How to choose a watermelon so that it is sure to be tasty and ripe? The beginning of watermelon season. Which watermelon should not be taken?

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

You just need to remember a few proven ways to identify 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 treasured list:

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

In addition, there are quite popular “signs” of watermelon ripeness, which actually do not work and will not help you in the task of choosing ripe watermelon. The most common of them is the myth that a ripe watermelon must have a dry tail.

Many people try to choose a fruit that is not too large. Some fear that it will be too heavy and difficult to carry, while others fear that the watermelon has become large only because of the abundance of nitrates in it.

But there are different varieties of watermelons, 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 also works in this case.

Ripe watermelon does not hide its “cheeks”

For reference: a “cheek” is a small light spot on the side of a watermelon, formed in the place where the watermelon lay when ripe. The spot is not a sign of disease or immaturity, the sun simply did not touch this area of ​​the crust.

So, looking at the light spot on the rind will help you determine how to choose a good watermelon. It's simple here: the more yellow tint he will have it, so much the better.

But when buying a watermelon with a white circle on the side, you risk running into a tasteless product.

The size of the spot also requires attention. Know that a large spot indicates that the watermelon for a long time matured in not too warm conditions. Because of this, the fruit loses its taste and becomes less juicy.

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

Under no circumstances should watermelon have the following flaws:

• cracks;
• dents;
• cuts;
• rotten areas (even very small ones!).

The fact is that the juicy and nutritious pulp of a watermelon is an ideal environment for the proliferation of 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 don’t try to save money by buying not whole watermelon, but only half. Such frugality can cost you dearly.

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

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

Color and structure of pulp

And this is 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 halves of watermelon on the counter.

They wrap themselves in cling film, which almost eliminates the entry of bacteria into the pulp, and provides you with the opportunity to study the product in detail. So how to choose delicious watermelon By appearance pulp?

There are two main positions: color and structure. The color of the pulp should be pinkish.

Scarlet color indicates the presence of nitrates or that the watermelon is overripe. Both of these things are not in his favor. The structure should be porous and granular. These watermelons are sometimes referred to as “sugar” watermelons.

Selling season

As a rule, watermelons begin to be sold almost from the beginning of summer. However, if you want to get your fill of the real southern fruit, and not the 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 be sweet, but it is unknown how healthy it will be.

It is easy to distinguish a ripe watermelon from its fellows by paying attention to the appearance of the rind.

Here Several main signs of a tasty watermelon:

• the stripes forming the pattern must be clear;
• glossy peel;
• the crust is hard, it cannot be damaged 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 blurred;
• dullness of the peel;
• the crust can be easily damaged even with a fingernail.

Choose a watermelon with more space between the stripes, as they are considered to be sweeter.

"Floor" 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? Just look at the speck left in the place where the flower once was.

If the spot is flat and quite 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, girl watermelons turn out to be juicier and sweeter in practice. 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 ripens, it can no longer take nutrients and moisture and under its own weight is separated from the bush. In general, the theory is correct, but it is broken by the fact that in practice the watermelon can be separated from the food route before being cut.

And the tail dries in 3 days, so it can easily lie on the counter green watermelon with a dry tail.

If you still do not want to give up this method, pay attention to the tip of the ponytail. Even with a dried stalk, you can determine whether it was cut or broke off naturally.

All characteristics listed above are general.

It doesn’t hurt to highlight several varieties of watermelons that end up on tables more often than others and highlight their features.

