Picking the perfect watermelon ensures you get the sweetest, juiciest fruit. Look, lift, and turn the melon to inspect all sides.
The ground spot, where the melon sat on the ground, should be creamy or buttery yellow. If it's white or green, it's not ripe.
Some people thump the rind. If it sounds hollow, it's ripe. If it rings, it's underripe. If it thuds, it's overripe.
A ripe watermelon should feel heavy for its size. Compare two similar-sized melons to see which one feels heavier.
Rinse your watermelon with cool water, scrub it with a stiff brush, and dry it off before slicing to avoid dragging microbes into the flesh.
A gap or three-pointed hole in the center of your watermelon, known as "hollow heart", is due to inadequate pollination but is safe to eat.
Watermelons are ready to pick when the ground spot is creamy, the rind is matte, and the green tendrils and main vine turn brown.