Q&A for How to Buy a Cantaloupe

Return to Full Article

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    My grandmother always said to shake it and listen for loose seeds to tell when it's ripe. Is this true?
    Community Answer
    Have you tried it? It may be true; I test cantaloupe by smelling the bottom of the melon. If it smells like melon, it's ripe.
  • Question
    Will cantaloupe continue to ripen if it is left out of the refrigerator?
    Community Answer
    If the cantaloupe has not yet been cut, it will continue to ripen if left unrefrigerated. However, if your cantaloupe is cut and left out, it has a higher chance of mold growth and overripeness.
  • Question
    Can you eat the cantaloupe if it has an alcohol taste?
    Community Answer
    The smell of alcohol in fruit means the melon is fermented, which may be bad for you (depending on the type of fruit and how long it has been fermenting).
  • Question
    How can I know when to pick a cantaloupe, if I'm a worker at a cantaloupe farm?
    Community Answer
    If it's a farm, you will probably be told to pick it too green. Ripe means a nice smell on the blossom end and a depression on the stem end because the stem is about to let go. It should pull off easily without being cut.
  • Question
    What do dimples on a cantaloupe mean?
    Community Answer
    A few dimples indicates the fruit is ripening. I watch for several to appear before I cut into mine.
  • Question
    My cantaloupe is yellow and came off the vine easily. It is not sweet. What is wrong with it?
    Community Answer
    It has either begun to ferment or it was grown with insufficient water, minerals or light, or maybe it's not a cantaloupe.
  • Question
    I ate a cantaloupe and the flavor was more like a cucumber. Is that normal?
    Community Answer
    It probably wasn't ripe or you just got a bad one. When you get a ripe one, the taste is entirely different from a cucumber.
  • Question
    Can I eat a cantaloupe that has mold on it?
    Community Answer
    It is not recommended to eat it, as the mold spores will spread through the entire fruit and it will not be safe for you to consume.
  • Question
    How long does cantaloupe need to be refrigerated before eating it?
    Community Answer
    Cantaloupe does not need to be refrigerated prior to eating.
Ask a Question

      Return to Full Article