4 Ways to Tell If a Cantaloupe Is Ripe

Cantaloupe can be the star of a sweet and savory salad or a refreshing sangria, but it often has a bad reputation as a flavorless filler for fruit salads. And it’s true — an underripe cantaloupe can be bland, woody, and pretty unappealing. But if you’ve ever tasted a wedge of perfectly ripe cantaloupe, you know this melon can actually be incredibly fragrant and juicy. Unlike some other fruits, a cantaloupe doesn’t continue to ripen after being picked (it will soften up a bit as it sits, but won’t get sweeter), so you need to choose wisely at the market. Here are four handy tips to help you zero in on a perfectly ripe cantaloupe the next time you’re out shopping.

The skin of most cantaloupes changes from green to tan as it ripens. Look for a melon with skin under its scaly netting that is a cream, beige, or yellowish color. If the skin is still green, the melon is likely underripe. Once you’ve found a nice golden contender, run your hands over the netting. It should feel raised and rough, not flat and smooth. 

A ripe cantaloupe will be full of juice, so it will feel heavy for its size. Heft the melon in your hands and see if it feels surprisingly heavy — if so, you’ve got a good one! On the other hand, if it feels light, try another one. Next, inspect the stem end, which looks like an “innie” belly button. It should have a slight dip to it and shouldn’t have any part of the stem still attached (if it does, it might have been cut off of the vine before the melon was fully ripe). Squeeze near the stem end by pressing in with your thumbs. The flesh should give a little bit, like a just-ripe avocado. If it’s rock-hard or super-soft, move on to the next melon.

Flip the melon around and check out the blossom end, which is opposite from the stem end, and looks like an “outie” belly button. Give it a good sniff! A ripe cantaloupe should be very fragrant and smell sweet, floral, and a little bit musky. If you can’t smell much, the cantaloupe is underripe. Or if it smells boozy or fermented, it’s overripe. Many experts say that smell is the best characteristic to check for when choosing a cantaloupe!

Lastly, hold up your ear to the cantaloupe and knock on it a few times (like you’re knocking on a door). The sound should be low and deep, indicating lots of juice. If the sound is higher-pitched and hollow, the melon may be underripe. Some people recommend also listening to the melon while shaking it, to see if you can hear juice or seeds sloshing around inside. There doesn’t seem to be agreement on whether this means the melon is just ripe or overripe, so use your best judgment here in combination with the other indicators.