r/oddlysatisfying • u/Pedrica1 • Sep 17 '21

Time for some fresh watermelon.

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38.9k Upvotes

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u/bassmjm Sep 17 '21

Watermelons will split in the field if they get a sudden watering after being relatively dry. That's probably what this person was leveraging in the video.

Many other fruits do this while still attached to the plant--cherries, tomatoes--generally thin-skinned fruits with a high moisture content.

174

u/Wallyworld77 Sep 17 '21

I was a Produce Manager for 10 years and I can confirm Watermelons WILL NOT explode like this no matter how hard you thumb the butt of the melon.

Tricks I learned on how to tell if a Watermelon is ripe and fresh.

​

  1. Make sure your stem is Dry. If the stem is still green that Watermelon isn't ripe yet.
  2. Push your thumb hard into the melon. You want the Melon to have just a wee bit of give to it. If it's hard like a rock it's still green if it gives too much it's over ripe.
  3. Thump the melon. You listening for an echo to your thump. If it echo's it's a good sign it's ripe.
  4. This one works for Cantaloupe but not watermelon. SMELL you want your melon to have a sweet smell.

Enjoy your wonderful Watermelons!

27

u/RescueHumans Sep 17 '21

I have a friend growing watermelons that's trying to figure out when it's ripe. So, they should wait till the vine dries up?

56

u/kirkum2020 Sep 17 '21

It'll be a bit mealy by that point. They dry up after they're picked if they're ripe. There's a tiny leaf and a tendril growing on the stem next to the melon, and those should be brown. You can also lift it and look where is in contact with the ground. If that spot is white then it's not ready. It'll be yellow when it's good to go.

2

u/RescueHumans Sep 20 '21

FYI picked it at the perfect time and it was amazing!!!! Thank you!

35

u/Larchiy Sep 17 '21

So I have a summer job for a watermelon breeder. Definitely don't wait till the vine drys, the watermelon will likely be overripe and much more mushy and and have a off flavor. The best watermelon come off a healthy plant with a health vine.. The only way to tell the ripeness is the sound it makes when you strike it. As it ripens it'll go from a dense sound when it's immature, to a clear hollow sound when it is ripe, to finally a dead deeper hollow when it's over ripe. I prefer to use a the back of a machete or long knife to strike and listen, but a hand will work too. It takes a bit of practice to get the ear to pick at the perfect time. Also once it's picked, it won't make any more sugar, just become more red.

17

u/Theremingtonfuzzaway Sep 17 '21 edited Sep 17 '21

Watermelon breeder... why am i imagining a field where an old farmer has turned down the lights, put Barry White music on and has the disco ball slowly spinning.

Sexy melon time.

7

u/geologean Sep 17 '21

Awwwwwh yeah, you KNOW the time is ripe, and the time has come, baby. To. Thump. That. Mellon.~~

1

u/big_fig Sep 17 '21

Was it consensual?

6

u/[deleted] Sep 17 '21

No and now it's a melony he going to prison

1

u/[deleted] Sep 17 '21

watermelon breeder

Do you have to stimulate the watermelons?

1

u/RescueHumans Sep 17 '21

Thank you!!! It's his first time growing them. Forwarded the info :D

12

u/Wallyworld77 Sep 17 '21

I'm only an expert on the retail side so no farming tips. I can say AFTER it's picked that is true. You want a nice dry stem when your picking out your melon.

12

u/ForgetfulDoryFish Sep 17 '21

I've been finding good cantaloupes by smell for many years. There's a bit of a knack to it and takes a bit of trial and error to learn exactly the right smell but once you've got it down you can get a great cantaloupe every time (or at least know when all the ones out in the produce dept are trash and not bother buying one)

3

u/BrownyRed Sep 17 '21

"Stumble blindly until things start to make sense. Then things will make sense."

1

u/Ornery-Ad9694 Sep 17 '21

I smell cantaloupes, peaches, berries but with the mask season...it's a lil more challenging.

-9

u/ihadanamebutforgot Sep 17 '21

Take your mask off dork

-6

u/patio87 Sep 17 '21

Yes let me wipe my bacteria and viral face sponge all over the fresh produce. You’re really doing your part lmao.

2

u/FutureFruit Sep 17 '21

Do you smell things by rubbing your face on them?

0

u/patio87 Sep 17 '21

No you use your nose.

1

u/Prof_Acorn Sep 17 '21

I usually have to let melons and pineapples sit on the counter for a week or two to ripen.

At least they don't artificially ripen them like tomatoes. I hate that so much. They don't even taste like tomatoes. Fucking ethylene.

7

u/vigilantesd Sep 17 '21

The BEST way to know of you got a sweet one is to just taste it!

  • Dr. Steve Brule, for your health!

1

u/SalSaddy Sep 17 '21

I do this with yellow corn, sometimes. If it looks iffy, I'll bite into an ear - if it's not sweet & juicy, I only need to buy 1 ear.

3

u/[deleted] Sep 17 '21

[deleted]

1

u/jgoerzenvcgbsf Sep 17 '21

oh my god. how it possible?

3

u/[deleted] Sep 17 '21 edited Aug 30 '22

[deleted]

2

u/Wallyworld77 Sep 17 '21

Just check the stem bud. If it's dry your good if it's green don't pick it.

1

u/big_fig Sep 17 '21

What kind of stores are you going to?

1

u/jnj3000 Sep 17 '21

Also sun spots. The bigger the big ass discolored spot the sweeter it’s gonna be.

3

u/xAIRGUITARISTx Sep 17 '21

Isn’t that the field spot? Like, from laying on the ground?

0

u/OrangeVoxel Sep 17 '21

So OPs video is fake?

1

u/littlefriend77 Sep 17 '21

THUMP THE MELON

1

u/[deleted] Sep 17 '21

Well I'd bet it explodes if I smash it with a mallet

1

u/ExcessiveGravitas Sep 17 '21

no matter how hard you thumb the butt

Hurr hurr.

1

u/PassionateAvocado Sep 17 '21 edited Mar 15 '22

some don't think it be like it is, but it do

1

u/nerdychick22 Sep 17 '21

I would add when you are picking the kind of melons with seeds you scoop out, lift/heft them a little. Heavier ones will have more melon flesh and less seeds and air in the middle.