How to choose a delicious watermelon - the rules for determining the ripeness of the fruit. How to choose a ripe watermelon

Summer is in full swing! Vegetables and, of course, gourds appear on the shelves. If you dream of a striped berry, but are afraid of making a bad choice, be sure to read our recommendations. Then the most delicious and ripe watermelon will definitely be yours!

Let's start with the good news. More than 1,500 tons of gourds in the Astrakhan region have matured naturally. Because of the extreme heat, the harvest began earlier than usual.

So, you came for a watermelon. First of all, do not rely on the advice and suggestions of sellers, but carefully inspect the goods. The best proof of quality is a certificate of conformity of the goods to the requirements of the standard. Each seller must have it on hand. If the document has all the signatures and seals, you can safely buy. However, in practice, we know that most merchants do not have a certificate or refuse to show it. Then our advice and your attentiveness will come to the rescue.

1) The watermelon peel should not have a matte coating, the striped pattern should be clear and contrasting.

2) The watermelon itself should not lie on the ground or asphalt in the open sun. An ideal place for selling watermelons is a tent well sheltered from the sun with pallets for berries and stationary scales. Watermelons should be located at least 15 cm above the ground.

3) In no case do not take berries near the highway! A plucked watermelon "breathes", which means it absorbs road dust and gases.

4) A quality fruit should have a yellow spot, which indicates that this place the watermelon was in contact with the ground and ripened on melons under the sun.

5) Contrary to popular belief, never go for a dry tail, this means that the watermelon has survived long storage.

6) No need to ask to cut a watermelon to determine its ripeness. By doing this, you open a corridor for microbes that multiply rapidly in the heat.

7) Be guided by weight: a ripe watermelon should be heavy, overripe watermelons are usually much lighter.

8) Don't try to buy a giant watermelon that will feed your family and two neighbors. Give preference to a medium-sized berry, as a rule, it is the most ripe.

9) Pay attention to the crust of the striped berry. It should be firm and shiny, because the ripened fruit stops absorbing water and the crust hardens. Pry the crust with your fingernail: if the peel is easy to pierce, then you should not buy a watermelon.

10) Watermelon can be "girl" or "boy". The gender of the minke whale is easy to determine: the “male” berry has a convex bottom opposite the tail and a small circle on it. The "girls", on the contrary, have a flat bottom and a wide circle on it. It is believed that “girls” watermelons are tastier, as they contain fewer seeds and more sweetness.

11) When purchasing an early watermelon, it should be borne in mind that it may contain nitrates. It is almost impossible to check the berry for the presence of harmful substances when buying, but at home before eating, you can do a little research. Rub a piece of watermelon pulp into the water. If the watermelon is of high quality, then the water is simply cloudier. Otherwise, the water will turn red or pink. If you still have suspicions that your watermelon is “wrong”, eat it carefully, not reaching the white border with the crust. This is where the highest amount of nitrates is found. Therefore, it is better for children to feed the pulp from the middle.

12) And finally, do not neglect the well-known method of checking a watermelon. Tap on the berry you like! If the watermelon is ripe early, you will hear a dull sound. If you buy a watermelon at the end of the season, a ringing sound should be heard.

13) If you put all our tips into practice, congratulations. Having brought home a sweet and ripe watermelon, remember the rules for storing it. Before use, be sure to wash the watermelon with soap and a washcloth to clean the crust from dirt and dust.

14) An untouched watermelon can stay fresh for three months, but a cut berry can be stored for no longer than three days. It is better to store it in a dark, cool place like a cellar or refrigerator.

15) When you store a half-eaten watermelon, place it cut-side down on a plate and wrap it in cling film on top so it stays fresh longer.

It is difficult to imagine a more summer berry than watermelon, juicy, tasty and so refreshing. They are eaten fresh and . Often you don’t even plan to buy it, but when you see it in the market or in a store, it’s impossible to get away from the temptation to eat it. But often, when you come home with a satisfied smile, you are disappointed in its taste. In order not to get into trouble, we recommend reading our article, in which we will tell you how to choose a ripe watermelon, and most importantly, sweet and very juicy. More importantly, choose a watermelon with a minimum amount of nitrates, otherwise you risk your health, and this is no joke. Therefore, write down the rules and run to buy this summer berry.

