Get The Scoop On Picking Perfect Watermelons In Lubbock

A friend of mine picked up a beautiful watermelon at an area farmers’ market. Unfortunately, it was not so great. If you want a great watermelon, in Lubbock, Texas, it's easier than you think.

Let's lay out some credentials here. I am no expert on produce, so I consulted one at one of my favorite United Supermarkets. He led me down this path and it has worked 100% for me.

🍉 How To Pick A Better Watermelon

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder — and actually not much of a factor when picking a watermelon. There are all kinds of ways people claim to choose one, but I have a couple of pretty fail-safe things I always look for. Skip the beauty contest and let the proof be in the taste.

🍉 Look For The Webbing

First and foremost, look for webbing on the outside. It kind of looks like silver dirt but won’t rub off. That’s a sign the watermelon has so much sugar on the inside that it’s actually pushing through the skin.

The more webbing you see, the better your chances are of getting a sweet watermelon.

🍉 A Yellow Spot Is A Good Thing

Next up, you actually want a watermelon with a yellow spot. That means the melon stayed out in the field long enough to become vine-ripened.

One quick note though: if the spot starts looking more orange than yellow, it may have sat out a little too long and could be mushy inside.

🍉 Dull Beats Shiny

Also, look for a watermelon with a dull exterior instead of a shiny one. Again, in many cases, in most cases, the uglier the watermelon, the better it’s going to taste.

Pretty doesn’t always mean flavorful.

🍉 About The “Melon Slap”

You may be one of those melon slappers, but that takes years of experience and can still be a little deceptive. If you really know what you’re doing, you’re listening for a hollow sound.

Still, why bother when you can usually tell a lot just by looking at it?

🍉 Chill It Before You Eat It

Now, if you’re looking for the height of summer refreshment, make sure you put that watermelon in the fridge for at least three hours before eating it.

You can also go with an ice bath situation for about an hour if you’re in a hurry. Either way, cold watermelon on a hot summer day is tough to beat.

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