How to Choose the Tastiest Watermelon Ever

Watermelon doesn't come into season until August in Ohio, but the stores have started to ship them in. So I bought a watermelon to have when the grandkids came for the weekend. When I cut into the round, seedless fruit, I was sure I had picked a winner. The flesh was bright red and full of juice. The taste? We all agreed this watermelon was sweet as could be. Watermelons are probably the hardest fruit to choose because they're green when they're unripe, they're green when they're ripe, and they're green when they're overripe. But there are ways to tell when a watermelon is ready to eat and tastes the best. Read this informational article and learn how to choose the tastiest watermelon ever!

1. Do You Rely On the Thump Test to Choose a Watermelon?
Many people do. If you thump on the top of a watermelon with your finger, and you hear a dull thud, the fruit should be ripe. The problem with using the Thump Test as the only way to choose a watermelon is, a dull thud sound can also indicate a fruit that's overripe. So you need to use some additional methods to choose the tastiest watermelon ever.

2. Inspect the Rind of the Watermelon to Find the Best One
Look for a firm, nicely-shaped watermelon. The rind should be rather dull green in color and slightly rough to touch, with no dents, cuts or bruises in it. A watermelon that's ripe and ready to eat will have a yellow - not white- spot on its bottom where it sat on the ground in the field, ripening in the sun.

3. Choose the Heaviest Watermelon, It's More Flavorsome
After you have found a watermelon that has passed the Thump Test, as well as the rind inspection, hold it in your hands and feel its weight. Pick up a few other watermelons and compare their weight to it. Since watermelons are 92 percent water, the best fruit should feel heavy for its size, according to the National Watermelon Promotion Board.

4. Choose the Tastiest Precut Watermelon
When you're trying to choose watermelon that's already been cut into slices or sections, it should be refrigerated or be placed in ice to keep it fresh. Look for watermelon flesh that's bright red in color. The flesh should also be firm and not mushy or watery. Stay clear of watermelon that has white streaks in the flesh, or has a pinkish flesh.

Resources
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_20060628/ai_n16505850/
http://www.fabulousfoods.com/index.php?option=com_resource&controller=article&category_id=224&article=21267
http://gulf1.typepad.com/gulf1friday/2008/06/how-to-choose-t.html
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/fea/taste/stories/DN-nf_watermelon_0618liv.ART.State.Edition1.145284a.html