only means that the seller cut off the green tail so that you do not guess about the immaturity of the fruit. The presence of a green tail is an indicator that the watermelon was plucked and put up for sale before it had time to become ripe. At ripe berries tail will be dry.

Yellow or white dot?

Many believe that the presence of a white spot on the side of a watermelon is a 100% guarantee that the fruit is ripe, and therefore very tasty. Moreover, the larger the spot and the whiter it is, the more likely it is that the watermelon will be riper. But this is a very common misconception. How to choose a watermelon for spots or their absence?

A tasty, sweet and ripe watermelon should have a yellow spot. bright color and no more than 5-10 centimeters in diameter. If you do not find spots on the side of the berry, then this should make you wonder how this fruit was grown. After all, it is known that watermelons are grown on melons and at the same time they lie on the ground, so a speck should be a must. But if the stain white color- He's unripe.

Sound Tests

Every homegrown expert on “how to choose the right watermelon” will argue that the fruit needs to be tested for sound. Or in simple words - click on the berry. But is this method correct?

Really, ripe watermelon makes a dull sound. But an overripe watermelon can also make a dull sound when it clicks. And it is undesirable to buy and consume an overripe berry, because it is dangerous for your health and can lead to poisoning. An overripe fruit begins to sour inside, unfavorable microflora, bacteria develop in it, and toxins can even be released. It is better to throw away such watermelons and in no case eat them.

chemical attack

If you do not have a nitrate meter at home (a device that measures the amount of nitrates in foods), then, unfortunately, it is impossible to determine the presence of nitrates in watermelon “by eye”. But you can accurately determine the conditions under which it was grown, if it is cut. Very often, sellers have halves of watermelons on the counter. By carefully examining the cut watermelon, you can determine the presence of chemical treatment and the rest of the berries in this batch.

Permissible norm of nitrate content in watermelon is up to 60 mg/kg. If you see at least one of the signs of nitrate, then do not rush to buy this fruit. A large crack right in the middle of the pulp can indicate a high concentration of nitrates in a watermelon. This means that with the addition of nitrate fertilizers, the fruit has significantly increased in size, and has become larger than nature intended.

Also pay attention to the surface of the pulp: glossy and smooth - watermelon with nitrates, sugary - you can safely take the berry. The presence of nitrates is also indicated by the appearance of yellow fibers in the pulp of the fruit. In addition, if you notice that the seeds in one berry are of a different color, then this is another sign of chemical processing. In addition, the different color of the pulp in one watermelon is all the same presence of nitrate fertilizers.

Documents ahead

When choosing a watermelon, it is important to remember that the berry is stored for 2-3 weeks. But the implementers go to different tricks to make the fruits look beautiful much longer. For example, they are treated with alibaster, lime or paraffin. These harmful substances enter the pulp through the skin and, when using such a watermelon, enter our body.

To protect yourself from various diseases, even when buying, do not hesitate to ask the seller for documents on watermelon. The documents must indicate the date of collection of a particular batch of watermelons. And if 3 weeks have already passed since the harvest, then the fruit, looking normal, is definitely treated with harmful substances.

Boys and girls

Among the watermelons, there are also boys and girls. They can be distinguished by outward signs. In boys, the lower part of the fetus is convex and smaller in size than in girls. The "ladies" have a flat lower part with a large brown circle - the so-called "watermelon".

Watermelon girls are always sweeter than boys. Also, girls have much less bones inside.

Keeping our helpful tips, now always choose only the sweetest, ripest and most delicious watermelons. At home, store watermelons in the refrigerator, but remember that if the fruit lies there for a long time, then a lot of bacteria will appear in it. And, before the direct use of the berry, do not forget to thoroughly rinse the peel. Leave the middle of the pulp for the kids to eat, as the bacteria first appear on the edges of the watermelon. Moreover, the middle is the most delicious part of the fruit. Enjoy your meal!

The most fertile and fruitful month of summer is August. It is in August that we begin to think about autumn, but for another month you can enjoy summer. It is in August that beloved watermelons appear on the markets. But unfortunately, it happens that you bring home a huge watermelon, and it is unsweetened and tastes more like grass. The whole family has already tuned in, and here such chagrin. But there are several signs by which you can identify and choose a ripe watermelon.

