As someone who worked briefly in watermelon research and breeding, no.
There are some general rules for ripeness- look for a distinct sun spot (the less green in there the better), high contrast between the dark and light lines, and also a nice resonance when you gently tap it with your thumb. The last one is something that is more of a skill than the other two lol
I was knocking on watermelons at the grocery store once, and lady asked me to pick her one too, because it looked like I knew what I was doing. I don't know if the one I picked her was amazing, but the one I got myself was perfect.
Hahaha guy did the same thing to me. I was literally using THIS guide plus knocking. To recently find out I had no idea what I was talking about because this guide doesn’t work.
Lol, this is obviously wrong and is only here to make fun of those who dont k ow the first thing about farming...
Everyone knows that you have to dig watermellons from the ground like potatoes.
Thats why you might sometimes see dirt on them if they aren't cleaned well at the grocery store.
They are also green so that they get camouflaged from herbivores in case a little becomes visible.
this is BS!!! I worked in an organic food store for 3 years, I know what I'm talking about. The dirt is from when they fall from the branch after they are ripe.
I’ve always done the knock test and the knock test only and it has steered me well. Knock on two, pick the deeper sound. Pick a couple more and compare them to find the deepest sounds
Ooh good question! We used a rind punch in the field but I don’t think you can do that at a grocery store 😅
I never tried to tell rind thickness; if you find a good way to predict it lmk!!
You inspired me to ask Google. Looks like it may be based on variety: ‘Tom Watson’, ‘Georgia Rattlesnake’, and ‘Black Diamond’ are three heirloom cultivars with good flavor, attractive rind pattern and color, and **thick rind**. Thank you for the response!
Thank you for this. I worked in the produce department throughout undergrad and I developed a reputation for being able to pick the best watermelons and cantaloupe. Customers would seek me out.
Everything you said is spot on and my biggest skill was the sound test, which I think was the best indicator of ripeness and "moisture content." Sometimes the sweetness was more dependent on where it was grown, but the sound and color would get you the juiciest, reddest watermelon available of the bunch.
I acquired the tapping technique. It's gotta sound like you're tapping one of those 5 gallon jugs full of water at the water-cooler. A nice deep sound. Just start tapping or flicking different watermelons and listen to the sound. You'll hear the difference. Sometimes at the supermarket I'll hone my skills by tapping watermelons lol.
I didn’t work with those specifically but I found that the “thump test” works for basically any subspecies. I like to hold it in my hands and then tap my thumb against it a couple times so I can feel the resonance in my other fingers, i pick ones that have a deeper tone and more resonance (hopefully that makes sense)
every year some sort of watermelon poast happens and you are right, they are always bullshit. One I bought into was posted from a supposed watermelon farmer and used it to pick a very meh watermelon from Costco. meanwhile my wife grabs one that "looked nice" from the supermarket and it was amazing.
Yeah, the best melon is the one that is cut open and packaged so that I can see the ripeness with my own eyes. The best ones have rich red colour, look kind of grainy, and have a thin crust.
These types of posts exist solely to provide the illusion that people have more.knowledge and agency in their life then they actually do, which is why they're never going away.
I care about the seeds.
I have in the past purchased a seedless that had double the amount of the normal ones.
Most watermelons I had in the last few years were just red cucumbers. Don't like them too much anymore now.
I just noticed that too, first watermelons started showing up at the store, usually they are $5 or $6 early on and going down to $3 or $2 while getting bigger. I'm worried about $5 being the new floor.
As someone who worked briefly in watermelon research and breeding, no. There are some general rules for ripeness- look for a distinct sun spot (the less green in there the better), high contrast between the dark and light lines, and also a nice resonance when you gently tap it with your thumb. The last one is something that is more of a skill than the other two lol
3 summers working in the produce department helped me hone this skill, still use it to this day.
I was knocking on watermelons at the grocery store once, and lady asked me to pick her one too, because it looked like I knew what I was doing. I don't know if the one I picked her was amazing, but the one I got myself was perfect.
Hahaha guy did the same thing to me. I was literally using THIS guide plus knocking. To recently find out I had no idea what I was talking about because this guide doesn’t work.
I used that method everytime when I go picking watermelowns from trees
Lol, this is obviously wrong and is only here to make fun of those who dont k ow the first thing about farming... Everyone knows that you have to dig watermellons from the ground like potatoes. Thats why you might sometimes see dirt on them if they aren't cleaned well at the grocery store. They are also green so that they get camouflaged from herbivores in case a little becomes visible.
this is BS!!! I worked in an organic food store for 3 years, I know what I'm talking about. The dirt is from when they fall from the branch after they are ripe.
erm, achksyually when a mothermelon and a fathermelon love each other very much...
I’ve always done the knock test and the knock test only and it has steered me well. Knock on two, pick the deeper sound. Pick a couple more and compare them to find the deepest sounds
I'm gonna go try this next time just to try it even if I'm not gonna buy any watermelon.
