Watermelon is the largest and juiciest berry of summer. Digging into the sweet juicy pulp with your teeth, and feeling the taste of sweet juice on your lips, you involuntarily begin to feel like a happy little child. How to choose a watermelon so that it is ripe and tasty, and gives you and your loved ones great pleasure? Let's analyze the basic rules.

Watermelon color

The first thing we pay attention to when choosing any product is its appearance. In our case, to choose the most ripe watermelon, look at the color of the watermelon. The skin of a ripe watermelon should have a bright contrasting color. In the process of growth, watermelon accumulates useful substances necessary for growth and maturation.

If the watermelon has received enough sun and light, it is saturated with chlorophyll (a substance that turns fruits green). When the maturation process is complete, the chlorophyll gradually begins to turn yellow. Therefore, a ripe watermelon has contrasting dark green and yellowish stripes.

Watermelon tail

Now, to determine if the watermelon is ripe in front of you, look at the tail of the watermelon. When our large berry grows, it is attached like an umbilical cord to its feeding stem. In a ripe watermelon, the need for replenishment disappears and gradually the tail with which it was attached dries up. But not only the tail itself dries up, but also the speck from which it grows. If the watermelon is plucked green, the tail in any case will begin to dry out over time, but the speck will not. And even if the tail has a juicy green appearance, then the watermelon is completely green.

Watermelon rind

Next, notice the watermelon rind. While the watermelon is growing, it is juiced and gradually increased. Naturally, the crust remains soft and elastic. After the growth process is completed, in order to retain moisture so valuable in hot climates, the watermelon is covered with a dense elastic crust.

It is very simple to check this: try to push the bark with your fingernail. If the fruit you have chosen is ripe, you will not succeed. And if the peel is easy, like that of a cucumber, it lends itself, the watermelon was plucked green, and did not have time to acquire a protective layer.

Speck on the side

There is another way to choose a watermelon. As you know, they do not hang on trees, but ripen lying on the ground. From this, a light spot appears on the side of the watermelon, the so-called "cheek". The sun does not fall on this speck. So it can have a bright color, only from an excess of the same chlorophyll.

Watermelon, as it ripens, accumulates it as much as possible and colors, as we have already said, its peel brightly and contrastingly. And only if there was enough heat and sun, and the watermelon is ripe, it "shares" its chlorophyll even with places on the skin where the sun did not get. Therefore, the "cheek" of a ripe watermelon should not be white, but yellow or even bright orange (which is even better).

Watermelon size

All life on earth, if it receives enough light, sun, heat and nutrients, tries to grow as much as possible. Watermelon is no exception in this regard. The likelihood that a large watermelon will be more ripe than a small one is very high. After all, something did not allow him to grow.

This does not mean that you only need to buy twenty-kilogram watermelons. Too large a size suggests that such growth could have been stimulated by a large amount of fertilizer.

Therefore, to buy a healthy and ripe watermelon, choose an average size of watermelon, at least 5-7 kilograms. Small varieties are an exception. But even in this case, it is worth choosing not the smallest ones.

Watermelon weight

How to choose a watermelon using weight? The fact is that during maturation, its specific gravity becomes less. Therefore, from two watermelons of the same size, ripe will be easier. Do not hesitate, take a watermelon in your hands, green will be heavier. So buy bigger but lighter watermelons.

Sound and resonance

The method of determining the ripeness of a watermelon by sound or crunch is only possible for strong enough men. To do this, the watermelon is squeezed with force between the palms. It should emit a characteristic crackle. Only if the watermelons were transported for a long time, their flesh inside could loose a little and the characteristic crackle may not work.

If you slap a watermelon, it will make a rather booming sound. The pulp of a ripe watermelon is juicy and firm. When you pat, it vibrates and resonates in response, as if giving you your cotton. If the sound from the impact is too loud, the watermelon may be greenish. If, when tapping, the watermelon does not make any sounds at all or sounds dull like a sofa cushion, most likely it is sour inside, or is about to do it. You shouldn't buy such a berry.

When to buy watermelons?

