How to pick a sweet and juicy cantaloupe melon | 5 things to look for | How to cut cantaloupe

In this video I will show you the five things to look for when choosing a sweet, ripe and juicy Eastern Cantaloupe (muskmelon) at the grocery store. I will also show you how to cut and cube them.

The Eastern Cantaloupe is available early in summer from Florida to Pennsylvania and is slightly different than the more pretty, but less sweet, Western Melon which is available later on in the summer. This video will help you pick an Eastern Cantaloupe.

The five things you have to look for in choosing a cantaloupe are:
1. Color
2. Texture
3. Indentation
4. Weight
5. Smell/Aroma

Here are some good cantaloupe cutting knives:

0:00 Intro
0:45 #1 - Color
1:04 #2 - Texture
1:28 #3 - Indented Stem
1:46 #4 - Weight
2:03 #5 - Smell / Aroma
2:33 Trying and Cutting Melons

#cantaloupe #melon #muskmelon #fruit #frutarian #frugivore

NOTE: This video description contains affiliate links.

[terryallen]

I just discovered your channel and have already watched a number of "how to pick". I'm 70 years old and never knew most of these things. Next time I go to the store I won't be playing a guessing game.

[mkmason]

I appreciate that your video was brief and to the point.

[christschild]

Great video. I also watched your other videos instructing viewers how to pick a good pineapple and watermelon. I think it's good if you washed your melons at your sink before you cut them. Other people have also touched those melons at the grocery store before you touch it. So now, I wash all of my fruit if a knife will be going through it so the germs on the outside don't get on the flesh of the fruit on the inside. After I finish cutting my food, I wash the knife off again. 😊

[Gtt]

My wife in the other room was in middle of some work and listening on and off while Im watching this video - Those words Rubbing, sticking your finger, heavier the better, lift and feel them, little old and dried out - I had to repeat the video and show her what I was actually watching

[mariateran]

I am armed for watermelon and now cantaloupe training. Happy trails.

[sharona]

Two things more things...
- shake the cantaloupe to hear if the seeds are loose inside, a sign its ripe & ready.
The second thing is to wash the melon well before cutting. (If you dont, the knife will drag outside contaminates inside to the edible fruit.) Just sayin’.

[homesweethome]

I could hear the juice as you were crunching on the first one. You made my mouth water 😂

[RickHaile]

Just bought a cantaloupe this morning from a small farm on the outskirts of town. I also use the smell test. The checking the webbing is a new one for me. Thanks for the info.

[Juju-bmsh]

Thank you for video on picking perfect fruits. FYI I grew up in southern Indiana and we have many melon farms. We call what you call Eastetn melons, Posey County Cantaloupes. We also say they look like white pumpkins cuz some have ridges like a pumpkin. (Unless these are a different kind) I’ve never been told Eastern but I just wanted you to know that I appreciate the “How to pick” lesson. Excited to pick next Posey County Cantaloupe. You are great, thank you.

[Charles]

Thanks for the great teaching on how to choose the best sweet cantaloupe cantaloupe cantaloupe I was always wondering about this and now I know keep up the good work 👏 🙌 👍

[mindyparker]

WOW! I think I just saved hundreds of dollars by simply watching your videos on how to pick fruit! I wish someone had taught me these tips sooner. My kids love fruit, but I have a knack for not picking the best. Now we can start eating more fruit than we throw away! Please keep the videos coming.

[amyoung]

Just found your channel from the “picking a watermelon” video. I am an instant sub. Just a simple and happy home cook grateful to learn how to pick the best produce. Whether I’m at a farmer’s market or grocery store. Thank you SO very much for teaching in such an easy way to learn and implement ❤❤❤

[kathyr]

I won't even buy supermarket cantaloupe. They're picked green, shipped across the country at very cold temperatures ( I'm on the East coast) and have absolutely NO smell to them. I'm happy to wait until the local melons come into the area farmers markets. Same goes for strawberry's.🍓

[twee.]

Thanks for sharing your expertise, much appreciated. From Australia

[MarkSmith-qkrl]

I always save my seeds. The sweetest melons always get planted next year ! I have cantaloupe, honeydew, you, Sugar babies yellow meated melon, and two large seeded watermelon. I don’t grow seedless because they’re so difficult to germinate. By the looks of it I’m going to have a bumper crop of melons this year all of my vines are loaded I can’t wait !! My small melons will be ready near my d June to early July and the big melons will be ready probably mid July I am so excited I’m feeding them pretty heavy they’re gonna be some really big ones if the weather holds out and we don’t get over saturated with rain I’m gonna have some good Sweet treats !!

[csmhcqp]

I knew all five but did not realize I did. Guess I have used the most important to me snell and soft stem area. Thanks!

[roxiegimenez]

OMG Thank you for the tips. I knew 2 of them😊

[jean-marcfraisse]

All great advice here! Exactly how we choose them here in Provence! 👍👏
Weigth and smell are indeed the +++ points in case you are not sure about the other ones: for instance, depending on the lighting in the shop, or if your colour sight is not that good, you may not be sure about the cantaloupes' real colour. Heavy and fragrant ftw! 😋😋😁

[joannlankenau]

I used to live outside Houston, TX. We always couldn’t wait for the second-third week of July for the Pecos cantaloupes. Nothing taste better like the Pecos! They sold the company about 7-8 years ago😢

[Bek]

Regarding honeydew melons and cantaloupes, I would really recommend trying uzbek honeydew melons and cantaloupes. Their fragrance is smelled from a block away and my favorite is a torpedo honeydew melons which I haven’t seen either in europe or the states. When it comes to its sweetness, there is an uzbek saying to describe the level of its sweetness: “it is so sweet that it cuts your tongue.” :)