How can you tell if a Canteloupe is ripe?

NativeMom

Thu, May 07 2009, 9:15 pm

smell it. If it smells like a cantaloupe it's ripe. When they aren't you can't really smell anything.

june21

Thu, May 07 2009, 9:57 pm

youtube, how to has a good clip that shows how to tell:
push sligtly in, by the top part if u can its ripe. it has a yellowish color to it. it smells good

Pineapple

Thu, May 07 2009, 10:55 pm

I found a youtube video

I dont think mine is good yet Confused

anuta

Fri, May 08 2009, 11:43 am

I can't see the video from where I am , but if you push in the stem end with your thumb, it should give a little.
For watermelon, same thing (but it would not give so much), but also you can knock on it and a ripe one would sound hollower than others.
Just play with a few in the supermarket and you'll be able to tell the difference.

chocolate moose

Fri, May 08 2009, 12:00 pm

Press on the ends slightly. If it gives a little, it's ready to eat.

greenfire

Fri, May 08 2009, 12:03 pm

the cantaloupe ball should be soft but firm - not hard ... and the bellybutton should smell sweet ... like cantaloupe ... Wink

Pineapple

Fri, May 08 2009, 12:13 pm

Its weird bec its sounds hollow when I kncok on it but it doesnt smell like anything Confused

anuta

Fri, May 08 2009, 12:26 pm

Pineapple wrote:

Its weird bec its sounds hollow when I kncok on it but it doesnt smell like anything Confused

The hollow sound was the sign for watermelon, not cantaloupe.
Smell is not so telling either because there can be bunches of good smelling cantaloups there, and smell could be a sign that it is OVERripe. The give when pressing the stem end is the best sign.

Pineapple

Fri, May 08 2009, 12:27 pm

anuta wrote:

Pineapple wrote:

Its weird bec its sounds hollow when I kncok on it but it doesnt smell like anything Confused

it does give a little when pressed but no smell

They mentioned hollow sound onthe you tube clip

NativeMom

Fri, May 08 2009, 4:24 pm

When I was a newly wed I used to work for my cousin in his fruit and vegetable store and they told me that you can tell by the smell. Knocking was for watermelon and I think honeydew?

OOTBubby

Fri, May 08 2009, 4:29 pm

It should smell sweet, the skin under the netting and the netting should both be beige and not green and the naval should not have a piece sticking out of it.

Pineapple

Sat, May 09 2009, 10:39 pm

I dotn think it was ripe

I'm saving it for next week Smile

Mrs Bissli

Sun, May 10 2009, 4:13 pm

My FIL shakes cantaloupe to check if it's ripe. He claims if it's ripe the part around seeds get liquidy and he can tell by the slight swishing sound. I haven't quite figured if it's true or not. Any other melon shakers?

OOTBubby

Sun, May 10 2009, 4:19 pm

Mrs Bissli wrote:

I think when it reaches that point it may be overripe.

Mrs Bissli

Mon, May 11 2009, 4:37 am

OOTBubby wrote:

Mrs Bissli wrote:

I think when it reaches that point it may be overripe.

No, he's really a canteloupe maven. Always get the perfectly ripe ones but not over-ripe. But then again I don't know how he does it.