Of course, missing the juicy, sweet pulp, I want to buy a watermelon as soon as it appears on sale. But you should not rush in this matter, especially if you are going to feed them to children. When is the best time to buy a watermelon? Too early watermelons suggest a large amount of pesticides they contain.

Where to buy watermelon?

Now let's figure out where to buy a healthy and ripe watermelon? Ideally, of course, right in the tent on the melon. Naturally, this option is unacceptable for most of us, especially those living in cities. It is highly discouraged to buy watermelons from dusty roads, abundantly flavored with exhaust gases. Better to go to the nearest store or supermarket. They follow the storage rules and such fruits have the necessary documents.

If you nevertheless decide to buy a watermelon on a spontaneous market, carefully examine it and try to choose not with an intact skin and not lying in the dust. Although it has a thick crust, this does not mean that it will not be damaged by impact or squeezing.

And if, after tasting the watermelon, you were unhappy with the result: you felt unwell or a foreign taste, do not buy more from this seller, and even more so, do not finish eating if you have eaten only half. Most likely, the entire batch of goods is the same.

Now you know the basic ways of how to choose a ripe watermelon, when and where to buy it. As you can see, the method for determining a tasty, ripe sweet watermelon is a whole science. Of course, even seasoned connoisseurs sometimes get in trouble. Do not use only one method, take everything into service. I really hope that my advice will help you. On the site you will also read and, as well as learn how to choose the right products, for example,. And bon appetit!

Summer is in full swing! Vegetables and of course melons appear on the shelves. If you dream of a striped berry, but are afraid to make a bad choice, be sure to read our recommendations. Then the most delicious and ripe watermelon will definitely be yours!

Let's start with the good news. More than 1,500 tons of melons and gourds in the Astrakhan region have matured naturally. Due to the extreme heat, the harvest began earlier than usual.

So you've come for a watermelon. First of all, do not rely on the advice and suggestions of sellers, but carefully examine the product. The best proof of quality will be the certificate of conformity of the goods to the requirements of the standard. Every seller is obliged to have it on hand. If the document contains all the signatures and seals, you can safely buy. In practice, however, we know that most traders do not have a certificate or refuse to display one. Then our advice and your attentiveness will come to the rescue.

1) The peel of the watermelon should not have a matte bloom; the striped pattern should be clear and contrasting.

2) The watermelon itself should not lie on the ground or asphalt in the open sun. The ideal place for selling watermelons is a tent well sheltered from the sun's rays with berry trays and stationary scales. Watermelons must be at least 15 cm above the ground.

3) In no case take berries near the highway! A plucked watermelon "breathes", which means it absorbs road dust and gases.

4) A high-quality fruit should have a yellow spot, which indicates that in this place the watermelon was in contact with the ground and ripened on a melon under the sun.

5) Contrary to popular belief, never rely on a dry tail, which means the watermelon has survived long-term storage.

6) Do not ask to cut the watermelon to determine its ripeness. This opens a corridor for microbes, which multiply rapidly in the heat.

7) Focus on weight: a ripe watermelon should be heavy, overripe watermelons are usually much lighter.

8) Don't try to buy a giant watermelon that will feed your and two neighboring families. Give preference to a medium-sized berry, as a rule, it is the most ripe.

9) Note the crust of the striped berry. It should be firm and shiny, because the ripe fruit stops absorbing water and the crust hardens. Pry off the crust with your fingernail: if the rind is easy to pierce, then you shouldn't buy a watermelon.

10) Watermelon can be "girl" or "boy". The sex of the minke is easy to determine: the bottom of the "male" berry opposite the tail is convex and the circle on it is small. On the contrary, “girls” have a flat bottom and a wide circle on it. It is believed that "girls" watermelons are tastier because they contain fewer seeds and more sweetness.

11) When purchasing an early watermelon, it should be borne in mind that it may contain nitrates. It is almost impossible to check a berry for the presence of harmful substances when buying, but at home before eating, you can do a little research. Mash a piece of watermelon pulp in water. If the watermelon is of high quality, then the water is simply cloudier. Otherwise, the water will turn red or pink. If you still have suspicions that your watermelon is "wrong", eat it carefully, not reaching the white border with the crust. It is there that contains the largest amount of nitrates. Therefore, it is better to feed the children with pulp from the middle.