1. Kherson watermelons. Sugar Kherson watermelons never grow too large, their weight does not exceed 10 kg. If they show you a twenty-kilogram giant and claim that it is from Kherson, do not believe it. It is either of a different variety or grew on nitrates alone. The appearance of watermelons of this variety is classic: bright light stripes, oblong shape, soft pinkish flesh and rather thin peel.
2. Crimean Crimson Gloria. Watermelons of this variety can be really large. The average weight of one specimen can range from 10 to 17 kg. In addition, watermelons of this variety can withstand long-term transportation. They are also grown in the south of Russia. In appearance they resemble Kherson ones, but differ in thick skin and greater weight.
3. Hybrid chill. The peculiarity of this variety of watermelons is that they can be stored for a very long time, until the New Year. You just need 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 at the beginning of September, as they ripen late.
4. Skorik. Watermelons of this variety are early and appear on the shelves among the first. They can be distinguished by the dark green, uniform color of the skin and low weight - no more than 7 kg.
5. Photon. The same applies to early varieties and differs from Skorik only in that it has a light skin with pronounced stripes.

Market or store?

Wherever you buy this juicy berry, this place must meet certain requirements. They are their own for both the market and the supermarket.

Watermelon at the market

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

So, The following requirements must be met by the owner of a retail outlet selling 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 an Epidemiological Surveillance service certificate 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 trays are located at a height of at least 20 cm from the floor and do not have any damage;
• availability 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. Where to buy and which variety to choose is up to you to decide.

There is perhaps no other berry that is as associated with summer as watermelon. With the arrival of August, city streets are filled with spontaneous sales points of this delicacy, passing or driving past which any of us will immediately want to buy a juicy, ripe, delicious watermelon, which will perfectly quench the thirst that has arisen from the already seemingly unbearable summer heat. Besides the magnificent nutritional qualities watermelon is also famous for the presence of a large number of vitamins and microelements, as well as folic acid. In this article we would like to tell you how to choose the right watermelon, which fully corresponds to what is written above.

It is known that watermelon is at least 80 percent water. This primarily explains its ability to cleanse the body and remove toxins. They say that in order to flush the kidneys well, a person needs to eat up to 100 kg of watermelons per season. But, there is also another opinion that excessive consumption of melons and melons washes out of the body useful substances, which means you shouldn’t “abuse” watermelons. Be that as it may, everyone agrees that watermelon has a calming effect on nervous system. A few pieces of watermelon a day will help improve your mood and improve your vitality. Others are also known beneficial properties watermelons

1. Watermelon contains a small amount of calories, but is very rich in fiber, which cleanses the intestines.
2. Watermelon pulp contains lycopene, a substance with powerful antioxidant properties, which makes it very useful in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and cancer.
   
3. Watermelon juice has a diuretic effect. This means that blood is filtered through the kidneys faster.
   
4. Watermelon contains iron, which is extremely useful for anemia.
   
5. And finally, eating watermelon in combination with black bread for one week perfectly cleanses the kidneys.
   

Many people argue and cannot come to a consensus on what a watermelon is. To fruits, vegetables, or berries? Most opinions tend to be that it is, after all, a berry. But, by and large, people are less interested in the class affiliation of this product than in the question of how to choose a tasty watermelon.

For those who grow melons, choosing the right watermelon is not difficult, since they can always navigate by the key (do not confuse the key with the tail). If it is dry, then the watermelon is already ripe. Ordinary buyers do not have this opportunity and they have to solve the problem of how to choose the right watermelon, based on other data.

First of all, you need to understand that more or less natural watermelons can only be purchased during their season, which in the south of Russia corresponds to the second half of August. Everything that came before could have been grown using nitrates and growth stimulants.

Choose where you purchase your watermelon carefully. In places of spontaneous trade, you can with equal probability buy both very tasty watermelons and those that do not meet sanitary standards. Ask the seller where these fruits were grown and whether they have a quality certificate. You should not buy watermelons near busy highways, as they can accumulate harmful substances contained in exhaust gases.

In an effort to choose the right watermelon, you must remember that you should not buy cracked or rotten berries. IN best case scenario The taste will be spoiled, and in the worst case, you can get food poisoning due to pathogenic bacteria getting inside the watermelon. Watermelon with a sour smell can be very poisonous.

Many people choose watermelon based on the dryness of its stem, or tail. This is not entirely true. The stalk can dry out during storage of both ripe and unripe watermelon.