How to choose a good watermelon?

Before you learn how to choose the right watermelon, you should learn how to properly wait for the time to buy this huge berry. Watermelon appears on the markets not only at the August time due to it, but much earlier. Already in July you can see it on sale. Needless to say, such an early watermelon is simply impossible to grow without chemicals. So take your time and wait for the right time for the fruit to ripen.

"How to choose a watermelon?" - a question arises in the minds of thousands of people as soon as the green-striped beauties begin to appear on the shelves of shops and markets. The task is not easy, but solvable.

It is enough just to remember a few proven ways to identify a ripe and sweet watermelon.

There are a number of characteristics that will help you choose a truly ripe and sweet specimen from a pile of alluring striped fruits. Here is the cherished list:

  • the size;
  • spot on the side;
  • safety;
  • tapping sound;
  • color and structure of the pulp;
  • season;
  • the appearance of the crust;
  • "half" of watermelon.

In addition, there are quite popular “signs” of watermelon ripeness among the people, which do not really work and will not help you in such a task as choosing a ripe watermelon. The most common of these is the myth that a ripe watermelon should have a dry tail.

Many try to choose a fruit that is not too large. Someone fears that it will be too heavy and difficult to carry, and some are afraid that the watermelon has become large only because of the abundance of nitrates in it.

But after all, varieties of watermelons are different, and in some varieties, the size of the fruit can reach 20 kilograms. Therefore, when choosing, it is better to give preference to a medium-sized watermelon. The rule of the golden mean works in this case too.

Ripe watermelon do not hide "cheeks"

For reference: the “cheek” is a small light spot on the side of a watermelon, which forms in the place where the watermelon lay when ripe. The spot is not a sign of illness or immaturity, just that the sun has not touched this area of ​​​​the crust.

So, in how to choose a good watermelon, a look at the light spot on the rind will help. Everything is simple here: the more yellow it has, the better.

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.

When buying a watermelon in the market or from the back of a car on the side of the road, pay special attention to this characteristic.

Watermelon should never have the following flaws:

  • 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.

The most commonly used method for testing watermelon for ripeness is tapping. Yes, here's the problem: everyone knocks, but few people remember what the sound of a ripe fruit should be. So remember: a ripe and juicy watermelon makes a sonorous, booming sound, and an unripe one 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.

To be sure, you can also squeeze the copy you like with your hands. A slight crackle indicates readiness for use. The main thing is not to overdo it.

The color and structure of the pulp

And this is already a characteristic that will help you determine the ripeness of the fruit after cutting it. If the purchase is made in a supermarket, you can see watermelon halves on the counter.

They are wrapped in cling film, which almost eliminates the ingress of bacteria into the pulp, and gives you the opportunity to study the product in detail. So how to choose delicious watermelon on appearance pulp?

Two main positions can be distinguished: color and structure. The color of the pulp should be pinkish.

The scarlet color indicates the presence of nitrates or that the watermelon is overripe. Both are not in his favor. The structure should be porous, granular. Such watermelons are sometimes referred to as "sugar".

sale season

As a rule, watermelons start selling almost from the beginning of summer. However, if you want to get enough of a real southern fruit, and not a product of chemicals, you will have to wait until about mid-August.

Of course, there are also early varieties, but it still takes time to transport them. You may be lucky and the July watermelon will indeed turn out to be sweet, but it is not known how useful it will be.

Ripe watermelon is easy to distinguish among fellows, paying attention to the appearance of the peel.

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.

"Sex" of watermelon

It is believed that girl watermelons are sweeter than boy watermelons, although the division itself is arbitrary. How to choose a watermelon girl? It is enough to look at the speck left 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.

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.

Is a dry tail a sign of ripeness?

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 is broken by the fact that, in practice, watermelon can be separated from the food path before cutting.

And 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.

All characteristics listed above are general.


It does not hurt to highlight several varieties of watermelons that fall on the tables more often than others, and emphasize their features.

  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. Crimean Crimson Gloria. Watermelons of this variety can be really big. The weight of one copy on average can range 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. In appearance, they resemble Kherson ones, but they differ in a thick skin and a large weight.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. Photon. It also applies to early varieties and differs from Skorik only in that it has a light skin with pronounced stripes.

