Muskmelon or kharbooja season is in full swing, and they are one of the greatest fruits to battle the summer heat due to their high water content and antioxidant content. They're loaded everywhere, from the store to your neighbourhood fruit seller. However, judging ripeness is an issue we all encounter when buying muskmelons. After all, buying an unripe muskmelon can be disappointing. Picking ripe muskmelons is now easy with these techniques.
| Deepali Verma
May 08, 2023
Buy a muskmelon based on its colouring. With a few green spots, a ripe muskmelon appears beige or creamy yellow. Webbed skin is another sign of ripeness.
See if the muskmelon's stem is still attached as a second indicator that it's ready to eat. In contrast to a melon that has been harvested at the proper time, an unripe one will still have some of the stem attached. The tip of the stem needs to be circular and unbroken.
Muskmelon smells ripe. Muskmelon should smell sweet and slightly musky near the blossom end (opposite the stem). However, a pleasant fragrance indicates overripeness.
Tap and listen to the muskmelon. A low, solid sound indicates ripeness. Hollow or high-pitched sounds indicate unripeness.
Finally, weigh a muskmelon. Sweet and luscious pulp makes a ripe muskmelon hefty. It's unripe if it's too light. Feel several melons and pick the heaviest.