12) And finally, do not neglect the well-known method of testing a watermelon. Tap on the berry you like! If the watermelon is ripe early, you will hear a dull sound. If you buy a watermelon at the end of the season, there should be a ringing sound.

13) If you've put all of our tips into practice, congratulations. Having brought home a sweet and ripe watermelon, remember the rules for storing it. Before use, be sure to wash the watermelon with soap and a washcloth to remove dirt and dust from the crust.

14) An untouched watermelon can stay fresh for three months, but a cut berry can be stored for no longer than three days. Store it in a cool, dark place like a cellar or refrigerator.

15) When you send a half-eaten watermelon for storage, place it cut-down on a plate and wrap it with cling film on top, so it stays fresh longer.

How to find the most delicious, and most importantly healthy, watermelon among the dozens on the counter? Having faced a mountain of delicious pumpkins, we begin to recall common advice, something from personal experience, but how many inaccuracies and contradictions are there in this random information! Let's take it seriously.

Photo of a watermelon

First of all - sanitary standards. You are still choosing from a heap dumped along a dusty, gas-polluted road. Sales copies must be neatly stacked on the deck under the canopy. Cutting out a slice in order to make sure it is ripe is not worth it, it is better to risk buying an unripe watermelon than to surely bring home harmful microorganisms that have come from a knife or from the street air. For the same reasons, you cannot buy a fruit with a crack, even a small one, or with a trace of a bruise - bacteria quickly multiply in the open or damaged pulp.

Unscrupulous melon growers abuse the responsiveness of watermelon plants to fertilizing with fertilizers and overfeed them with nitrogen. The fruits quickly reach apparent ripeness, large, but immature and dangerous to health are obtained. The seller must have a certificate confirming the absence of harmful substances in doses hazardous to health. If it is absent or there is no confidence in its authenticity, you have to rely on your own knowledge.

Video on how to choose a ripe and tasty watermelon

Sometimes saltpeter is injected into an immature fetus with a syringe, a speck remains on the crust with a puncture in the middle. But if an excess of nitrates is introduced from the soil, such an uncut specimen cannot be recognized, it gives out the pulp. A confident seller exposes an opened sample for control that is not intended for food.

The taste of excess saltpeter cannot be directly distinguished, but it can be assumed by the discrepancy between the bright, ripe-looking, but not very sweet pulp and unripe seeds, which are too light and soft. This happens if maturity is imitated by chemistry.

An environmentally friendly fruit has a granular structure on the fault, with distinguishable cells, while an overfed fruit has a fibrous structure. White streaks appear under difficult ripening conditions, for example, when there is a lack of heat, yellow formations are a sign of overfed fertilizers. If the pulp is very bright, stir it in a glass of water. If the water turns red, the berry is artificially "tinted", if it only becomes cloudy, then the product is clean.

In the photo watermelon

If we exclude pumping with nitrates, then the size depends on ripeness, ripening conditions and variety. Most likely it will turn out to be of high quality average fruit, weighing about 6 kg. Too small can be suspected of immaturity, but first it needs to be assessed on other grounds. You should not choose too large if you have to store the cut residue, even in the refrigerator it can deteriorate within a day. It has been noticed that a slightly unsightly, slightly lopsided fruit is usually sweeter than a perfectly shaped watermelon.

As it ripens, the skin of the striped kavun becomes more and more contrasting. Be sure to pay attention to the stain formed at the point of contact of the fruit with the ground. In ripe watermelons it is yellow, about 10 cm in diameter, in unripe watermelons it is white, and if the spot is too large, the fruits ripened for a long time due to poor conditions.

The peel of a ripe watermelon is easily scraped off with a fingernail, underneath is a dense, white layer.

The stalk should be dry, yellowish. Until the fruit is ripe, it is green. A trained eye will determine whether the “tail” is easily separated from the stem, because when taking the fruit it was already dried up or it was pulled for a long time, tearing it off green, and it dried up during storage. The knife mark on the cut is harder to see, but possible. By itself, this part does not disappear from the fetus, which means that if it is not there, then it was removed on purpose - it is better not to choose this.

