How to Pick the Sweetest Watermelon: 3 Tips That Actually Work
Nothing beats a juicy, flavorful watermelon on a hot day—but not all melons are created equal. If you’ve ever brought home a bland, watery one, you know the disappointment. Thankfully, there are a few reliable tricks to help you choose a perfectly ripe, sweet watermelon every time.
Flip the watermelon over and look for a creamy patch on the underside—that’s the field spot. This is where the melon rested on the ground as it ripened in the sun. A deep yellow or even orange field spot is a great sign that the fruit stayed on the vine long enough to develop its full flavor. If the spot is pale or nearly white, the melon was likely picked too early and may lack sweetness.
Those rough, brown, web-like lines on the rind might look like blemishes, but they’re actually a good thing. Known as bee stings or webbing, these marks form during pollination when bees interact with the flower. More webbing often means more pollination—and more pollination tends to result in a sweeter fruit. So if you see those rough patches, consider it nature’s seal of approval.