Choosing the right watermelon:

The first point in our advice will be to choose the right place. Of course, taste is important, but the most important thing is to choose a safe berry. Therefore, forget about sellers who have watermelons lying right on the floor, it is better to find a special point, a store or go to the market, remember your priceless health.
Look at the purity of the watermelon, if it is very dirty in the dust, bypass such a “delicacy”, although they have a thick skin, no one has canceled the cracks in it.
Time is also an important factor in the choice of watermelons, especially early berries, as a rule, contain almost the entire periodic table. If you want to stay healthy, then it is better to start buying watermelons no earlier than mid-August.
When size matters. As a rule, large watermelons are almost always ripe, because only when they ripen they begin to grow in volume, if you take a watermelon over 10 kilograms, then it will almost certainly be ripe.

We choose a ripe watermelon by the tail. If you see a wilted tail on a watermelon, this is a sure sign that it is already ripe. The fact is that after the berry completely absorbs everything necessary, its need for communication with the bush disappears, and the tail dries up. If the tail is cut off, it will be noticeable, an even cut almost always means that the watermelon is not ripe.
We look at the barrel. As you know, the berries lie on the ground, sideways, on one side, it can be used to determine the degree of ripeness of the fruit, if the barrel is yellow or slightly orange, this means that it is ripe, if the barrel is white, it is almost certainly green.
Determine the degree by clicking. We take a berry in the middle, and bring it to our ear, squeeze it and listen, if a crack is heard, this means that you have a ripe fruit in your hands, otherwise, it is better to find another one. You can also tap your finger if there are dull sounds, this is a good sign - ringing sounds almost certainly mean that you better put it aside.
Often, the berry is given a taste, in this case, pay attention not only to the color, but also to the structure, a good watermelon should have a grainy structure, and have a pink color.

We invite you to watch a video on this topic, we are sure in the amount with our advice it will help you make the right choice.

How to choose sweet watermelon video:

As you can see, a set of simple rules will help you make the right choice and choose sweets for yourself, delicious, ripe, and most importantly safe watermelon, without nitrates and bacteria. On this we say goodbye to you, we wish you successful shopping, and bon appetit. Until we meet again, there was a site with you no hassle. RU see you and good luck.

"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:

size;
a 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 a delicious watermelon by the appearance of the 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.

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.
Crimean Crimson Gloria. Watermelons of this variety can be really big. The weight of one copy on average can vary 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 are distinguished by a thick skin and a large weight.
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.
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.
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;

Summer is the time for fresh fruits and vegetables. However, in a temperate climate, not all the gifts of nature have time to ripen and grow, so you have to feast on imported products. In this case, there is a possibility of running into low-quality goods, because unscrupulous sellers go to any tricks to sell fruits and vegetables as quickly as possible. This also applies to watermelons, the sales season of which is limited to a few months a year.

What do the varieties of watermelons sold in the markets of the CIS countries look like?

Residents of warm regions, where watermelons are a familiar gourd crop, are well aware of what a ripe juicy berry looks like (a watermelon is actually not a fruit or a vegetable, but a berry). But residents of central Russia from the northwestern regions of the CIS may make a mistake when choosing a sweet treat. And it's not so much about the taste of the product, but about its health benefits. After all, overripe or unripe watermelons are toxic, and it costs almost nothing to get poisoned by them. What varieties are most often sold in the markets of Russia and neighboring countries?