In the photo watermelons

Another well-known sign of a well-ripened fruit is the characteristic crackle when squeezed. The sound that a ripe watermelon makes when clicking or tapping is described in words in completely different ways. To some, it sounds sonorous, as if from an empty vessel, others call it "voluminous", it is best to experiment by drumming on the obviously ripe fruit and remember the resulting sound.

The density of the pulp decreases as it ripens, the ripe kavun does not sink in water. Taking it in hand, you can feel that it seems too light in relation to size. For those who like to trust the exact sciences in the question of how to determine the ripeness of a watermelon, there is a simple calculation. If it does not sink in water, then its weight, according to Archimedes' law, should be less than the weight of water in the same volume. And this is achieved with the following ratios: if the circumference of the watermelon is 80, 70, 60 cm, then its weight should be less than 8.6, respectively; 5.8; 3.6 kg. The calculation is made for a ball, therefore, it is applicable only for round watermelons.

About watermelon girls and some prejudices

The division of fruits by sex, into "boys" and "girls" is too common to be neglected. Vegetable growers, sellers, buyers from different countries have long been convinced that there are female watermelons - with a large flat trail from the separated flower and male ones, in which it is smaller and convex. Practice shows that, indeed, watermelons with a large speck opposite the stalk are tastier, and you can use this feature when buying. Perhaps this is somehow related to the peculiarities of pollination.

Video about tips for choosing a delicious watermelon

But calling watermelons "boys" and "girls" can only be a joke. All plant fruits are formed from the organs of a female flower that has a pistil and an ovary, in our case, from the pericarp, they cannot have sex! What would we think of a person who would think of dividing into "men" and "women", for example, apples or sunflower seeds?

The bad reputation of early, too large or small berries, unfortunately, is not without reason. But we must not forget that breeders are constantly working to create more and more perfect varieties and hybrids. For the Russian climate, varieties are bred, called ultra-early, as well as large-fruited and with pulp of various colors. Tasty and low-seeded watermelons weighing 2 - 3 kg are popular in Europe. It is necessary to pay attention to all signs of maturity and naturalness, of which there are many, and not to discard in advance specimens that ripened in July or fall out of the recommended standard in size. Otherwise, you can pass by an excellent watermelon, and the achievements of scientists will remain unclaimed.

Summer is remembered for us not only by the abundance of sun, travel and fresh greenery, but also by the delicious dessert of this season - watermelons. A ripe watermelon with a velvety and juicy pulp will come in handy on a hot day, while the main thing is to choose the right delicious watermelon. For some time, the watermelon was considered a useless fruit, but later it was found that this large berry is a real storehouse of folic acids, which have a beneficial effect on blood formation and chemical processes in the body. Despite the fact that watermelon is 90% of its mass water, it also contains useful substances - vitamin C, fiber and iron, etc.

Surely, there are many fans of this delicious berry. However, does each of us know how to choose the right watermelon? Unfortunately, finding absolutely ecologically pure fruits, like watermelons, is now very problematic. However, choosing the most "pure" berry, without an overabundance of nitrates and other things harmful to the body, is not so difficult. There are several secrets on how to choose the right delicious watermelon.

Choose the place and time of purchasing your watermelon carefully.If you want to fully enjoy the delicious watermelon without harming your own health, then keep an eye on where you are going to buy the watermelon. It is highly discouraged to buy watermelons near dusty roads where cars drive every now and then, releasing harmful gases into the air. Although, on the other hand, this is the most common option, buying a watermelon while traveling near the highway is simple and quick. Watermelons in stores do not differ in taste either - as a rule, supermarkets buy them unripe. The ideal place to buy is a tent next to the field where these watermelons grow. It is better not to buy early watermelons, it is better to enjoy melons no earlier than August.