Market or shop?

Wherever you buy this juicy berry, this place must meet certain requirements. Both for the market and for the supermarket they have their own.

Watermelon on the market

To begin with, it should be noted that the market does not mean a spontaneous accumulation of tents near your entrance, but a territory specially designated for this purpose. And the tents by the road are not even considered, since buying a watermelon in them, you can get severe poisoning instead of enjoying the taste.

So, The following requirements must be met by the owner of a trading place engaged in the sale of watermelons:

  • the presence of a canopy that protects watermelons from direct sunlight;
  • distance from the roadway;
  • the storage tray is located at a height of at least 20 cm from the ground;
  • availability of a certificate of the Epidemiological Surveillance Service for each batch of goods.

Watermelon in the store

When buying a watermelon in a store check the following points:

  • watermelons are not stored outdoors, under the sun or near the roadway;
  • storage pallets are located at a height of at least 20 cm from the floor and do not have any damage;
  • availability of necessary documents on the purchase of goods from trusted suppliers.

Now you know what the perfect watermelon looks like, and you can safely go in search of it. And where to buy and which variety to choose - it's up to you.

Mother of two children. I have been running a household for more than 7 years - this is my main job. I like to experiment, I constantly try various means, methods, techniques that can make our life easier, more modern, richer. I love my family.

(from Brazil or Spain), but to local ones, including Central Asian watermelons.

Although watermelon is very healthy and relatively inexpensive, there are a few things worth knowing about it.

For example, you may not come across mature watermelon, or he may be loaded with nitrates, which do not bring anything useful and even more - deprive the watermelon of their advantages.


It will be interesting to note the fact that watermelon is not a berry, but member of the gourd family.

In order not to make a mistake when choosing a watermelon, you should know a few useful things about which will be discussedbelow.

How to choose a ripe watermelon

Just by eye to determine whether a ripe watermelon or not is almost impossible.

It used to be possible to make a small cut to show how red the watermelon is, but now it's illegal because the peel and knife of the seller in the market can hardly be called clean, not to mention simple hygiene.

So you need to use other methods.

1. Tapping

This method can help, but not always. Yes, it happens that a ripe watermelon, when tapped, makes a ringing sound. But sometimes not quite ripe watermelon can make the same sound, so it is not advisable to completely rely on this method.

2. Looking at the ponytail

This method also cannot be called the best, although it is used quite often. It is believed that a ripe watermelon has a dry tail, which is true.

But given that the watermelon did not ripen in natural conditions (not on melon), then its tail is also dry, and the watermelon is not ripe.

3. Squeezing a watermelon with your hands

This traditional method of determining ripeness is perhaps the most reliable.

You need to squeeze the watermelon with your hands - if it makes a crack, then it is ripe.

4. Stain on the side

Also pay attention to the side of the watermelon - there should be a spot that appears when the watermelon has been lying on the ground for a long time. It is desirable that this spot be yellow.

It is worth noting that this spot is called the "point of the field" and the watermelon rested on the ground with it, ripening under the rays of the sun. The darker this stain, the better.

A white spot or no spot means that the fruit was picked early and did not have time to ripen.

5. Scratch the crust

If you scratch the rind of a watermelon a little, then you can determine its ripeness - in a ripe watermelon, a thin peel will be removed quite easily.

How to choose the right watermelon

* choose a watermelon with a more or less symmetrical shape. Do not take small watermelons, as a rule, they are not very sweet. At the same time, too large watermelons may contain nitrates.

* watermelons that have a strong contrasting color pattern on the skin are most likely very ripe. This means that you should look for a dark watermelon with light stripes.

* DO NOT take watermelon with cracks, spots or dents. Stains on a watermelon mean that it was not stored and transported carefully, and it could lose its taste properties and turn out to be sour. Also, these indicators may mean that the fruit was watered incorrectly.

* DO NOT let the seller cut the test piece. As already mentioned, the knife can be dirty, and dust can get into the watermelon on the way home.

* Choose the watermelon that is heavier - such a fruit is full of juices. Take two identical watermelons - the one that is heavier is the most ripe. This advice is relevant for many fruits and vegetables.