Astrakhan watermelon. This is the most popular and best-selling variety grown in the south of Russia. It appears on the shelves at the end of August, it is easy to distinguish it by dark green stripes on a light green background. The Astrakhan variety is the most transportable, it is stored for a long time and does not rot from the inside. Therefore, such watermelons can be seen incredibly large sizes. Their shape is rounded, slightly elongated downwards. The pulp has a bright scarlet color, there are not very many seeds. Watermelon is juicy and flavorful. Ripeness is determined by the color contrast of the stripes closer to the tail: the more mature the watermelon, the greater the contrast.
Melitopol watermelon. Ripeness is determined in the same way as in the Astrakhan variety. It is grown in the south of Russia, Ukraine and Moldova. It can be stored for a long time, up to 4 months. It has a peel about 1.5 cm thick. The flesh is dense and juicy.
Raspberry sugar (Crimson Sweet). Outwardly, the watermelon is similar to Astrakhan, but the skin does not have a matte, but a glossy sheen. This is due to the fact that the variety belongs to the category of early ripening, and it appears on the shelves in the middle of summer. In terms of weight and size, it is inferior to the Astrakhan counterpart, but in terms of taste, it is no worse. If the market claims that in early July you have Astrakhan watermelon, it will most likely be the Crimson Sweet variety. It will not withstand long transportation and long storage. But on the tables appears one of the first.
Madeira. This is a watermelon of the American-Dutch selection. Differs in a rounded shape and low weight. It is quite possible to buy a whole watermelon weighing 2-3 kg. The variety is early ripe, so its skin is not thick, the pattern is characterized by dark green stripes on a yellowish-light green background.
Skorik. It belongs to the early varieties. It is distinguished by its round shape, like a volleyball, and a deep green color, on which dark broken stripes can be seen. The taste of watermelon is unusually tender, not cloying, there are few seeds and they are small. The variety is grown in the south of Russia, Ukraine and Moldova.
Charleston Grey. This foreign breeder has an unusual elongated shape, and looks like a zucchini. It has no stripes on the skin, the color is uniform, light green. Cultivated by Charleston Gray in Ukraine, it appears on the shelves of Russia at the end of August. The pulp is bright, red, the taste is sweet, thin, not cloying. Watermelon is good because it is stored cut in the refrigerator longer than other varieties, without losing consumer qualities.
Chill. This amazing variety can be seen in supermarkets even on New Year's Eve. It is stored up to 5 months after cutting. It is easy to distinguish by its coloring features. The skin of a watermelon is thick, painted with a "cheetah" pattern. The stripes are not the same as those of the Astrakhan watermelon. Rather, these are light green spots on a dark background. The flesh is not red, but pink. The variety is grown in Ukraine and Moldova.
Light. The variety is distinguished by a uniform dark green color without stripes and spots. The skin of the watermelon is thin, the flesh is tender and juicy. The size of the watermelon is small, on average, the fruits reach a size of 1.5-2 kg.

The farther the region is located from the watermelon habitat, the more likely it is that nitrate watermelons will be sold in the markets. To prolong the safety of the product and its appearance, suppliers harvest unripe berries, removing them at the stage of milky maturity. As a result, the watermelon has a beautiful appearance with all the signs of ripeness. But this is not achieved by the most noble methods. By injection into the pulp of watermelon, nitrates are injected, which help to accelerate the ripening process. How to determine which watermelon is in front of you, ripened naturally or stuffed with chemicals?

Tap your knuckles on the watermelon. If you hear a dull sound, like tapping on a deflated ball, you have a nitrate fruit in front of you.
When cutting a watermelon, a naturally ripened specimen will crackle, and stuffed with chemicals, it will cut silently.
The clearer and more contrasting the stripes on the watermelon, the more likely it is that it has ripened on its own.
In natural watermelon, the flesh is dense and light red, bright. A light pink and translucent shade indicates that the product contains chemicals.
A good watermelon has a yellow earthy spot on which it lay, maturing under the sun. A nitrate fruit does not have such a spot.
Clearly expressed whitish veins testify to the artificial ripening of the watermelon.
Drop a slice of watermelon into a glass of water. If the water doesn't turn pink, that's good. A change in the color of the water indicates the presence of nitrates in the watermelon.

The areola of an earthen spot in a ripe watermelon should not be large. If the spot occupies a large area and has a bright white-yellow hue, this indicates a prematurely cut fruit.
Most of the nitrates are located near the rind, so the presence of pale pink flesh under the rind indicates the presence of nitrates.
With the same size of watermelon, a ripe fruit weighs more than an unripe one.
It is forbidden to buy cut watermelons. If you see a piece of watermelon wrapped in cling film, resist the temptation to buy it. It is better to agree with the neighbors that you will buy a watermelon and divide it in half at home.
In case of food poisoning after tasting the watermelon, report it to the seller.
For children under 3 years old, watermelon should be given in small quantities and only after you are convinced of its quality. If the watermelon contains nitrates, an adult may not notice, and for a child, everything can be very deplorable.