Therefore, it is more correct in the matter of how to choose the right watermelon to visually assess its size. Opt for medium-sized specimens weighing 7-10 kilograms. A larger size may indicate that the watermelon is full of chemicals, and a smaller one may indicate that it is not ripe and is picked greenish.

A ripe watermelon should make a dull, deep sound when you tap it with your knuckles. When applying slight pressure it should crackle slightly. A ringing sound is characteristic of unripe berries.

Notice the light spot on one side of the watermelon. This is where he lay when he was ripe. A large spot is a sign of unripe watermelon. Choose watermelons with a small white spot.

The skin of a ripe watermelon is easily scratched with a fingernail.

When cut into a watermelon, fibers should stand out. white. Fibers yellow may indicate a large amount of nitrates used for growth. Since nitrates are distributed unevenly and are most concentrated in the rind area, it is better not to eat such a watermelon to the rind, but to eat only its core.

Pay attention to the color of the watermelon peel. Our local watermelons have a dark green rind, while the berries imported from Turkey are lighter yellow-green in color.

Those who do not like to tinker with seeds in a watermelon need to learn to distinguish between berries by gender, since watermelon is a bisexual berry with male and female individuals. Male berries have a convex bottom with a small circle above it, while female berries have a flat bottom and a wide circle. Female watermelons contain fewer seeds and more glucose, which is why they are traditionally more popular.

Choosing a watermelon may seem difficult at first. With a little practice, you will be able to accurately select ripe berries to please yourself and your loved ones. Good luck choosing!

Sweet, ripe and nitrate-free? There are many tricks and tricks to distinguish healthy berries with juicy ripe pulp.

The second half of summer is a real holiday for watermelon lovers. You can enjoy your favorite berry every day: eat the pulp cut into slices, prepare cocktails and a variety of desserts. But the fruit brought home from the market or store is not always tasty and healthy: the pulp may be unripe or unsweetened, and a concentration of nitrates that exceeds the norm can cause disturbances in blood composition and cause severe poisoning.

There are several rules by adhering to which you can choose a watermelon that is not only ripe and sweet, but also without containing nitrogen fertilizers harmful to the body.

With the beginning of the season, watermelons can be found in supermarkets, markets, and in tents located directly in the open air. The taste and beneficial properties of berries largely depend on storage conditions, so before you go shopping for watermelon, it is important to choose the right place to buy.

Sanitary conditions in stores and specially equipped storage facilities are much better than in spontaneous markets and tents. Experts strongly do not recommend purchasing watermelons from sellers who offer to choose fruits from heaps dumped on the roadsides directly on the ground. Despite the thick peel, the berries are able to absorb many harmful substances deposited from exhaust gases, and various pathogens can penetrate inside through small cracks.

If you still decide to choose a watermelon in an outdoor tent, pay attention to the following:

• from above the fruits must be covered with a hanging awning;
• all watermelons must be on a special flooring with a height of at least 20 cm;
• The best option is to have side walls in the tent that protect the berries from dust and dirt.

Before choosing a watermelon on the market, in a store or other point of sale, the buyer has the right to request certificates confirming the quality of the product. The document indicates the timing and place of collection, the presence of nitrates and other data that will allow you to make a choice. If there is no documentation, you should not risk your health, even if the price is lower than that of other sellers.

At a certain temperature and humidity, watermelons can be stored for quite a long time, however, it is impossible to provide such conditions at street sales points. This means that the average shelf life is no more than 2-3 weeks. After this, the berries begin to sour and lose their taste. If it is not possible to determine the harvest date, you can check this by ripping it off with your fingernail small piece skin: u fresh watermelons You can only smell the cut grass, and a small amount of moisture will appear on the surface.

Some producers and sellers, in order to preserve the harvest longer, treat it with a mixture of chalk or a solution of alabaster and paraffin. The storage duration increases by 1.5-2 times, but the quality of the berries decreases significantly: frequent use Eating the pulp of such watermelons can result in the formation of sand in the kidneys.

