Honeydew melons are a sweet and refreshing summer fruit that has a very short ripening season. Knowing when honeydew is at its peak ripeness ensures you fully enjoy its delicate flavor and texture. An unripe honeydew will be bland and hard, while an overripe melon quickly becomes mushy and loses its flavor.
Checking for physical ripeness indicators like examining color, texture, and softness is an easy first step before exploring other ripe melon signs. With the few easy tricks and measures that will be explained in this article, you can identify when a melon is optimally ripe and ready to enjoy.
Physical Signs of Honeydew Melons
The easiest way to tell if a honeydew melon is ripe is to examine it for physical signs. Focus on the color, skin texture, and slight softness when pressed. Look out for the following signs:
1) Check the Stem
One of the best ways to tell if a honeydew is ripe is to check the stem where it attaches to the fruit. The stem should look dry and shriveled, almost like it’s drying up. If the stem still appears fresh and green, that likely means the melon was picked prematurely.
You should also be able to twist and detach the stem from the honeydew without much effort when it is ripe. If the stem doesn’t come off easily, it’s a sign that the melon isn’t fully ripe yet. A dried, shriveled stem that detaches easily is your cue that the honeydew is ready to enjoy.
2) Give it a Sniff
One of the best ways to tell if a honeydew melon is ripe is to give it a good sniff. Ripe honeydew melons will have a sweet, honey-like aroma. This sweet fragrance is a clear indicator that the melon’s sugars have developed and it is ready to eat.
In contrast, an unripe honeydew melon will have very little scent. If you sniff a honeydew and don’t get that lovely, sweet smell, it likely needs a bit more time to ripen. It’s always a good idea to check for scent along with the other signs of ripeness when selecting a melon. Trust your nose, if it doesn’t smell ripe, it probably isn’t.
3) Listen for a Hollow Sound
When ripe, honeydew melons develop an air pocket between the rind and flesh which produces a noticeable hollow sound when tapped. Lightly tap the melon with your knuckles and listen for a deep, low-pitched, and hollow thud. This is a good indication that the melon is ripe all the way through.
An unripe honeydew melon will have much denser flesh and sound more solid and higher-pitched when tapped. The flesh is still too hard and not developed enough. Avoid melons that sound dense, as they will be crunchy in texture and lack the soft, creamy flesh of a perfectly ripe melon.
Ripeness After Harvesting
Honeydew melons continue to ripen after being harvested from the vine. So, checking when your melon was picked can give you a good indication of how ripe it is. Most honeydew melons are ready for harvesting in late summer through early fall. After being picked, they will ripen fully within 1-2 weeks.
So if you purchase a Honeydew melon in mid-August that was freshly picked, it will likely reach optimal ripeness in late August or early September. However, Honeydew melons picked in mid-September may take a bit longer to fully ripen since the weather is cooler.
The harvest date is not primarily a sign of ripeness; however, it provides helpful tips on where that honeydew melon is in its ripening process. If you buy directly from a farmer, you may be able to ask when the melon was harvested. For store-bought melons, the sticker on the rind usually lists the packing date which gives you a time range.
Ripening Tips Of Honeydew Melon
The best way to ripen an unripe honeydew melon is to leave it at room temperature. The fruit will naturally release ethylene gas, which helps stimulate the ripening process. Avoid refrigerating unripe melons, as the cold environment slows down ripening.
Also, unripe Honeydew melon can be placed in a sunny spot, which aids in ethylene production. Direct sunlight can help ripen a melon in just a couple of days. Just make sure to bring the melon inside once it’s fully ripe.
When ripe, honeydews will have a pale, creamy yellow or greenish-white coloring. Avoid melons with white or very light green skin, as they are likely underripe. The skin should also look mostly smooth – small wrinkles are fine, but a honeydew covered in deep lines or cracks isn’t ready.
Gently press the blossom end of the melon (opposite the stem). A ripe honeydew will give slightly but still feel firm. If your thumb leaves an indentation, the melon is becoming overripe. The skin should have a bit of resistance without being rock-hard.
Once the melon is ripe, move it to the refrigerator. Cold temperatures will preserve the ripe fruit and prevent overripening. A ripe honeydew will usually be kept for 1-2 weeks when refrigerated.
Be Wary of Overripe Honeydew Melons
One downside of waiting until a melon is perfectly ripe is that it can quickly become overripe. Once a melon is past its prime, the quality goes downhill fast. Here are some signs that a honeydew has become overripe:
– The rind will turn from a creamy yellow to a dull yellowish-brown. The waxy coating will become dry and flaky.
– The melon will begin to feel mushy and soft when pressed, instead of firm but yielding slightly.
– Mold may start to grow in spots on the rind. This is a sure sign it’s overripe. Discard melons with mold.
– An overripe melon gives off a fermented, almost alcoholic scent. If it smells unpleasant, it’s over the hill.
– The flesh inside will be stringy, mealy, and lacking in sweetness and flavor.
Honeydew melons have a short ripening period. Always check your melon daily as it approaches maturity. Eat ripe melons immediately, and avoid letting them sit out too long once cut open. With this attentive care, you’ll get your honeydew melons at their perfect ripeness.
Storing Cut Honeydews Melon
Once you’ve sliced into a honeydew melon, it’s important to store the remaining melon properly to prevent it from spoiling too quickly. Here are some tips for storing cut honeydew:
– Seal the cut honeydew melon in an airtight container or wrap tightly in plastic wrap. This prevents the melon flesh from being exposed to air, which can cause it to dry out.
– Keep the container or wrapped melon refrigerated. The cold temperature of the refrigerator will help slow down ripening and prevent bacterial growth.
– Store cut honeydew for 3-5 days maximum. Even when refrigerated, cut melon will only last for about 3-5 days before quality starts to decline.
– Discard the melon if it starts to smell odd or look slimy. These are signs that the melon is overripe and spoiling. The melon should still smell sweet when properly stored.
Following these simple storage tips will help your cut honeydew retain its delicious flavor and juicy texture for several days after slicing. Enjoy the melon on its own or add it to fruit salads, smoothies, and other recipes. Just be sure to consume it within 3-5 days and discard the rest if it shows any signs of spoilage. Proper storage is key to getting the most out of your honeydew melon.
Related: How To Plant Muskmelon Seeds: Care & Harvesting
End Notes
Checking for signs like a creamy yellow rind, fruity aroma, and hollow sound when tapped are great ways to gauge honeydew ripeness. Consider when melons were harvested, and aim for melons that have had 1-2 weeks to ripen after picking. Ripen melons at room temperature, and enjoy honeydews within a couple of days of cutting for the best taste and texture.