Conclusions: when choosing a watermelon, pay attention to the following:

stripe contrast
glossy shine of the peel
no stains or blemishes
ringing when tapped with knuckles
soil patch dimensions

Video: how to choose a watermelon

The enticing word bazaar, with many-sided associations and a special microclimate, and the strict word supermarket, suggesting a procedural order and thoughtful display of goods. Wherever we go shopping, we need to master the ability to choose among the many offers, and today we will tell you how to choose a watermelon. For an exhaustive answer to the question, we will describe in the article all the nuances that will allow you to find a good product, highlighting it from the general mass by indicative characteristics.

No wonder how watermelon is loved all over the world. Americans have not regretted choosing the warmest month of the year for watermelon festivals. Among the Slavs, a ripe watermelon adorns August and September.

Sweet and juicy watermelon fits perfectly into non-traditional food systems. Vegetarians and raw foodists have long chosen it as a delicious component for light salads and desserts. Earlier, we were already lucky enough to plunge into creative cooking and choose for you all the best

Moreover! In many peoples of the world, among the advice of healers, we find medical procedures with watermelon. The most famous of them:

And each time, the quality of the watermelon - its sweetness, juiciness and safety of the composition - at least our mood and well-being during a meal, or even health after a meal, or a watermelon cleansing diet, depend.

How to choose a good watermelon in appearance? - the burning question of the season. In answering it, the systematization of knowledge and the refutation of myths will provide us with some valuable universal advice.

We proceed to the description, armed with two desirable characteristics - sweet ripe watermelon + without excess nitrates.

How to choose a ripe watermelon: instructions

There are many signs that most often circulate in popular rumor as signs of a ripe sweet watermelon: a yellow spot on the side, a dull sound when tapped, a dry tail, not too large.

Let's deal with the listed and less popular signs in order.

yellow spot on side

This is a clear indication that the watermelon is ripe. Its size should be within 5-10 cm in diameter. The stain may even have an orange tint!

But the white spot, on the contrary, reflects the immaturity of the watermelon. A spot that is too large indicates a long maturation in insufficiently warm conditions. This makes the watermelon less sweet and less ripe. Therefore, a spot larger than the palm of your hand should definitely alert you.

It is convenient that this feature is the same for all varieties, as it arises due to the contact of the watermelon with the ground in the garden.

Contrasting stripes on the peel

For striped varieties, regardless of the intensity of the color, it is the bright contrast of the stripes that indicates that we have a good ripe watermelon.

The hardness of the peel of a ripe watermelon

When the berry is fully ripe, it is almost impossible to pierce it with a fingernail.

IMPORTANT!
If you have already come across an UNripe watermelon, do not try to set aside for ripening. This is not possible under any circumstances. It is better to use unripe watermelon in cooking - in recipes for salted and pickled preparations. Unless, of course, this not the most successful purchase has signs of an excess of nitrates.

Smooth and shiny skin

This is usually a sign that the watermelon is ripe. However, do not forget about the tricks of merchants who constantly rub watermelons. Therefore, choose the fruit from the depth of the calculation.

Muffled sound when tapped

Alas, this sign is not a universal indication of how to choose a ripe watermelon.

Because such a sound is also formed when overripe watermelons are tapped. And eating an overripe watermelon can cause serious damage to health due to the souring of the red pulp.

IMPORTANT!

Even the souring of the pulp, imperceptible to the taste, is an excess of pathogenic bacteria and toxic substances. Therefore - IMMEDIATELY sniff the cut! When cut, a fresh, ripe watermelon should smell like freshly cut grass.

The second sign of an overripe watermelon is a matte, as if oily, peel. This, even on the counter, noticeably distinguishes it from good ripe watermelons, in which the skin is smooth and shiny.

dry ponytail

It's a shame, but this sign, popular among the people, only indicates that the watermelon was picked more than 3 days ago.

Not too big

Again, not a perfect guide to choosing a ripe watermelon.

Although the thought of the people seems logical: a large size can be a sign of nitrate feeding. However, there are varieties of watermelons that themselves ripen to a large size and normally weigh up to 17 kg!

Crimson Gloria

For example, Crimson Gloria watermelon, the average weight of which should range from 10 to 17 kg. This variety was created in the Crimea specifically in order to transport it over long distances.