The most beneficial are watermelons grown on open ground. Since this melon crop is heat-loving, the first ripe fruits appear no earlier than the second half of summer. At first, berries imported from Central Asian countries go on sale, a little later - from southern regions countries. Optimal time for purchasing your favorite delicacy begins in the second ten days of August and continues until the last days of September. During this period, you have the highest chances of choosing a watermelon that is not only tasty, but also free of nitrates.

By appearance

Experienced lovers of sweet fruits first of all pay attention to color and other external characteristics crusts. Knowing some tricks will allow you to determine the ripeness of the pulp even without preliminary testing. What should you pay attention to and how to choose the right watermelon based on appearance?

Many people are interested in the question: is it possible to determine the presence of nitrates in the pulp by appearance? Unfortunately, it is impossible to determine the content of an increased amount of harmful substances without cutting the fruit, unless using a special device.

Knowing the signs of excess nitrate levels will help you avoid poisoning. Before eating a cut watermelon, inspect it carefully:

• a good watermelon has pulp, on the cut of which sugar grains are clearly visible;
• a dangerous concentration of nitrates may be indicated by the presence of voids in the central part of the fruit;
• A ripe watermelon has black seeds; the combination of unripe seeds and ripe red pulp is a bad sign.

By sound

When a watermelon ripens, the pulp changes its density - it becomes more porous. This feature makes it possible to determine ripeness by the sound that the berry makes when tapped. To do this, tap the crust with your knuckle. The louder the sound, the riper berry. You can test several watermelons in this way and compare the results.

How else can you choose a watermelon by sound? There is another known method for determining ripeness, which is more suitable for men. The fruit is squeezed between two palms facing each other. They should be placed in the middle between the tail and the bottom. When you squeeze the palms of a ripe fruit, the peel will make a characteristic soft crackling sound. This method requires a certain physical strength, but its reliability is quite high.

The main taste characteristic by which the quality of the crop is assessed is the amount of sugar in the pulp. At the same time, the sweetness of a berry is not always directly related to its ripeness: it happens that a red fruit with ripe seeds may not be sweet at all.

What affects the taste of watermelon and what sugar levels are considered optimal? During mass cultivation of melons, the suitability of the fruit for consumption is determined when the sugar concentration reaches 10% or more. To determine this indicator use special device- refractometer. In the melon field, several fruits are selected in different places, cut and the level of sugar content of the pulp in the central part of the fruit is measured.

However, not all manufacturers offer a product with the recommended characteristics. What is the reason for the decrease in taste? There are several factors influencing the taste of the pulp.

First of all, the choice of variety is important. Despite the large number of different types of melons, breeding work does not stop, due to which new and improved hybrids appear. As a result of crossing, not all characteristics can be improved, and often increased disease resistance or increased yield affect taste characteristics. When choosing a variety, you should take into account the growing conditions, as well as the structure and composition of the soil.

Even correctly selected seeds may not produce the desired yield if the cultivation technology is not followed or if there are unfavorable weather factors. For normal sugar levels the following conditions are necessary:

• Sufficient lighting. The more sunny days there are during the period of plant growth and fruit formation, the sweeter the harvest will be.
• Presence of moisture. Sufficient soil moisture ensures good germination of crops and normal growth of melons. But during the ripening of the crop, excess moisture can have a very negative impact on their taste: if there is heavy rain after dry days, the plants can continue to grow and pull some of the substances accumulated in the fruits back into the leaves and stems.
• Nutrition. Watermelon is characterized by increased sensitivity to the presence of mineral fertilizers. When planting plants on poor soils, regular feeding of the plants is necessary, which makes it possible to obtain a richer harvest and increase the sugar concentration by as much as 2-3%. Some unscrupulous producers achieve increased yields by adding too much nitrogen to the soil. It is capable of causing intense cell growth, in which their number remains the same, but their size exceeds the norm several times. The increase in volume in this case occurs due to the accumulation of water and deterioration of taste. With an increased amount of nitrogen, the pulp may acquire a specific bitter taste.

