No matter what size you are angling for, pick the heaviest in that size range. Heavy means the fruit is bursting with water.
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Melons with plenty of pink, juicy flesh will sound hollow when you tap on them. Fruit that sounds solid, dull, or tinny when tapped likely has a thick inedible rind and probably isn't ripe.
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Melons have a spot where the fruit was on the ground. This is known as a “field spot.” In ripe fruits, the spot will be creamy and yellow. In unripe fruits, it will be white or pale.
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Melons that received consistent watering will be juicier than those that did not. You can spot well-watered melons by their smooth, uniform shape (circular or oblong) and a lack of humps.
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Dull watermelons are riper than shiny ones. Look for melons with scars on the side with the yellow spot. These are caused by sugar leaching from the fruit and indicate a sweeter melon.
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