Beginning around March of every year watermelon is sold in every grocery store in Texas. These days you can find watermelon year round, thanks to Mexico, however it’s at it’s most flavorful from May to August. Late season watermelons (September and October) are generally less red and less flavourful. During the summer I will eat watermelon 2–3 times a week. It’s great weight loss food and sometimes you’ll get one that just taste like candy. I am always surprised that how watermelons are not so common in Europe and in the northern parts of North America. Texas is the U.S. 3rd largest producer of watermelon; this is easily understandable with the large mount of land we have here and our very hot summer temperatures.
The oft heard question by those new to Texas is “how to pick a good watermelon?”
- First look at the end of the watermelon from which the vine was cut; it should be not be crusty dry or fresh green. This means the watermelon is old or under ripe, respectively.
- Lightly squeeze the melon near the one of the ends. The melon should give very slightly. However if you can make an indent it’s over ripe.
- There is some disagreement over the next step. The famous “thump test”. Some people say thump it. Some say pat it. I think either works depending on the size. Small watermelons, such as personal watermelons should be thumped. Larger ones should be patted. So, the sound just have a very clean resonance, slightly high pitched like tapping wood. If the sound is flat, it’s over ripe. If the sound has no resonance it’s under ripe.
Practice makes perfect, so get out there and practice. After 3–4 purchases, you will be a pro.
