Discover how to buy the sweetest cantaloupe your grocery store offers.
you could even freeze cantaloupe, which is especially convenient for making smoothies.
Pick up the melon and take a whiff of the stem end.
There should be a sweet smell, but not too sweet.
If you’re able to’t smell anything, it’s not quite ripe.
On the outside, the color should be a light beige with no green showing through the rind.
If you see green, that means it’s not quite ripe.
You should also check the end to see if there’s still a stem.
By Touch
Pick up a melon and get a feel for its weight.
If it feels heavy for its size, it’s ready to eat.
If it’s light or feels hollow, move on to the next melon.
A ripe cantaloupe should have some give, but it should be firm without being rock-hard.
Then feel for soft spots.
If there are many soft spots, the melon may be too ripe.
A few small soft spots are OK as long as the rest of it is still a little firm.
The cantaloupe is probably still good but should be eaten immediately.
Once it’s ripe, into the fridge it goes.
That doesn’t mean you could’t use it.
Frozen cantaloupe can be used in things likesmoothies, cantaloupe juice, cocktails or frozen treats like granitas.
In 1 cup ofcantaloupe chunks, there are about 50 calories.
