With temperatures climbing, the temptation to break open a fresh, juicy watermelon and quench your thirst becomes too hard to resist. But often, you get scammed into buying a ripe, round, shiny-looking piece which turns out to be bad when you split it open.
On social media, we came across a reel shared by digital creator Sonia Narang that claims that the lines, marks and shapes of a watermelon can indicate how fresh it is.
To fact check, we reached out to an expert and got some clarity.
Vijay Sharma, a watermelon farmer at Lajwanti Agro Products, Haryana said that the Instagram reel in question is an oversimplified, feel-good take that lacks real agricultural science. According to him, a watermelon’s sweetness isn’t determined by its shape, regardless of whether it is round or oval, nor is color alone a reliable indicator.
The sweetness of watermelon comes from potassium, but the way the fruit absorbs potassium from the soil versus the way farmers rely heavily on chemical fertilizers, do not provide a balanced mix of nutrients. This imbalance can lead to watermelon growing huge but lacking its natural sweetness. The size also is also not a way to measure the sweetness. In Japan, there is a variety that is grown in cubes for easy transportation.
What if your watermelon is white inside?
The idea that white skin means your watermelon is not sweet is incorrect. “White parts occur due to lack of sunlight exposure, meaning those areas did not have photosynthesis. A slight yellow means partially exposed to sun. However if a watermelon has a smooth, artificial looking uniform color, chances are it was chemically ripened using ethylene gas,” said Sharma.
How can you tell a watermelon is sweet?
Sharma suggested looking out for the following signs:
Weight – A ripe watermelon feels heavier than it looks due to higher water content.
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Sound– Tap it – if it sounds hollow , its likely ripe – if the sound is dull- its old.
Rind– A slightly Dull, rough rind with some yellow patches is a sign of natural ripening. A completely smooth shiny surface indicates artificial ripening
Bite test – Crisp Bite- the fresh water melon is juicy and crisp.
