How to pick watermelons that are ripe and have red, sweet, paper-thin skin
How to choose a watermelon that is just right:
1. Look for the “Sugar Spot.” A small, dry, slightly flattened sugar spot means the fruit is ready. Stay away from spots that are big or wet.
2. *Look for Uniform Color*: The best rind is deep green and has a uniform color.
3. *Feel the Weight*: A watermelon that is ready should feel heavy for its size.
4. Tap until you hear a hollow sound. A deep, hollow sound means it’s ready, while a dull sound means it’s not ready yet.
5. Look at the field spot. If it’s yellow, it’s ready, but if it’s white or green, it’s not.
6. Check the Rind – A smooth, spotless rind means the fruit is fresh, while deep cuts or soft spots could mean it’s gone bad. Follow these steps to always enjoy a sweet, juicy watermelon.
10 Summer Fruits You Need to Try This Season
Melons and berries and stone fruits, oh my!
1 Watermelon
Nothing says summer quite like watermelon! The juicy, sweet fruit is one of the best ways to celebrate the season. Starting as early as June or July, you’ll see the big, seeded melons pop up everywhere. Cut them into wedges for a summery snack or dice them up to toss in a fruit salad. You can even use them for making sweet watermelon cocktails.
2 Blueberries
During the summer months, you’ll find plenty of pick-your-own farms with blueberry bushes across the country. (Yes, in case you didn’t know, blueberries do grow on bushes!) If the idea of grabbing a handful of blueberries sounds right up your alley, you might want to even try growing your own blueberries at home. But no matter where you get them, you’ll want to use them for making endless blueberry desserts.
3 Peaches
Fuzzy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and one of the best stone fruits in the summer—fresh peaches will begin hitting stands as early as May in the South. Other parts of the country will see them come June or July. One of Ree Drummond’s favorite ways to enjoy peaches is simple sliced and grilled. It helps bring out the natural sweetness and makes for a delicious pairing with vanilla ice cream.
4 Cherries
By the time June and July roll around, we’re in peak cherry season. You can get your fix with different types of cherries, like Bing and Rainier. Aside from just snacking on these bite-sized fruits, you can also use them to make a cherry crisp or cherry sorbet. Just be sure to pit the cherry before cooking them.
5 Blackberries
When blackberries are in season, they’re bursting with juiciness, which is why Ree uses them for her blackberry cobbler. You can also pair them up with blueberries and strawberries for a three-berry dessert, like this mixed berry shortcake.
6 Raspberries
Ruby red raspberries are sweet and delicate. To prevent them from turning mushy, be sure to wash raspberries by placing them in a colander and dunking it in a bowl filled with cold water. You never want to run them under the faucet. They’ll be wonderful in a no-bake raspberry cream pie or savor the season throughout the year by making homemade raspberry jam.
7 Plums
A relative of peaches and other stone fruits, plums have a smooth skin that can range in colors from deep purple to blue to red. Starting in July, you’ll find juicy plums that can simply be sliced or diced and added to yogurt parfaits or even summer salads. They pair well with savory ingredients like goat cheese as well as sweet recipes like a homemade tart.
8 Honeydew
Mildly sweet green-colored honeydew are most abundant in the late summer months. You can dice them up or use a melon baller to create cute rounds out of the juicy flesh. The fruit is also a refreshing addition to Ree’s melon spritzer. Just be sure to look for honeydew that has a creamy yellow rind and a gentle give when pressed to ensure that it’s ripe.
9 Strawberries
In some places around the country, you’ll see strawberries in season during the late spring months, but early summer is when they’re best! The juicy red berries are perfect for using in strawberry desserts, sliced and added to a summer cocktail, or even used in a savory grilled chicken and strawberry wrap. When summer comes to an end, you can preserve your ripe strawberries simply by freezing them.
10 Apricots
Here’s another stone fruit to try this summer! Though you might recognize dried apricots in stores year-round, the fresh variety are best from June to August. You can roast them to enjoy with a scoop of ice cream or bake them in apricot cakes, tarts, or crisps.