4 Easy Suggestions from Dietitians for Choosing the Completely Ripe Cantaloupe Each Time

Selecting the best cantaloupe may be unpredictable and inconsistent—particularly when you don’t know what to search for. However when you observe these accredited suggestions and methods from dietitians and farmers, you’ll chunk right into a candy, juicy, melt-in-your-mouth melon each single time.

Cantaloupes are packed not solely with water but in addition provide a wholesome dose of nutritional vitamins A and C.

However biting right into a bland, flavorless cantaloupe is not any enjoyable. Right here’s what you’ll want to find out about selecting the proper cantaloupe to your subsequent meal or snack.

When selecting a cantaloupe, take a look at the stem finish. You shouldn’t see a stem on the cantaloupe, however you may see a slight indentation. The truth is, the lacking stem is an efficient indicator that your cantaloupe slipped off the vine simply when it was ripe and able to be picked, Michael Hirakata, co-owner of Hirakata Farms, who grows Rocky Ford Cantaloupes in Colorado, advised Well being.

When selecting their cantaloupes, Hirakata says that they search for a full slip. “A full slip means there isn’t any of the stem left and that it’ll be a superb, ripe cantaloupe,” he mentioned.

The skin of your cantaloupe ought to have a pleasant coloration that’s yellowish, golden, beige, and even orange, relying on the variability your market or grocery retailer carries. If it has any inexperienced, it was possible picked too early and received’t be as candy because the extra golden or beige cantaloupes, Connie Elick, MS, RD, a registered dietitian and teacher on the Institute of Culinary Schooling in Los Angeles, advised Well being.

The cantaloupe ought to give barely to agency strain on the stem finish and have a candy aroma, Amy Woodman, RD, a registered dietitian with Farmington Valley Diet and Wellness, advised Well being.

If there isn’t any candy, musky odor, then it’s possible not ripe or candy. “A [sweet] cantaloupe is the proper summertime deal with, offering each hydration and electrolytes. A one-cup serving of cantaloupe has 415 milligrams of potassium,” Woodman mentioned.

Your cantaloupe ought to really feel heavy for its dimension, Emily Holdorf, MS, RDN, CDN, a registered dietitian and neighborhood supervisor for The Basis for Recent Produce, advised Well being.

Cantaloupe is a flexible fruit that packs a dietary punch and may be notably helpful in supporting your immunity and eye well being as a result of its vitamin A and vitamin C content material, mentioned Holdorf.

Listed here are another issues to find out about cantaloupe.

It Doesn’t Ripen After It’s Picked

Most cantaloupes don’t ripen after they’re picked. The truth is, as we speak’s cantaloupes usually don’t produce a pure aspect referred to as ethylene, which is usually present in fruits that do ripen after they’re picked like bananas, peaches, pears, or avocados.

“To scale back meals waste, cantaloupe growers are producing varieties that don’t spoil as rapidly as older cantaloupe varieties as soon as did,” mentioned Holdorf.

It Must Be Cleaned Nicely

Whereas it’s uncommon, cantaloupes may be contaminated with Salmonella whereas they’re rising. Some speculate that that is brought on by micro organism from the soil, the water used for irrigation, and even animals.

You need to wash your cantaloupe completely earlier than slicing it in order that any contaminants don’t switch from the knife to the flesh.

Moreover, your cantaloupe shouldn’t have any black or inexperienced mould on it, and the netting texture on the surface ought to really feel tough and never easy, mentioned Elick.

It’s Good For You

Cantaloupe accommodates about 65% of the each day worth of vitamin C. “Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps to guard the cells in your physique from harm,” mentioned Elick. “It additionally helps produce collagen that’s wanted for the pores and skin and iron absorption, [and it] helps to spice up the immune system.“

Moreover, phytonutrients in cantaloupe, together with beta-carotene and cryptoxanthin, can assist battle illness. Cantaloupe additionally accommodates lutein and zeaxanthin, which promote eye well being. “It may well additionally assist to cut back irritation because it accommodates the antioxidant cucurbitacin, which may additionally assist scale back the danger of coronary heart illness,” mentioned Elick.

It Doesn’t Final Lengthy

A complete cantaloupe may be stored in a cool, dry place for one to 2 days. After that, it ought to be positioned within the fridge.

“As soon as the fruit is sliced, it ought to be saved in an hermetic container and positioned within the fridge, the place it may possibly final three to 5 days,” mentioned Woodman.

Hirakata and Elick advocate the next methods to take pleasure in this juicy fruit:

Pair chunks with items of watermelon
Season cantaloupe with Tajin and lime juice, and add a couple of cucumbers
Slice it open to create a bowl and add a scoop of ice cream
Serve it alongside cottage cheese and your favourite seasonings
Add cantaloupe to salty meals, corresponding to prosciutto and cheese, for distinction
Mix it into smoothies or freeze the blended cantaloupe to type a slushie
Grill or roast cantaloupe to vary up its taste
Combine it with a squeeze of lime, finely chopped cilantro, and crimson onion to make a salsa