The hot summer is the perfect time to eat watermelons. These fruits are almost 90% water, so they are ideal as a snack in hot weather. Not only does it prevent dehydration, it also contains a solid dose of carotenoids and lycopene to help flush out toxins, regulate heart rate, and normalize blood pressure. However, it sometimes happens that buying a juicy and sweet watermelon can be almost a miracle. Fortunately, there are ways to find a nice and sweet watermelon easily. What you should pay attention to? Let’s check!

Pay attention to the watermelon rind!

If you want to be absolutely sure that the watermelon is juicy, ripe and sweet, you should take a closer look at its rind. It should be shiny but free from stains and discoloration. However, it should be borne in mind that a ripe watermelon – depending on the variety – may have uniform skin, streaks or spots, but should not show any signs of skin damage.

An excellent exception!

As you already know, a ripe watermelon shouldn’t be discolored. However, a trace of discoloration is not excluded from the purchase, which usually has a rounded shape on one side of the watermelon. Why? These fruits ripen in the field and sunlight affects the intense skin color. If there is a lighter spot, it is a sign that the watermelon has been ripening for a long time in the sun and that the spot is a result of the fruit’s contact with the ground.

Pay attention to the stem of the watermelon!

If the watermelon seems interesting to us, it is worth taking a closer look at its stem. If it is there, but it has dried up, it is a sign that the watermelon has definitely melted. Why? This is a natural process – when the watermelon is ready to be harvested, the stem dries out on its own. If we see a fruit with a hard-green tip in the store, it’s a sign that it was picked too early!

Knock on the skin

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Knock on the skin

There is another patent for checking the ripeness of a watermelon. As you know, this fruit is almost 90 percent water. A good and tasty fruit should make a dull sound when tapped on the peel. If we don’t hear anything after this attempt, this is a sign that the watermelon was harvested too early and will not be sweet and juicy enough.

Pay attention to the shape!

There are two types of watermelons. The fruits can be female or male. The former is more rounded, the latter are oval and ovoid. Some people believe that female fruit is sweeter than male fruit. If that doesn’t convince us, just sniff the watermelon. If it has an intense aroma, it is a sign that it is mellow and ready to eat.