Now it is often planted in the mainland South of Russia (for example, in the Volgograd region). It is distinguished by well-defined light stripes, a slightly oblong shape, a noticeably thick skin and a not bright red color of the flesh.

Kherson watermelon

But the Kherson watermelon cannot weigh more than 10 kg! Choosing a watermelon of the most beloved variety in Ukraine, you can safely arm yourself with a folk omen. Weight more than 10 kg for Kherson watermelon is a sure sign of excess nitrates.

You can distinguish Kherson from Crimson Gloria by the peel. The skin of Kherson watermelon is darker in color and relatively thin.

Varieties Skorik and Photon

Since we are talking about varieties, let's focus on the two most popular of the early ripening ones - Skorik and Photon. The first has a dark green uniform color, and the second has a noticeably light striped peel. Their maximum weight is 7 kg.

If you want to eat watermelon back in mid-July, you can also rely on a popular sign about low weight. Otherwise, you will end up with a specimen overfed with nitrates. However, remember that any early-ripening watermelon will not be as sweet and juicy as its long-ripening relative in late summer.

Hybrid Chill

Finally, let us draw your attention to the interesting variety Kholodok, which was created with an eye on long-term storage. Hybrid Kholodok is a long-ripening variety that ripens only by the end of August.

The main task in its selection was solved with a "Hurrah!". The term of its maximum storage even in an apartment is up to the New Year! To do this, just hang it in a net in a dry, dark place (a ventilated closet on a balcony, a well-maintained cellar, basement or barn).

Find out the date of collection of the party according to the documents

The seller's documents must indicate this date legibly and clearly. The shelf life of most varieties does not exceed 3 weeks. After 2-3 weeks, the watermelon sours (imperceptibly to the taste buds!).

If in 2-3 weeks the watermelon does not turn sour, then, for sure, it is processed with slaked lime, alabaster or paraffin. Just imagine how many harmful substances penetrate through the peel into the pulp of such storage champions!

IMPORTANT! Whichever watermelon you choose, remember to WASH THOROUGHLY before using it - WARM WATER + BRUSH!

When choosing where to shop for groceries, a sober mind should be put at the forefront to weigh the benefits and threats and choose a good ripe watermelon.

Of course, it is so convenient to buy gifts of summer nearby - at a spontaneous market near the crossroads. However, if you are already a fan of market trading, then it is much wiser to choose watermelons in a solid market with properly organized sales points.

Invulnerability to dirt from the outside is a deceptive illusion that arises when we look at a thick-skinned watermelon. In fact, WATERMELON - LIKE A SPONGE!

Through the damaged peel, everything penetrates into it! This happens especially quickly with cuts and punctures with a knife. Dirt, bacteria, heavy metals and environmental toxins. The longer such a watermelon is not sold, the more dangerous it is for an inattentive buyer.

That is why the media every year highlights cases of unfortunate poisoning and intestinal infections. But many less severe cases remain behind the scenes!

In order not to replenish the number of unlucky ones, let's remember the signs of a conscientious outlet, where to choose the right ripe watermelon:

Specially designated sales area (watermelons and melons);
Necessarily under a canopy that protects from the sun and rain;
Categorically away from the roadway;
20 cm - the minimum height to which the storage pallet must be raised above the ground;
Availability of a certificate of the epidemiological surveillance service for each purchased batch.

The supermarket is the most understandable place for food shopping for many "children of asphalt" who grew up in the city during the era of active development of the store trade.

There are several stable reasons in favor of choosing a watermelon in the store:

Watermelons are constantly stored under the roof;
Watermelons stay away from the roadway;
Storage trays have the right height to protect against scratches, damage and penetration of harmful substances;
Watermelons are purchased in bulk from large trusted suppliers.

However, there are also disadvantages. The general impression of neatness from shopping in a supermarket often pushes us to choose not a whole watermelon, but a cut or half, which are carefully wrapped in cling film.

Our advice: stop buying cut watermelon once and for all!

Unknown reason for dividing a whole watermelon;
Dirt with bacteria, actively penetrating from the peel of a watermelon;
Insufficient hygiene of hands and tools during butchering;
Covering the cut with a film, which creates a greenhouse effect for the accelerated reproduction of bacteria.

All this should discourage you from choosing a cut watermelon, even if you like the look of its juicy flesh. It is better to choose a good smaller watermelon, maybe a different variety, but in no case halves of large fruits.