The benefits of watermelon

Despite the fact that the watermelon looks like a large berry with a lot of seeds, in fact, the "common watermelon" refers to the members of the Cucurbitaceae family, and its fruit is called a pumpkin, and, as you might guess, its closest relative is a pumpkin.

*Since traditional watermelon contains a small amount of sugar, it can be eaten by those who suffer from diabetes, but of course within reasonable limits.

* It is also worth noting that watermelon juice boasts very high alkalinity. Mostly vegetables, fruits and berries have an acidic, neutral or slightly alkaline reaction, but watermelon is ahead of everyone in this sense.

You have probably heard about such a criterion as an indicator of the acidity of the environment - it is designated as pH. It is worth noting that a change of only 1 pH unit means that the acidity level has changed 10 times.

Since watermelon has a high alkalinity, it is a very good diuretic, which means it is incredibly useful for those who suffer from liver and kidney diseases, as well as people with arthritis, atherosclerosis and hypertension.

And don't forget that ripe watermelon - very sweet. But this is only when it does not contain a large amount of pesticides and fertilizers, which are used for faster ripening.

There are many lovers of watermelons, but it is extremely problematic to correctly find and choose a ripe and sweet watermelon, environmentally friendly, which contains minimal amount nitrates.

By tradition, summer is associated with travel, fresh greenery, sun and beach holidays. In summer, you can enjoy the divine taste of a delicious treat - watermelon.

Juicy and velvety flesh will please you with a pleasant coolness on hot days. Previously, watermelon was considered a useless fruit. Over time, scientists have found that watermelon is a source of folic acids, which have a beneficial effect on chemical processes and blood circulation. The pulp contains a lot of iron, vitamin C and fiber.

6 secrets to choosing a juicy watermelon

In the summer heat, the juicy pulp of a ripe watermelon will quench your thirst and restore the liquid lost by the body.

Ripe watermelons appear on store shelves in the middle of summer. If you see it in June, I recommend not buying it. Most likely, it is green and stuffed with nitrates. It is better to spend money on buying cherries, sweet cherries or strawberries.

  1. Watermelons are bought only in specially equipped kiosks. It is important that they are as far away from the road as possible. When buying, make sure they are not stored on the ground. It is allowed to store on pallets or trays.
  2. Do not follow the advice of the seller, choose without his help. First of all, determine the size of the fetus. The optimal weight is 7-8 kg.
  3. Buy only whole fruits. Through damage, scratches and cracks, dirt or microbes enter the pulp.
  4. Look for fruits with a contrasting pattern, they are distinguished by crumbly and sweet pulp.
  5. Be sure to check the tail. A ripe watermelon is dry. A green tail indicates the immaturity of the fetus.
  6. Knock. A sonorous sound is an indicator of the ripeness of the fetus, a deaf one - lethargy and prescription.

Video tips

Rules for choosing a ripe watermelon

As my grandfather said, if there is an “Astrakhan” watermelon on the store counter, this does not mean that it was brought from Astrakhan. This refers to the most popular Astrakhan variety.

Certain watermelon varieties are often boosted with nitrogen fertilizers. Pathogenic bacteria are found on the surface of a mature fetus. Often during loading, the fruits crack. Cracked fruit juice is an ideal breeding ground for microbes that cause intestinal disease.

A high-quality ripe fruit can be safely eaten in its pure form, or used for liquor.

The carved pyramid is the most popular technique used by sellers to prove the freshness of the fruit. This method does not inspire confidence in me, sellers often use dirty knives.

5 main rules

  1. Make sure the stem is dry. She is the perfect indicator of ripeness.
  2. The sound of a watermelon when patted depends on the pulp. Ripe makes a dull sound, green - rings.
  3. If the fruit squeezed by hands cracks, it is ripe.
  4. If the earth stain is white, you should not buy. It is recommended to give preference with a yellow spot.
  5. Ripe watermelon scratches easily. At a ripe watermelon upper layer skin can be easily removed with a fingernail.

As you can see, there are many ways to determine ripeness.

How to determine the presence of nitrates in watermelon

Summer has the highest number of food poisonings. In hot weather, products deteriorate, and manufacturers add nitrates to speed up ripening.