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

Selecting the best cantaloupe might be unpredictable and inconsistent—particularly in the event you don’t know what to search for. However in the event you comply with these authorized 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 should find out about selecting the proper cantaloupe in 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 would possibly see a slight indentation. In reality, the lacking stem is an effective 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 great, ripe cantaloupe,” he stated.

The skin of your cantaloupe ought to have a pleasant colour 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 seemingly 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 Training in Los Angeles, advised Well being.

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

If there isn’t any candy, musky odor, then it’s seemingly 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 stated.

Your cantaloupe ought to really feel heavy for its measurement, 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 might be notably helpful in supporting your immunity and eye well being because of its vitamin A and vitamin C content material, stated 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. In reality, as we speak’s cantaloupes usually don’t produce a pure ingredient often known as ethylene, which is often 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,” stated Holdorf.

It Must Be Cleaned Effectively

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

You must 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 should have no black or inexperienced mould on it, and the netting texture on the surface ought to really feel tough and never easy, stated Elick.

It’s Good For You

Cantaloupe incorporates 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,” stated 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, will help combat illness. Cantaloupe additionally incorporates lutein and zeaxanthin, which promote eye well being. “It might additionally assist to cut back irritation because it incorporates the antioxidant cucurbitacin, which may additionally assist cut back the chance of coronary heart illness,” stated Elick.

It Doesn’t Final Lengthy

An entire cantaloupe might be saved in a cool, dry place for one to 2 days. After that, it must be positioned within the fridge.

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

Hirakata and Elick suggest 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, akin to prosciutto and cheese, for distinction
Mix it into smoothies or freeze the blended cantaloupe to kind a slushie
Grill or roast cantaloupe to alter up its taste
Combine it with a squeeze of lime, finely chopped cilantro, and crimson onion to make a salsa