The Right Time To Pick A Cantaloupe - How And When To Pick Cantaloupe

In fact, most cantaloupes are ready to be picked once they're fully ripened, changing from green to a tan or yellowish-gray color between the netting. A ripe melon will also exhibit a sweet and pleasant aroma. One way to tell if a melon is over ripe is by looking at the rind, which will appear quite yellow and soft.

Will a cantaloupe ripen off the vine?

Yes. Cantaloupe will ripen after being cut from the vine, but will not increase in sweetness.

How do you ripen a cantaloupe from the store?

Place the fruit in a brown paper bag rolled closed at the top to help the melon to ripen faster for eating. Once you've already cut the cantaloupe it needs to be refrigerated, which slows any further softening.

Does cantaloupe ripen more after being picked?

Some, like watermelon, do not continue to ripen once harvested. Therefore, flavor will not improve nor will they become sweeter—t is what it is at harvest. However, cantaloupe and similar fruit will continue to ripen after harvest.

What is the best time to eat cantaloupe?

Scoop some up now while it's in season. Muskmelons (that is, orange cantaloupe and green honeydew) are available from July through August and sometimes as late as mid-October in warmer climates. Related to squash, watermelon and cucumbers, these fruits are savored for their juicy goodness and sweet punch of flavor.

How can I tell if a cantaloupe is ripe?

In fact, most cantaloupes are ready to be picked once they're fully ripened, changing from green to a tan or yellowish-gray color between the netting. A ripe melon will also exhibit a sweet and pleasant aroma. One way to tell if a melon is over ripe is by looking at the rind, which will appear quite yellow and soft.

How do you sweeten an unripe cantaloupe?

Sprinkle sugar or sugar substitute onto the cantaloupe. Toss the cantaloupe gently with the sugar until it has been evenly distributed. Try a piece of cantaloupe. If it still needs to be sweetened, sprinkle more sugar and toss the cantaloupe again.

What can I do with under ripe cantaloupe?

Uses for an Unripe Cantaloupe

Turning it into a soup -- with mangos, or a white gazpacho with grapes and almonds.
Making a melon jam or chutney.
Using it as a thick base for a smoothie, or blending it with lime juice and honey for cantaloupe agua fresca.

How do you pick out good cantaloupe?

The best way to pick a cantaloupe is by smell. The fruit should have a sweet, slightly musky scent. A good cantaloupe feels heavy for its size, has a rind that resembles raised netting, and has a stem end that yields slightly when pressed with your thumb.

Is cantaloupe in season right now?

From June through August, cantaloupes are at their peak of flavor. Along with tasting great, they're an excellent source of vitamin A, beta-carotene and vitamin C. Whether you enjoy them sliced, cubed or halved, cantaloupes are a refreshing, healthy addition to salads, desserts, beverages and more.

Is unripe cantaloupe bad for you?

It is generally safe to eat unripe and even has curative properties. The unripe fruit has been proven to contain higher amounts of the enzyme papain, which alleviates symptoms from various gastric disorders.

How do you ripen a cantaloupe quickly?

Set the cantaloupe in a paper bag once you want to speed up the ripening process. Keep it at room temperature during this process. Place ethylene-producing fruits such as an apple or banana in the paper bag with the cantaloupe to further speed up the ripening.

How do you prune a cantaloupe plant?

Using pruning shears, cut lateral vines that grow from the primary up to the eighth leaf node. Take care not to damage the main stem when cutting back the cantaloupe plants. Leave 1-2 lateral vines untouched. Once the melons begin to form, remove all but a single fruit per vine.

Can I eat cantaloupe at night?

Cantaloupe Melon

At just 50 calories, a cup of diced cantaloupe provides almost 100% of the daily requirement for vitamins A and C. That antioxidant boost, just an hour before bed, can help you sleep better.

What happens if you eat too much cantaloupe?

Potassium. Cantaloupes are a good source of this mineral, which can help lower your blood pressure. But too much of it may cause problems if you have kidney disease. That's because your organs may not be able to filter out all the extra potassium, This can lead to a serious condition called hyperkalemia.

Is Cantaloupe high in sugar?

Cantaloupe and honeydew melons are especially sweet and delicious, even though they only contain 8g of sugar per 100 grams. Watermelon can also be a tasty and refreshing snack, but it is surprisingly high in sugar. With 18 grams of sugar in an average wedge of watermelon, it's one of the most sugary fruits you can eat.

How long does it take for a cantaloupe to ripen?

Cantaloupe matures in about 80 to 90 days. Melons are normally ready to harvest when they start turning yellow on the bottom and the stem starts turning brown.

Are cantaloupe good for you?

Cantaloupe is a rich food source of vitamins A and C. "Vitamins A and C are both antioxidants that work to keep your body healthy," Mangieri said. Antioxidants can have protective effects by neutralizing free radicals, which can damage DNA in cells and promote chronic inflammation in the body.

How can I make my cantaloupe taste better?

Watermelons, cantaloupes, and honeydews lean sweet—and that's why they play so well with salt, vinegar, and cheese. Sweet, ripe, summer melons are better with salt. Salt makes their flavor pop. It contrasts their sweetness and accentuates their refreshing qualities.

Why are my cantaloupe not sweet?

Cantaloupe (Cucumis melo) flavor depends upon environmental conditions. High rainfall or excessive irrigation as the cantaloupes near maturity will adversely affect fruit flavor. Also, diseases which reduce the vigor of the plant and the leaves' ability to produce sugar will affect fruit flavor.

Does Salt Make cantaloupe sweeter?

As Crosby explains, “I would say that the fruits that tend to contain more of these sugars, either sucrose or glucose or fructose, the greater the enhancement you're going to perceive of the sweetness due to the salt.” Salt will make the sweetest fruits (i.e. cherries and strawberries) even sweeter, but if you're more ...