Pay attention to the color of the watermelon.The "face" of the berry will always tell you how to choose a sweet watermelon. Pay attention to the color of the watermelon: it should be contrasting, but not matte. However, it is difficult to choose a watermelon on this basis: before selling, watermelons are carefully rubbed with a rag, giving it a marketable appearance, and therefore it is risky to determine the ripeness of a berry only by color. The yellow spot is also a must-have for a delicious watermelon. It does not say anything about ripeness, but the size of the speck can tell about the taste of the berry: if the size of the spot varies from 5 to 10 cm, then you have come across a completely sweet and juicy fruit.

Determine the ripeness of a watermelon by sound.Many people mistakenly believe that you can choose a good watermelon by the dull sound. In fact, when tapped, the correct watermelon should emit a sonorous sound, which indicates the porosity of the pulp, and, consequently, the ripeness of the berry. It is difficult to convey the sound of a ripe watermelon in words, but after a little practice you can easily determine the correct sound. Also, with a slight squeeze, the watermelon should crackle slightly, which will also notify you of its ripeness and juiciness.

A lack of a stem is a bad sign!Another way of choosing a ripe watermelon is to carefully examine the stem or the so-called "tail" of the fruit. It should be moderately dry and yellow: a too dry stem indicates that the watermelon has undergone long transportation and storage, which is unlikely to benefit its taste. It is better not to buy a watermelon without a "tail": most likely, it was deliberately torn off to hide the poor quality of the fruit.

Ripe and juicy watermelon never sinks in water. In addition, when cut, the berry will disperse, slightly crackling under the knife blade. The seeds of a ripe watermelon are dark brown or even black in color. White seeds are a sign of an unripe fruit or a high nitrate content in the berry.

Knowing the secrets of how to choose a good watermelon, you can be sure of the ripeness of the purchased fruit, when you cut it you will feel the sweet aroma and immediately understand that you have made the right choice.

Text: Anastasia Builova

Watermelon attracts not only with its taste. It is rich in easily digestible sugars, mainly fructose, trace elements (magnesium, potassium, etc.), pectin substances. IN watermelon a lot of folic acid - 150 g of the fruit is enough to meet the daily requirement for this vitamin. Distinctive property watermelon is its low calorie content: 100 g of the edible part of the fruit contains only 27 kilocalories. The pulp of this unique berry quenches thirst well. In the heat, we lose not only water with sweat, but also a number of trace elements, therefore it is valuable that watermelon, unlike many drinks, compensates for our losses in both liquid and trace elements, increases the body's resistance to hot weather. Availability in watermelon a large amount of fiber helps the intestines to function properly, improves digestion. Fiber in watermelon delicate, so it works very delicately. And another useful substance provides us watermelon... We are talking about lycopene - a natural antioxidant, a representative of a large group of substances that are mainly found in plant foods and are known for their antitumor effect. Good watermelon is a valuable dietary product that can be recommended to people of any age. It is a diuretic and choleretic agent, has a healing effect in diseases of the liver, gallbladder, kidneys and urinary tract. Delicate fiber and low acidity allows you to consume watermelons those who suffer from gastritis (inflammation of the gastric mucosa), gastroduodenitis (inflammation of the mucous membrane of the stomach and duodenum).

Where do bad watermelons come from?

Recently, attitudes towards watermelonhave changed somewhat. This alertness, I must say, is not unfounded. Make watermelon both improper storage conditions and violation of trade rules can be hazardous to health. Experts say roadsiders should be wary of watermelon collapses, where substandard goods or goods rejected by trade and sanitary inspectors flock. According to the rules, roadside trade in melons and gourds is generally prohibited, and goods from such points should be withdrawn. A few hours are enough to watermelons have absorbed heavy metals contained in car exhaust. According to the rules, the place of trade must be fenced off, under a canopy. Place the watermelons on the trays, not heap them on the ground. The casually sketched watermelons dirt and pathogens can penetrate through microcracks. The seller must have a permit from the sanitary-epidemiological station (SES) for trade and a medical book. Finally, a certificate of compliance of the sold product with the requirements of the standard is required. After reviewing the certificate, you will be able to verify the origin watermelon... In addition, the certificate controls the content of mineral fertilizers, the amount of radiation, heavy metals, etc. If a photocopy is made of the certificate, you should pay attention to the print, which must be in color. If the seal is black, the certificate is forged.