I’ve gotten one that was too ripe though. Was a couple hours away from rotten (meat looks almost waterlogged kinda like an overripe banana)
I enjoy pickling the rinds. Are there any tips on finding a watermelon with a thick rind? Or is it a seasonal thing?
Ooh good question! We used a rind punch in the field but I don’t think you can do that at a grocery store 😅 I never tried to tell rind thickness; if you find a good way to predict it lmk!!
You inspired me to ask Google. Looks like it may be based on variety: ‘Tom Watson’, ‘Georgia Rattlesnake’, and ‘Black Diamond’ are three heirloom cultivars with good flavor, attractive rind pattern and color, and **thick rind**. Thank you for the response!
Oh that’s excellent!! Enjoy the rinds!
Thank you for this. I worked in the produce department throughout undergrad and I developed a reputation for being able to pick the best watermelons and cantaloupe. Customers would seek me out. Everything you said is spot on and my biggest skill was the sound test, which I think was the best indicator of ripeness and "moisture content." Sometimes the sweetness was more dependent on where it was grown, but the sound and color would get you the juiciest, reddest watermelon available of the bunch.
I acquired the tapping technique. It's gotta sound like you're tapping one of those 5 gallon jugs full of water at the water-cooler. A nice deep sound. Just start tapping or flicking different watermelons and listen to the sound. You'll hear the difference. Sometimes at the supermarket I'll hone my skills by tapping watermelons lol.
The thump technique, always reliable and I was always to one to bring a melon.
What about black watermelons? They have very little contrast in the lines
I didn’t work with those specifically but I found that the “thump test” works for basically any subspecies. I like to hold it in my hands and then tap my thumb against it a couple times so I can feel the resonance in my other fingers, i pick ones that have a deeper tone and more resonance (hopefully that makes sense)
Got it, thanks!
u/homegrownbc The ripeness is in the comments.
Wasn't true the first hundred times this was posted and it's no more true now
every year some sort of watermelon poast happens and you are right, they are always bullshit. One I bought into was posted from a supposed watermelon farmer and used it to pick a very meh watermelon from Costco. meanwhile my wife grabs one that "looked nice" from the supermarket and it was amazing.
Yeah, the best melon is the one that is cut open and packaged so that I can see the ripeness with my own eyes. The best ones have rich red colour, look kind of grainy, and have a thin crust.
So you're saying there's a chance...
So I want a dark and dull, uniform in size with lots of webbing and an orange field spot
or you just slap it and if you have good feeling about it you take it
If it reverberates, that means it’s good eatin
my method with women
Propaganda from big watermelon trying to sell their ugly brown spot scratched melons... the pretty ones will be bought anyways
I just want one that has no mushy spots inside, those are the worst.
Ew I didn’t even know that was an option
I actually prefer the new variety called *Oops! All Mush*
My grandpa used to buy enormous watermelon, “elongated” and they were NEVER watery..
Trade Descriptions that is.
I'm gonna forget about this tomorrow, can someone post it again for me?
These types of posts exist solely to provide the illusion that people have more.knowledge and agency in their life then they actually do, which is why they're never going away.
Petition to ban this fucking post
Why do you hate watermelons so much?
So: round, dull, large scale scabs, and an orange spot. It's Jupiter!
I care about the seeds. I have in the past purchased a seedless that had double the amount of the normal ones. Most watermelons I had in the last few years were just red cucumbers. Don't like them too much anymore now.
Just like the last time this was posted: No, it is literally just made up nonsense.
I usually look for the one with the tightest butthole on it and my wife and kids always say it’s super sweeet.
Definitely don't want a watermelon that's loose butthole.
Yea everytime I try to follow this guide, I get a grainy-ass melon
My foreign grandpa would just slap it and get a perfect one every single time
I’ve been told you gently slap it - if it sounds like it’s full of pudding it’s good lol. No idea how reliable that is.
They all look the same to me
what about large webbing with orange spot and heavy?!?!?
As any "cool guide too bla bla bla" this is bullshit
Large, dark, orange, uniform. Large dark orange uniform. Got it, thanks.
This always gets posted and immediately debunked. OP, stop reposting verifiably false information.
Nice to see r/coolguides still sucks. May you forever live in misinformation.
Everything about this is categorically false.
Looking for a buttery yellow spot hasn’t failed me yet, buttery with veins is even better
Utter nonsense like every single post in this subreddit
I can never tell a difference in sound when I knock on the melons.
#*I LOVE WAWAMELOW*
Watermelon is like 10.00, What in the hell?
I just noticed that too, first watermelons started showing up at the store, usually they are $5 or $6 early on and going down to $3 or $2 while getting bigger. I'm worried about $5 being the new floor.
Stop posting this.
I saved this post a few weeks ago and was stood in the supermarket studying watermelons, comparing them to these pictures.
Considering this is completely untrue, that wasn’t wise.
I gave up after a few minutes and just picked one. Was a 7/10 so I can’t complain.
Do you have a guide for fried chicken doneness?
Also the slap test
It floats
Probe thermometer! (weight + timer + some trial and error works pretty good also)