Summer is almost here! That means warmer weather, increased time spent outside, and melon season. During the months of May to September, melons are in season. While available year-round in a supermarket, melons are much more affordable during the summer season.
The three most popular melons in America are cantaloupe, watermelon, and honeydew. While all delicious, each type of melon offers a different set of health benefits!
Cantaloupe
This melon is full of vitamin A, an essential compound needed to maintain healthy eyesight. It also contains vitamin C, which can help boost the immune system.
Watermelon
As the name suggests, watermelon is 92% water. Eating watermelon can keep you hydrated and make you feel full.
Honeydew
This melon contains folate, vitamin K and magnesium, which are important for maintaining strong bones.
How do you know if a melon is ripe? Here are some techniques for finding ripe melons:
Cantaloupe
- Smell it. A good cantaloupe will have a sweet smell while an odorless melon will be tasteless.
- When you press on a ripe cantaloupe, it will squish slightly.
Watermelon
- On the underside of the watermelon, a yellow or light bottom means it should be ripe.
- Tap on the melon. A hollow thump means it’s ripe.
Honeydew
- A ripe honeydew will have a pale yellow-green skin while an unripe honeydew will look beige with distinct green veins.
- When you touch a ripe honeydew melon, you should be able to feel fine veining.
Adapted from Marcus Samuelsson
After purchasing a melon, there are so many different ways you can eat them. They can be eaten as a dessert, a snack, or a side dish for the main meal. Check out this post on fruits as snacks for some ideas. Melon dishes include watermelon and feta salad, watermelon popsicles, cantaloupe bread, chips with honeydew salsa, and fruit salad with all three melons.
Comment below with more tips and tricks for finding the perfect melon and your favorite melon recipe!
thanks for sharing