No windows, no doors. The room is full of nitrates

Watermelon, like all melons, is a very grateful plant. Under certain conditions, in one season, you can manage to collect more than one crop of these berries. But "intensive" farming, the desire to achieve a fast harvest, the largest possible fruits, as well as violations of the rules of transportation, storage and trade turn the dietary product into a source of trouble. To watermelon it matured faster and gained weight, craftsmen overfeed it with fertilizers, mainly nitrogen - nitrates (nitric acid salts: sodium, potassium, ammonium, calcium nitrate). The introduction of nitrates into the soil is accompanied by their accumulation in the pulp of the plant. Lack of sun and an abundance of moisture contribute to the accumulation of nitrates. Nitrates themselves are not very toxic, but they are precursors of N-nitroso compounds that have the ability to cause cancer and nitrites. The conversion of nitrates to nitrites occurs in the gastrointestinal tract with the participation of microflora. Some more of them enter the body ready-made: some of the nitrates are already in watermelon converted to nitrite, facilitated by high humidity. With an increase in shelf life, the content of nitrites in watermelon increases several times. Nitrites, unlike nitrates, are toxic compounds. They disrupt the transport function of the blood, affecting hemoglobin - the oxygen carrier for tissues. Hypoxia occurs - oxygen starvation of tissues, which is especially difficult for children, as well as those who suffer from diseases of the cardiovascular, respiratory, excretory systems.

The purity of a watermelon is a guarantee of health

Often cause of unpleasant effects from eating watermelonswe ourselves. On the peel watermelon particles of soil, dust, various microorganisms are preserved, therefore, a poorly washed fruit can cause an intestinal infection. Shouldn't buy watermelons with a damaged crust or already cut. Bacteria quickly multiply on the sweet surface of the damaged fruit in the presence of air (even a small wound is enough), and when eaten watermelon the occurrence of gastrointestinal disorders is possible. In addition, often watermelon not eaten immediately and stored cut at room temperature. Under these conditions, microorganisms also begin to multiply on the surface of the fetus.

Trouble from watermelon

Unfortunately, today no one can guarantee the good quality watermelon 100 percent unless you personally raised it. Since the consequences of eating a poor-quality product are very serious, you should not offer it to children under 2 years of age. The younger the child, the less protected his body from adverse effects - microbes, nitrates, toxins, the more severe the consequences can be. Older children watermelon it is advisable to offer it during its natural maturation - at the end of August, in autumn. By this time watermelons already ripen without fertilizers, and their taste during this period is much higher. For a kid 2-3 years old, 80-100 g is enough watermelon, for a child 3-6 years old - 100-150 g. Poor quality watermelon can cause gastrointestinal upset. The time of their appearance ranges from 1-2 hours to 1-2 days after consuming the product. The younger the child is, the earlier they can occur. External manifestations of disorders: weakness, lethargy, headache, fever, paroxysmal abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, upset stools, which can lead to dehydration. Depending on the amount of a harmful agent that has entered the body, on age and individual resistance, the disease can proceed in different forms. In a mild form, weakness, lethargy, nausea, 1-2 times vomiting and / or 1-2 times liquefied stools are observed. Severe disorders in the work of organs and systems are accompanied by severe weakness, headache, high fever, repeated vomiting and liquefied stools, leading to dehydration. The child needs help before the doctor arrives. The main goal is to give the baby as much water as possible and thereby reduce the manifestations of the disease. Frequent fractional drinking is necessary. When vomiting, the child is drunk with a teaspoon and even a pipette. It is better to add REGYDRON, GASTROLIT, ENTERODEZ to drinking - specialized formulations to restore the loss of not only liquid, but also salts. Used drugs that can attract harmful substances and remove them from the body (sorbents) - SMEKTA, ENTEROSGEL, POLIFEPAM. In case of abdominal pain, it is necessary to give drugs that relieve intestinal spasm - NO-SHPU, PAPAVERIN, but not in any case painkillers (analgesics), such as analgin. It should be remembered that under the mask of poisoning, surgical pathology can often lurk, for example, appendicitis - an inflammation of the appendix. Taking analgesics can mask the signs of appendicitis, while the pathological process will develop gradually. An untimely diagnosis is fraught with serious complications and can be costly for the child's health. After a qualified examination, the pediatrician will prescribe the necessary therapy. In severe cases of the disease, the child may require systematic medical supervision and assistance in a hospital setting.

