It can be difficult to judge how ripe a watermelon is before you cut into it, and if you’ve accidentally brought home an overripe fruit, you might be wondering whether you can safely eat it. Nobody wants to throw away a good watermelon, but you probably don’t want to get sick either.
You can usually eat watermelon if it’s overripe, but you should check it for signs that it has gone off before you do. Eating a spoiled watermelon is not likely to be very harmful, but it could give you a stomach ache. It also may not taste very good.
In this article, we’re going to talk about whether overripe watermelons are safe to eat, how to tell if your watermelon is overripe, and what warning signs to look out for. We’ll also touch on watermelon storage to prevent your fruit from ripening too much.
How Do You Tell If A Watermelon Is Overripe?
It’s always a good idea to thoroughly check a fruit before you eat it, and if you’re buying watermelons, being able to tell how ripe they are is very useful. A ripe watermelon will:
- Have a light yellow patch, known as a field spot, on its underside
- Feel heavy, because it has lots of water in it
- Sound hollow when you tap it
- Have a sweet smell, especially where the stem would have been
- Have a little bit of give when squeezed, although this will be fairly minimal
Looking for these signs will help you to determine whether a fruit is ripe. They make it easier not to select an unripe watermelon, which will not ripen much once picked, but how do you avoid picking an overripe one? There are, fortunately, a few things that will help you:
- If the watermelon is light, it has lost some of its moisture and is likely overripe
- If the watermelon has a soft rind, rather than a firm one, it is overripe and turning mushy
- If the smell is very strong, the melon is likely overripe
- If the melon doesn’t sound hollow when tapped, it’s likely that the inside has turned mushy and wet
Knowing how to tell the difference between a ripe watermelon and an overripe watermelon is an important part of selecting fruits that are delicious and ready to eat. Overripe watermelons tend to be dry and a little unpleasant, so it’s really best to avoid buying them. Always check a watermelon before you purchase it.
Is It Okay To Eat An Overripe Watermelon?
If you have accidentally purchased an overripe watermelon, you can generally still eat it. It may have an unpleasant flavor and a mealy texture, however. Most people buy watermelons because they are sweet, juicy, and refreshing, but an overripe one will not be.
Overripe fruits are also likely to be lacking in nutrients, because a lot of these will be lost as the fruit becomes overripe. You therefore won’t get all the health benefits of eating watermelon.
What Are The Signs Of A Spoiled Watermelon?
If you have an overripe watermelon, you should always check for signs that it has gone past being overripe and actually started spoiling. If this has happened, the watermelon may not be safe to eat anymore. You are fairly unlikely to make yourself sick eating overripe or spoiled fruit, but it’s still best not to take the risk.
To tell if a watermelon has gone bad, you should start by inspecting the rind for black or brown discoloration, or for areas that have turned mushy. The rind of a watermelon should be firm and smooth, and should not have much give if you squeeze it. If it feels mushy and squishes when you press on it, there’s a high chance that the fruit has gone off.
You should look for any visible signs of mold. These might be fuzzy gray, white, or blue spots. They usually appear on the red flesh, rather than the green rind, but they can appear on the rind too. Any spots indicate that you shouldn’t eat the watermelon.
Next, sniff the watermelon. If it smells sweet and juicy, it should still be okay to eat. If the aroma has become sour, acidic, musty, or otherwise strange, compost the fruit. This indicates that the sugars have started to ferment and it will no longer taste nice. You can try tasting a small piece if you are still unsure; discard the fruit if the flesh tastes bad.
How Should You Store A Ripe Watermelon?
If you’ve got a watermelon that’s ripe but you don’t want to eat it yet, you need to store it in the fridge to slow down the ripening process. Simply place the watermelon near the back of the fridge until you are ready to cut it.
This will generally extend the fruit’s longevity by about a week, possibly a little more. The fridge will offer a damp and cold environment that is perfect for keeping the watermelon fresh. The cold will slow down the ripening process and stop the cells from turning mushy for at least a few days more than if you store it in the cupboard.
You can also freeze a watermelon if you don’t think you are going to use it up in time. You should cut the watermelon up and remove the rind and the seeds. Place the flesh in an airtight container and put it in the freezer, and it should be good to eat for around 6 months. You may notice that the texture deteriorates slightly, but it should still taste nice.
Conclusion
You can eat overripe watermelon if you choose to, but check it for signs of spoilage first, and throw away any fruit that shows signs of having spoiled. You should also be aware that the texture of overripe watermelon is not great, and it may be dry and unpleasantly sweet. It’s best to choose ripe watermelons and store them in the fridge until you’re ready to use them.