Another reason for non-compliance with expected taste qualities is untimely harvesting. Watermelon, unlike the vast majority of fruits, is not able to ripen after picking. On taste characteristics Transportation and storage conditions also influence.

So how can you choose a watermelon with sweet flesh? Unfortunately, external signs There is no definition of the taste of the pulp. You can find out how tasty and sweet the fruit is only after taking a sample.

Many people prefer to choose the most large berries, mistakenly believing that they are the most ripe. In fact, too large a size may be a sign of artificially enlarging the fruit by applying large quantity nitrogen fertilizers.

The optimal weight depends on the variety: most of the most popular in middle lane For variety types, this indicator is at the level of 5-6 kg; for large varieties and hybrids ("", "", "Palladin", ""), the weight of the fruit can reach 10-12 kg. When choosing from one batch, it is better to buy not the largest or smallest watermelon, but give preference to medium-sized specimens.

Currently, the opinion that a light shade of the skin is a sign of insufficient ripeness is not true. This is due to the achievements of modern breeding, thanks to which a large number of very diverse species with a peel shade from light green to dark green, approaching black, have recently appeared.

Experts advise paying attention not to how dark or light the watermelon is, but to the contrast between the stripes on the peel. The more pronounced the difference between adjacent stripes, the tastier the pulp.

Before choosing a watermelon, it is recommended to inspect the stem. Should the tail of a watermelon be completely dry or is this not an indicator of ripeness at all? A ripe berry stops consuming moisture and gradually the stalk dries out at the point of attachment to the stem. A dried tail is one of the signs of ripening, but only when it is fragile and breaks easily.

If the stalk is simply sluggish, we can say with great confidence that the harvest has been harvested ahead of schedule, and the stalk dried out during transportation. A clear sign of unripe fruits are correctly cut ends of the tails.

One more widely in a known way The choice is to assess the condition of the peel surface. It is believed that after ripening, the watermelon rind begins to shine. How true is this and should the surface of a ripe fruit be smooth and shiny?

When ripe, the hardness of the peel increases, and its top layer acquires a pronounced waxy sheen. During the period most suitable for eating watermelon, this shine remains, but when overripe, the skin becomes dull again.

However, this sign is not true for all varieties: many recently bred hybrids have a wax-like coating from the very beginning of fruit formation. It is also worth choosing a berry, taking into account the tricks of sellers who specially rub the surface of the crust until it shines.

At the point of contact with the ground, a so-called “cheek” is formed - a light spot that can have a shade from white to orange. The presence of such a speck is normal if its diameter, depending on the total weight, does not exceed 5-10 cm. Light areas of much larger size indicate low quality of the crop.

By the color of the “cheek” you can determine the degree of maturation. In unripe berries, it is white with visible stripes, but a clean, completely yellow or orange spot on a watermelon indicates that it is ready to eat.

Sometimes, when cutting the fruit, it is discovered that the pulp has an uneven structure and is riddled with dense light veins. What do those white threads inside a watermelon mean? The appearance of compactions is a plant reaction to stress caused by a sudden change in growing conditions. Basically, such threads appear during sudden changes in temperature.

If there are veins in the pulp, before eating it, you should pay attention to the color of the threads: a yellowish tint is one of the signs high content nitrates

Often, buyers try to choose a watermelon based on the shape and size of the lower part, which remains in place of the fallen flower. It is believed that girls have a wider “mole” and are distinguished by sweetness, but the taste of a boy, who has a small convex bottom, is much worse. How true are these signs of watermelon sweetness?

The dimensions of the lower part depend solely on the size of the flower and have nothing to do with the “sexual” division of the fruit. A good watermelon does not have to have a wide and flat bottom. At the same time, the size of the “mole” can tell about the number of seeds inside: the so-called “boys” have few of them and they are small, but the flesh of the “girls” contains many large seeds.

Is it possible to eat early watermelons?