So how? You haven't stopped loving yet watermelons? Well, right. And in order to avoid the troubles caused by their use, heed the advice of a specialist.

1. Before you cut watermelon, do not forget to wash it thoroughly with warm water and soap.
2. Cut watermelon store only in the refrigerator.
3. Nitrates accumulate unevenly in different parts of the plant. Research shows that in watermelon the most poisonous is the flesh near the peel, about 3 cm thick, so it is better to offer the child the part that is closer to the core.
4. When enjoying your favorite product, know when to stop. Measure the amount watermelon and the age of the child.

Watermelon is a valuable and tasty product that can bring real pleasure. But only if it is properly grown, properly stored, properly sold and properly eaten.

How to store it correctly watermelon

Watermelons can be kept fresh for a long time. With proper storage, it can decorate the table not only for the New Year, but even on March 8. To do this, you should buy in the fall watermelon weighing no more than 4 kg with a dry tail. It is desirable that the yellow spot on the side is as small as possible. Wash, dry, place watermelon in a net and hang in a dark cool place, preferably in a cellar, at a temperature not higher than +5 C so that it does not touch anything. You can, of course, do with a dark closet in the apartment, but in this case watermelon can only survive until the end of the year.

How to choose watermelon... Learning to choose watermelons!

1. To watermelon brought joy and pleasure, we must remember: the best time to buy watermelon in Russia it is the end of summer and autumn.
2. Watermelon should be purchased in places specially designated for trade, in shops, and not in spontaneous markets.
3. Of watermelons one grade and one batch is better to choose watermelon large, but not gigantic. The larger and lighter watermelon, the more ripe it is. When choosing watermelons too small and too large should be avoided.
4. A dry tail is a sign of ripeness. Ripe, watermelon first of all, it "disconnects" from melon - its tail dries up. Then the pigment chlorophyll, which is no longer necessary for it, ceases to be produced, which catches sunlight and ensures respiration and development of plants, and under the influence of light, light spots appear. This is a sure sign that watermelon ripe.
5. Light spot on the side that lay watermelonshould be as yellow as possible, even orange.
6. The striped crust should be as contrasting as possible.
7. Ripe watermelon necessarily covered with a hard shiny crust, which is difficult to pierce with a fingernail, and all because, "breaking" with melon, watermelon is no longer able to absorb moisture and its crust hardens. But if the nail pierces easily watermelonny skin means the fruit is raw, unripe. You can also rub the crust and smell: the smell of freshly cut grass also speaks of substandardness.
8. Ripe watermelon always bouncing under shock and sometimes resonating when tapped. If you knock on it, you hear not a dull sound, but a clear, sonorous sound.
9. You can attach watermelon to your ear and squeeze it with your hands as hard as you can. In ripe berries, the peel will slightly bend and crackle.
10. ... To check watermelon on ripeness, it is thrown into the water, floats up - it means ripe.
11. Watermelon is a bisexual berry. In a "male" individual, the bottom of the berry is convex, and the circle on it is small. For "girls" the bottom is flatter, and the circle is wide. "Girls" are considered tastier: they have fewer seeds and more sugar.

SOS signals. Nitrate watermelon.

If a watermelon "overfed" with nitrates, he himself signals this to us, demonstrating the following signs:

• intense red color of the flesh with a slight purple tint;
• the fibers that go from the core to the crust are not white, as expected, but with all shades of yellow;
• at the "wrong" watermelonand the cut surface is smooth, glossy, and in the "correct" watermelon it sparkles with grains;
• Mash a piece of watermelon pulp in a glass of water. If a watermelon good, the water will just become cloudy. If a watermelon "harmful", the water will turn red or pink.

Early products usually contain more nitrates than in late summer or autumn. Although this depends not only on the season, but also on watering and growing conditions. The permissible norm of nitrates in watermelon - 60 mg per 1 kg.