The ability to choose the right watermelon is an opportunity to get a giant berry with ripe pulp, which will allow you to enjoy its taste without danger to health. Learning to determine the ripeness of a watermelon is not difficult, and the benefits of this skill are great.
In order to correctly determine how ripe a watermelon berry is on a store counter, you can familiarize yourself with some specific signs of ripeness in advance. There are some tricks for determining the presence of nitrates.
What are the signs of a delicious watermelon
It is highly likely that a giant berry will turn out to be sweet if there are such signs:
- The shape is a slightly elongated ball.
- The stripes on the crust have clear contours, there is a yellowish spot.
- Dry tail.
- Tapping the crust creates a dull sound.
It is worth noting that you should not buy watermelons before August. Until that time, they were sold only half ripe, but if the flesh is red and looks sugary, most often the product has been pre-processed with something.
Bright pink or purple pulp colors, white bones are a sign of the presence of nitrates. Watermelon without impurities has a slightly reddish, grainy center, the seeds are dark.
How to evaluate the ripeness of a watermelon by its appearance
To find out if a watermelon is ripe without cutting, you should pay attention to its rind. It should be firm, free from damage or dents. To determine the density of the top layer, you can try to pierce it with your fingernail - it should not succumb. The surface of good watermelons is free of wax, it should shine in the sun.
In ripe fruits, a light yellow or light orange spot appears on the side that was lying on the ground. A white mark means that the watermelon is not ripe. The rind should be streaked with deep green. When tapped, the fruit should make a dull sound, which is given to the hand. You should not ask to cut watermelons on the market - knives are rarely washed there, if the day is hot, they form an environment favorable for the life of bacteria.
A sure indicator of the maturity of a watermelon lying on a garden bed is a completely dried up closest tendril.
When choosing a watermelon, it is better to opt for the one that is considered a "girl". To determine, you need to pay attention to the lower part of the fetus - the bottom of the "girls" is flatter than that of boys.
How to test a watermelon for nitrate content at home
If you wish, you can try at home to check the content of harmful substances inside the purchased watermelon. To do this, you need to cut it and separate the pieces of pulp.
A small piece of watermelon should be dipped into a cup of clean water. With good fruit quality, the liquid may become slightly cloudy. If the water from the pulp is very colored, the watermelon contains substances harmful to health. It is better to refuse to eat it.