The first watermelons on the shelves of shops and markets can be found already in July. Among amateurs sweet berries There is an opinion that early watermelons contain an increased amount of ammonia fertilizers. How true is this and is it possible to eat the first harvest?

It is impossible to answer this question unequivocally. Ultra-early varieties developed by breeders are capable of producing crops much earlier than mid-season representatives of the crop. The technology of growing plants indoors has opened up additional opportunities. It is quite possible that the earliest fruits were grown in compliance with feeding requirements and do not pose a health threat. The presence of nitrates can be determined from a quality certificate or using a manual nitrate meter.

Knowing the secrets and tricks listed above will help you choose a watermelon that will delight you with its refreshing, sweet, juicy and healthy pulp.

We all love to eat delicious and juicy striped berries that can satiate, quench thirst, and improve well-being.

But not everyone knows how to choose a watermelon, and meanwhile, this procedure has its own characteristics, which we will discuss in this article. After all, having bought a beautiful, ripe-looking fruit, and cutting it, you will feel considerable disappointment due to the unripe or tasteless pulp.

But this is not so bad, but if the watermelon is also of poor quality, problems with well-being will not keep you waiting long. To avoid this, pay due attention to its choice.

Now there are more than 1000 varieties of watermelons, each of which is unique in its own way. They differ in appearance, size, color and are conventionally divided into 3 varieties. The most popular and widespread watermelon is the common one. We will consider how to select and store it.

To buy a ripe, juicy and tasty watermelon, you should thoroughly know what to look for when choosing. Otherwise, you risk wasting your money by buying a beautiful but tasteless watermelon.

When to buy watermelon: ripening season

You can see big, beautiful watermelons on supermarket shelves in the middle of summer. But most likely they were grown with the help of special additives that are harmful to the body.

We remember natural season Watermelons ripen in late August - early September.

During this period you should buy them, and not try to buy an early watermelon “stuffed” with nitrates.

Where to buy watermelon

Buy watermelons at retail outlets that have permission to sell melons. When making a purchase, make sure that the fruits are on the flooring. The height of the decking above the floor is at least 15 centimeters. They protect watermelons from dust, dirt and bacteria that can penetrate into fruits lying on the ground or asphalt, because the pulp of the berry is an excellent breeding ground for bacteria.

It is strictly forbidden to buy watermelons on the side of the roads. They absorb dust and other harmful substances well. You run the risk of buying a great-looking watermelon that has a quality certificate, but contains substances hazardous to health.

Availability of a certificate for watermelons

Watermelons must have a quality certificate. When choosing a watermelon, ask the seller to present documents for the goods. The certificate must indicate the percentage of harmful substances and mineral fertilizers in the watermelon.

If you have presented not the original, but a photocopy of the document, make sure there is a seal on it, pay attention to its color - the seal must be color. If it is black, the certificate may be fake, which means the quality of the watermelons is in question and you should not buy them.

No damage to the watermelon

When choosing a watermelon, make sure that it is intact and free of damage and cracks. Bacteria that are harmful to health penetrate into the berries through damage.

You should also not buy cut watermelon for the same reason.

Attention! The sale of cut watermelons is prohibited by law.

Watermelon size

There is an opinion that the ripeness of a watermelon is related to its size. But this is fundamentally wrong, because you can buy a large, but tasteless watermelon.

Choose a medium-sized watermelon. By adhering to this rule, you will definitely be satisfied with your purchase. After all, it is better to buy a tasty and juicy medium-sized fruit than a giant one with a mediocre taste.

Watermelon rind and degree of striping

One of the indicators of a ripe watermelon is a shiny, hard rind. When choosing a fruit, press a little on it with your fingernail; if the peel is not pierced, the watermelon is good. A ripened watermelon stops receiving moisture and the rind hardens.

A watermelon with clear, numerous stripes will also be ripe.

And one more secret - rub the peel, sniffing it. If the smell is grassy, ​​the watermelon is not yet fully ripe.

