How to Pick a Ripe Cantaloupe

Here are some easy tips for picking a flavorful, ripe cantaloupe.

Smell : Use your nose - you should be able to smell the sweetness.

Weight : Pick it up. A ripe cantaloupe should feel relatively heavy for its size.

Stem "button": Find the green "button" on the top of the melon.  Using your thumb, press down toward the middle of the fruit. It should give slightly, but not feel mushy. A rock hard button means the melon is not ripe.

Color : Look for a golden, yellow-brown outer skin. Greenish hues mean the melon is not ripe.

Shape: Pick a round melon without soft indentations or bruising.

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