Secrets to picking the best cantaloupe, from the experts

Picking the perfect fruit in the grocery store can seem like a lost art in the age of grocery delivery. But with a few tips, the cantaloupe you choose can be the talk of any fruit plate you bring to a summer barbecue. Picking a good cantaloupe means walking the line between not too mushy and overripe, but not so green that you have to wait too long to enjoy it.

Cantaloupe is a large, heavy fruit with orange insides and a mesh of netted, tan colored skin. It’s known as a sweet indulgence in summertime, and is a low-calorie snack ripe with nutritious value, including vitamins A and C, potassium, fiber and other plant nutrients and antioxidants.

But there are a few tricks to not leave the grocery store disappointed. 

How to tell if a cantaloupe is ripe

Don’t be shy; pick one up! “Ripe cantaloupes will feel heavy and give just a little bit if you press on them,” says Lisa Valente, a registered dietitian based near Burlington, Vermont. From there, observe any dents, soft spots or cracks. Those can be signs that bacteria or mold are starting to grow on the fruit, she says. Moldy fruit should be passed over, or if you’ve already purchased it, thrown out, she says.

Next, consider the color. “Cantaloupe should be golden in color on the outside. You don't want to see too much green under the outer skin or netting,” Valente advises.

Finally, use all your senses. “If you smell the end of the cantaloupe on the blossom side, the end opposite where the stem was, you want it to smell sweet and floral, almost like honey. If it doesn't have a scent, it's probably not ripe.”

Making a cantaloupe last

Once you’ve brought your chosen cantaloupe home, keep in mind that its shelf life will depend on how ripe it was when you bought it. “Cantaloupe should last a few days on the counter, but a whole melon will last about seven days stored in the fridge. Once it's cut, it keeps for about five days in the fridge,” Valente says. “In my house, we go through it so fast it never sticks around for more than a day or two.”

Just because you don’t eat the skin doesn’t mean you shouldn’t wash it, according to Cleveland Clinic. This reduces the risk of contamination from the outside of the fruit making it onto the edible part.

Once you know how to pick well, consider buying cantaloupes as part of your regular grocery routine, for the health benefits, the fabulous color and the taste of summer.