Yellow side and dry watermelon tail

A watermelon ripened in the field lies on one side. A light spot will definitely appear on it. If the berry is fully ripe, the spot will be yellow and rich. A light spot also appears after the watermelon tail dries out.

The dry tail of a watermelon is another indicator of its ripeness. But we take into account that it also occurs in unripe watermelons, but long since picked from melons. Pay attention to a dry tail only in conjunction with all other signs.

Bottom of watermelon and its sound

Watermelon is a bisexual berry. The bottom of the “female” variety is flat, with a wide circle, while the bottom of the “male” variety is convex. When choosing a watermelon, pay attention to its “gender”. The “female” variety is the most delicious.

Lightly tap the watermelon you like. A ringing sound indicates that the watermelon is ripe. If the sound is dull, put the watermelon aside and look for another fruit.

Another effective way– try to squeeze the watermelon with your hands, putting your ear to it. If the berry is ripe, the peel should crack slightly and bend. If this does not happen, the fruit is unripe.

By following these simple rules, you can choose a ripe, juicy, tasty watermelon, which will be a pleasure to feast on.

A brief algorithm of actions when choosing a watermelon

1. Buy watermelon during its ripening season, which occurs at the end of August - beginning of September. It is not recommended to purchase early berries.
2. Make a purchase in a specialized point of sale. Never buy watermelons on the side of the road, they can cause serious health problems.
3. Check out the certificate for watermelons; if it is missing, or its authenticity is in doubt, buy the watermelon elsewhere.
4. Carefully check the watermelon you like for damage, evaluate the size, hardness of the rind, the degree of striping, the presence of a yellow side and a dry tail. Look at the bottom of the fruit. Tap the fruit.

If you do not notice any damage, the documents are in order and trading place properly equipped, make your purchase with confidence.

Several useful rules for storing watermelons

Excellent taste depends not only on knowledge of how to choose a ripe watermelon, but also on the conditions for its subsequent storage. After all, not everyone eats it right away; many intend to save the watermelon and enjoy it in the winter, during the New Year holidays.

When storing watermelon, follow these recommendations:

1. Choose a medium-sized fruit with a spot on the side for storage.
2. It is recommended to store cut watermelon in the refrigerator.
3. The best place to store watermelon is a dark cellar. Temperature – no more than +5 degrees. Taking the net, place the watermelon in it and hang it so that it does not touch anything.

Watermelon is a tasty berry that is healthy for the body. If you choose it correctly, adhering to the recommendations and tips listed above, you will fully enjoy its taste and be sure that it will not cause harm to your health.

« The caftan itself is scarlet sugar, the caftan is green velvet.” All kids can easily guess this riddle. Juicy, sweet and velvety watermelon pulp Pleasantly refreshing on a hot day, quenches thirst and is a source of vitamin C, iron, folic acid, potassium, magnesium, pectin and fiber. However, how many times have we brought home a big beautiful watermelon, gathered at the table with the whole family, cut it and... were disappointed. Instead of scarlet pulp splashing with juice, something pale pink and completely tasteless appeared before our eyes. It’s even more offensive when, after tasting a quite decent-looking watermelon, symptoms of poisoning appear - headache, nausea and vomiting. This reaction is caused by the nitrates contained in watermelons, which appeared during the growing process of the fruit due to the use of large amounts of mineral fertilizers.

How to choose a good ripe watermelon

It's not difficult at all if you know a few simple rules. So, let's learn how to choose the perfect watermelon, aromatic, sugary, melting in your mouth and without nitrates!

Rule 1. Look at the calendar.

The most delicious ones ripen in season, that is, from the second half of August to the end of September. Early watermelons are rich in nitrates, since some producers, in an effort to harvest the crop faster, feed melons with nitrogen fertilizers and growth stimulants. If you want to enjoy watermelon without any health consequences, be patient!

Rule 2. The meeting location cannot be changed.

