Knock, Knock, Tap, Tap, Thump, Thump

Nothing brings people together like the watermelon display at the local grocery store. I was reminded of this recently while watching two men, from, in my stereotyping mind, two VERY different worlds come together and engage in a very animated conversation over watermelons.

Man 1: Do you know how to pick a good one?

Man 2: Yes, I do. (Picking up watermelon) You've got to knock on it like this (knock, knock, knock)

Man 1: I thought you were supposed to tap on it like this (tap, tap, tap).

At this point a third man found his way to the watermelon display and joined the "watermelon band" already in session.  His comment, "You need to thump on it like this (thump, thump, thump)."

Man 1, clearly the genius in the group, interrupted the knocking, tapping, and thumping when he asked, "What is it we're even listening for when we're knocking, tapping and thumping?"

Good question!  Follow these tips below for selecting the perfect watermelon (almost) every time.

Symmetrical and Dark Green

1.  Choose a dull looking, dark green watermelon.
   
2.  Look for uniform shape.  Search for a firm, symmetrical watermelon free from bruises, cuts or dents.  If the watermelon is lumpy or unsymmetrical, it may mean that it received irregular amounts of sunshine or water during growing, which can cause dryness or inconsistency.

3.  Pick it up.  Big or small, it should feel heavy for its size. The weight indicates it is full of water and therefore nice and ripe.

Bee Stings Indicate Sweetness

4.  Look for bee stings.  Small raised orbs or buds
on the watermelon rind can indicate a bee has stung
the melon.  This is a good sign as bees want sweet.

5.  Turn it over and check out its bottom.  The
"ground spot", where the watermelon sat on the
ground while it soaked up the sun, should have a
creamy yellow spot.  If that spot is white or
greenish, your watermelon may have been
picked too soon.

A Creamy Yellow "Ground Spot"

Watermelon Perfection!