Otherwise, the signs of the right choice of ripe sweet watermelon in the store are the same as in the market.

Despite the abundance of new varieties and hybrids, most Russians will call the Astrakhan variety of watermelons, bred back in the 70s of the 20th century, the classic and most popular variety.

It is distinguished by an advantageous property for trade - stability during storage and transportation. By the end of August, the sweetest and largest Astrakhan watermelons fill the shelves. And here the question arises of how to choose an Astrakhan watermelon, and what are the external signs of a popular variety.

An average portrait of a delicious Astrakhan watermelon:

Shape - rounded or slightly oblong;
The surface is smooth;
Skin color - green;
Pattern - spike-like dark green stripes;
The color of the pulp is bright red;
The taste of the pulp is very sweet and juicy;
The average weight of a watermelon is 8-10 kg.

Below are a few photos of ripe Astrakhan fruits to help you choose a sweet watermelon:

How to choose the right watermelon without nitrates

The maximum allowable concentration of nitrates in watermelon: 60 mg per 1 kg of berries.

Pay attention to the following signs of excess nitrates:

ROUGH YELLOW FIBERS IN THE PULP that go through the flesh to the peel is a sure sign of excess nitrates.
UNUNIFORM PULSE COLOR (sometimes lighter, sometimes darker, especially with an increase in color intensity from the peel to the center) is another sign of an excess of nitrates.

CRACKS IN THE PULSE IN THE HALF CUT: When there are cracks in the red pulp on the middle cut, then most likely there is a lot of nitrates in the berry. They were added to speed up ripening, as a result, the watermelon began to grow rapidly and rapidly, from which the flesh cracked.
TOO SMOOTH PULSE can be both a sign of nitrates and an accurate indication of a lack of sufficient sweetness. Sweet sugar watermelon has red flesh with a noticeable structure - pronounced sugar grains and "sugar islands" on the cut.

MULTI-COLORED PITS, when one watermelon has completely dark and light pits.

NITRATE TEST WITH WATER

If you bought a watermelon, but doubts prevail, you can use the test with plain water. Crush a tablespoon of watermelon pulp with a fork in a glass of water (about 150 ml).

If after a while the water becomes slightly cloudy - in front of you is a watermelon without excess nitrates.
If the water has turned red - do not risk eating a purchase! There are too many nitrates in the pulp.

It is especially advisable to carry out the test when serving watermelon to children or at a crowded feast, when the risk of poisoning will affect many people, including the most vulnerable.

IMPORTANT!

You can play it safe from nitrates by selecting special pieces of pulp. Nitrates in watermelon are distributed unevenly - closer to the rind and to the stalk. In a situation that is incomprehensible to you, if you still want to feed children with watermelon, give them only the pulp cut from the middle.

A feature of folk speech is the ability of people to briefly describe a complex concept with an easily recognizable symbol. So, the pedestrian crossing became a "zebra", and connectors for electronic devices acquired the names "father" and "mother".

Not bypassed the national language ingenuity and watermelons. The same traders in the markets sometimes offer us to buy a “girl”, arguing that girl watermelons are sweeter, and there are an order of magnitude fewer seeds in them.

How to choose a ripe watermelon "girl"? "Boy" differs from "girl" in two ways:

Relief of the butt.
The depth of attachment of the tip or the spot that remains from the tip when it is cut off.

The “boys” have a raised ass, the tip is deepened inward, and the speck is pulled together into a small point. The “girl” has a flatter butt and a large spot.

You can easily see the difference in the photo below.

Boy

Girl

To choose the sweetest watermelon, you should look for a “girl”, although it is believed that there are much fewer of them on the shelves - no more than 20% of the total crop sold.

At the same time, it should be noted that many breeders and experienced sellers are skeptical about such a division of watermelons.

If you want to surprise your guests with beautiful and practical cuts, take the advice of our chef.

When you do not know how to choose the right watermelon, then buying it is like a lottery for you. If you're lucky, enjoy the juicy sweet taste. If you're not lucky, you'll end up in a hospital bed. Keep this in mind by carefully studying the intricacies of choosing watermelons, and protect yourself and loved ones from dirt, heavy metals and nitrates. And then even not the sweetest watermelon will please you.