It's now watermelon season, but that's no promise that every one you see at the store or the farmers market will be full of flavor. Here's how to pick a good watermelon.
Spot the field spot
Look for the field spot. That's the spot on a watermelon that touched the ground while it grew. This spot will be a different color than the rest of the watermelon because it didn't get any sun. Its color is a good indication of whether the watermelon is ripe or not. If it's white or pale green, the fruit was picked before it was ripe. If it's a golden, creamy yellow or orange-yellow, the fruit stayed on the vine long enough to get ripe.
Look for shape and blemishes
A good watermelon should be fairly symmetrical, whether it's round or oval. Also, if it the rind has bruises, cuts or dents, don't choose it. Those blemishes can cause the melon to go bad quickly.
Pick it up
A watermelon should be heavy for its size — which of course will vary depending on the size of the watermelon. If you pick it up, and it seems that it's lighter than it should be, there may be a problem. A watermelon is 92 percent water, according to Watermelon Board. If it's not heavy, it could be old and starting to lose its moisture inside.
