Everyone's favorite berry in the summer heat is a watermelon. Watermelon has been known since time immemorial as a tasty, juicy and sweet product.
In addition to its amazing taste, the berry also has undeniable utility for the human body.
Nevertheless, the situation is overshadowed by the numerous nitrates used to fertilize this crop. In order to avoid possible negative health effects, as well as to enjoy the bright taste of this fruit, it is necessary to make the right choice. And on how to choose a watermelon, we will talk further.
Before choosing - the beneficial properties of watermelon, nutritional and energy value
Before choosing sweet watermelons, you should understand - why should this product be on the table? First of all, watermelon is an exceptionally healthy berry, rich in a huge amount of vitamins and minerals.
In particular, the pulp of gourds contains a large amount of vitamins C and PP, group B, carotene, and folic acid. In addition, the berry is rich in fiber, carbohydrates and certain types of minerals, for example, potassium compounds.
Nutrition value of this product (all values are given per 100 g):
• proteins - 0.7 g;
• fats - 0.1 g;
• carbohydrates - 5.8 g.
Calorie content is 27 kcal. Also in a watermelon contains a lot of water - about 92% of the total mass.
How to choose a watermelon - seasonality factor
One of the most important criteria for choosing a tasty and juicy watermelon is the seasonality factor. So, how to choose a watermelon on a calendar?
First of all, keep in mind that the most delicious and sweet watermelons can be found in retail outlets, starting from the ripening period of the berry - from the second half of August to the very end of September. If you make a purchase of watermelon before the standard maturity, you can cause serious harm to health. In particular, manufacturers, in order to accelerate the harvest of watermelons, are fertilizing them with fertilizers and various chemicals. Therefore, the answer to the question of how to choose a ripe watermelon and without the risk of harming health is to buy watermelons strictly in the ripening season.
How to choose a delicious watermelon - a factor in the place of purchase
An important aspect in answering the question of how to choose a delicious watermelon will be the definition of a point of sale that sells this berry to the civilian population. It should be borne in mind that gourds should be realized under the following conditions:
• store-like retail space;
• trade tents with the obligatory presence of an awning and special flooring (pallets) on which watermelons should be located (the height of the pallet from the ground should not be less than 15 cm).
Before choosing a ripe watermelon, it is necessary to take into account that the trading pavilions selling products from open areas and directly from the ground violate the requirements of the law. Watermelons bought from such sellers are unlikely to be of high quality and tasty, moreover, there is a high probability of risk of harm to health due to the large number of microorganisms that multiply in watermelon pulp under such conditions.
Before choosing a delicious watermelon, you should check the integrity of the products sold. If the seller trades in watermelons with the broken integrity of the outer shell (for taking samples), refrain from such a purchase.
Moreover, another piece of advice on how to choose a watermelon will be to refrain from acquiring watermelons sold near highways. Exhaust gases contain harmful substances and mixtures of heavy metals, which will ultimately affect the safety of the final product.
How to choose a ripe watermelon - appearance factor
Before choosing watermelons, you should evaluate its external condition. First, carefully inspect the berry from all sides - for damage on the watermelon rind. Even the smallest crack or dent can let various pathogenic bacteria pass into the watermelon.
An important nuance in answering the question of how to choose a sweet watermelon will be a form of gourd. Experts from our site explain that watermelons differ in gender. There are so-called “boys” and “girls”. How to choose watermelons based on this criterion?
Watermelons - “boys” are more elongated along the vertical axis, which passes through the tail, ie more flattened. “Girls” are usually smaller in size. The bones inside the watermelon - “girls” will be small, and the tastes of watermelons of this gender will be tastier and sweeter.
Before choosing delicious watermelons, inspect the tail - it must be present. It is a well-known fact - the maturity of a watermelon is determined by its peduncle.
So, if the color of the watermelon ponytail is green, it is still too early to buy this berry. If the tail has a yellowish tint, and is dry to the touch - you can safely take the gourd, because it will be tasty and sweet!
Of course, before choosing a watermelon on the basis of external signs, you should pay attention to the size of the product. Here it is required to observe the rule of “golden mean” - the watermelon should not be gigantic in size, but at the same time, and not be too small. The ideal weight of an exceptionally sweet and tasty watermelon is around 5-7 kg.
How to choose a sweet watermelon - coloring factor
Every citizen wants to find the answer to the question - how to choose delicious watermelons? It is worth noting that the color of the berry is of no small importance in this. Some of the nuances of the choice for coloring factor:
• there must be a yellow spot, which is formed due to the long contact of the watermelon with the ground when it ripens;
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• the optimal size of the yellow spot is from 5 to 10 cm;
• color should be contrasting, but not dull (that is, the color difference of watermelon stripes on the peel should be maximum);
• pay attention to the color intensity - its unevenness should alert;
• the presence of small bright spots on the entire surface of the watermelon is a good sign.
How to choose a watermelon - a factor in the sound produced
It seems that this method of determining the ripeness and taste of watermelon is the most popular. Quite a lot of people with knowledge of business are tapping on watermelons in the hope of finding the best copy among hundreds of others. But we know that not everyone carries out this procedure correctly.
So, how to choose delicious watermelons by sound factor? To do this, consider these nuances:
• a clear and sonorous sound made by a watermelon when tapped on it will indicate ripeness of the berry, while immature ones, in turn, will make a dull sound;
• if a watermelon pops when you click on it from above and below, you can be sure - this copy is fully ripe and ready for use.
How to choose a delicious watermelon - purchase only from bona fide marketers
Of course, the risk of acquiring a tasteless, unsweetened and unripe watermelon is much higher in retail outlets that do not have the appropriate product quality certificates. Unauthorized trade is immediately noticeable - sellers do not have equipment for storing watermelons (pallets, tents, etc.), trade is carried out directly from the ground. In addition, at such points with a sufficient degree of reluctance, they answer any questions about the product.
The only way to confirm the quality of watermelon is a quality certificate. An original document will indicate that the berry being sold is safe, and you can safely buy it.
The following information should be present in a genuine certificate:
• country of origin of gourds (or place of cultivation);
• age of watermelon (harvest time);
• content of harmful substances (nitrates);
• other parameters by which it becomes possible to determine whether the watermelon is suitable for direct consumption or not.
Before choosing ripe watermelons by the factor of having a quality certificate, you should pay attention to the type of document presented - the original or a copy. If the seller presents a copy of the document, you need to focus on the print - it should be color. If the print is black and white, you can doubt the authenticity of the certificate - the copy can be falsified in any graphics editor.
How to choose a watermelon - determining the excess of the permissible nitrate content
The cornerstone in answering the question of how to choose ripe watermelons is the determination of the content of various substances and nitrates harmful to the body.
Our experts argue that a visual definition of the “harmfulness” of watermelon is not possible. You can detect signs of increased nitrate content only by cutting the corresponding berries.
The following factors should alert:
• the presence in the pulp of watermelon a large number of white or yellowish veins;
• the color of the pulp has a lilac hue;
• on a slice of watermelon a smooth gloss is traced, but not a granular surface.
Before choosing a sweet watermelon, remember - the highest concentration of nitrates is near the peel itself, therefore, with the slightest suspicion of their presence, eat the berry near the middle, and it is better to refrain from taking such a watermelon in food.
Watermelon is a very healthy berry with excellent taste. But it is also important how to choose watermelons, because the knowledge of the right choice will contribute to the purchase of a ripe, juicy and tasty watermelon that can decorate any table.