It is very important where you buy your watermelon. Melons should be sold either in a store or in sales tents with awnings, on special floorings located at a height of at least 15 cm from the ground. The fact is that delicate watermelon pulp is a suitable environment for the proliferation of microorganisms that get inside through invisible cracks along with dust and dirt. All melons instantly absorb hazardous substances from the environment, so never buy them near highways, because car exhaust contains harmful substances and heavy metals. For the same reason, do not take cut watermelons, which are literally teeming with germs. In this case, even certificates will not help - an initially flawless watermelon can be very dangerous to health.

Rule 3. They greet you by their clothes.

Carefully inspect and touch the watermelon from all sides - the watermelon rind should not have even small cracks, dents, soft spots, scratches or other damage through which bacteria and microbes can easily penetrate. It’s good if the watermelon has a spherical or slightly elongated shape, a uniform and even color - this is a huge plus for the watermelon image. Bright and contrasting stripes are a sure sign of the ripeness of a watermelon, as is the shiny “wooden” rind, which cannot be pierced with a fingernail, but is easy to scratch. Rub your finger over the watermelon rind - the unripe fruit will smell like fresh hay.

Rule 4. It's all in the ponytail.

The watermelon tail must be dry - when the watermelon ripens, it stops taking moisture from the ground and dries out. If the tail is green, it means that the watermelon was picked before it is fully ripe, although the green tail of unripe fruits that were collected long ago turns yellow over time. There is an important difference between a ripe and unripe tail - a ripe watermelon has a tail that is fragile and breaks easily, while an unripe fruit has a more flaccid tail. If the tail is cut off, avoid such watermelons - most likely, the sellers decided to disguise bad quality harvest.

Rule 5. Those mysterious yellow spots.

Since it lies on one side for a long time, a light spot of a rich yellow or orange hue forms at the point of contact with the ground - it is called a “cheek”. A surface that is too light, large or unevenly colored should alert you, as this is a sure sign that the watermelon was not on the melon patch. The optimal size of the “cheek” is 5–10 cm. There is another sign of ripeness - small light spots appearing on the entire surface watermelon rind after chlorophyll production ceases.

Rule 6. Big or small?

The correct answer is average. Large watermelons, despite their tempting appearance, are often grown using nitrates, and small fruits most often unsweetened. Sometimes there are exceptions - small watermelons can be sugary and tasty, while large ones can be watery, unsweetened and pale pink.

Rule 7. Voiced and ripe.

Tap the watermelon with your fist - ripened fruits make a clear and ringing sound, while unripe watermelons respond dully. You can put your ear to a watermelon, like you would to sea ​​shell, and squeeze it slightly - a ripe watermelon will crackle slightly.

Rule 8. Girl or boy?

It turns out that watermelons have gender. In female fruits the lower part is completely flat, with a large brown circle, while in male fruits it is convex and with a very small circle. Know that the sweetest and tastiest are “girls”, and they also contain much less seeds.

Rule 9. Watermelon “passport”.

If you have found the most best watermelon and are ready to buy it, ask the seller for a quality certificate, which can be considered a kind of watermelon “passport”. The certificate must indicate the following data: the “homeland” of the watermelon, its age, that is, the timing of harvest, nitrate content and other characteristics, on the basis of which you can make a final conclusion whether or not the watermelon will be on your table. If the seller shows you a photocopy of the certificate, take a closer look at the seal - it must certainly be in color, not black and white. If you suspect false documents, do not take risks - your health is more valuable.

Rule 10."Unmasking" nitrates.

Finally, you bought the “right” watermelon, brought it home and cut it. Do not rush to taste, first make sure that the fruit is not nitrate. The following points should alert you - incredibly bright watermelon pulp with a lilac tint, yellow fibers in the pulp and a smooth gloss on the cut of the watermelon instead of a grainy surface. Remember that nitrates are concentrated closer to the crust, so always leave the juicy core for kids - it is the most delicious.

Enjoy the aromatic and sweet pulp, prepare juices from it and summer desserts which children love very much. You can also have watermelon parties fasting days and losing weight is tasty, easy and healthy. We wish you a pleasant watermelon season and a juicy fruity mood!