How to Pick a Sweet Watermelon Every Single Time - Top 8 Tips
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ก.ค. 2024
- John from www.okraw.com/ shares with you his top 8 advanced tips for picking a sweet and juicy watermelon every single time. In this episode, he will share the 8 common traits that a ripe watermelon may have, so you can pick the best one every time you buy or harvest watermelons.
John attends the 2016 National Heirloom Expo and shares with you the heirloom watermelons and shows you his 8 special techniques that he uses in synergy to choose the sweetest and most nutritious watermelon every single time he buys them.
In this episode you will learn about heirloom watermelons, how to select the best watermelon and may different indicators of ripeness in a watermelon to let you know if it is ripe or not.
After watching this episode, you will have the 8 tips you need to choose the perfectly ripe, sweet and delicious watermelon every single time.
Subscribe to OKRAW for more videos like this:
th-cam.com/users/subscription_...
Follow John on Instagram at:
/ growingyourgreens
Watch all OKRAW videos free at
/ okraw
Trust a girl with a childhood in -
NW Tennessee and a Family full of Garden Farmers🍉
Quick Tips:
1. Creamy yellow spot on the bottom - Garden Ripening - Good Spot!
Sweet-Indicator
2. Dull Finish is ripe, shiny is still unripened. Sweeter
3. Darkest color of the melon geno-type in the batch. Best Flavor
4. Heaviest of the batch of it's kind = Juiciest.
FYI - the small round dark green or striped are called "Table Melons" and they are often the best melons in grocery stores, especially early in the summer and also in August. (My favs)
The Thumping/tapping a watermelon is harder to judge by (and it bruses some types of melons) - (there's plenty of farm boys smiling at that one - it takes time to perfect that technique)
Melons can look fabulous and taste just ok -
🍉use the weight tip for juicy - the yellow "Field Spot" for sweet, (It's the time in the garden for natural on the vine ripening time, that makes that tip the most reliable)
Melons flavors are affected by too much or too little rain and gardeners that over use Miracle Grow for the size effect - they come out quite flavor-weak.
The stem spot isn't of much value in Watermelon selection -
- Ask a Farmer!
My Luisianna stepfather always picked a delicious melon everytime. I know how to thump and get the sound of it being hollow. Most people thump a melon and they don't know what they are listening for!
Thanks Beth! The first watermelon we got was fantastic but the second one from the same store was uneatable. We are going to try out luck again today and maybe if we follow your knowledgeable tips we'll get a good one. :)
You Beth: Seem to actually know what you are talking about... Unlike the gentleman that for me was simply a disapointment.
I double each and all of your remarks. And again ulike the gentleman that has prepared this video: I hold the yellow spot as highest indicator for higher expectations.
Thank you for sparing from your time.
@@BlackDidThis My last watermelon was great. I got the one that had the largest yellow spot. Right, that's the highest indicator. :)
My grandma always said look for the darkest field-spot, and it should be "hefty".. always worked out for me. She also said for pineapples: smell the bottom; should be fragrant & fruity.. that seems to work out, too.
My grandmother told me back in the 60's that the way to pick a good watermelon is to turn it over, and look at the under side. The more yellow on the bottom, the sweeter the melon. Since then, I have never picked a bad watermelon.
Same here.
I. Thank you for the tlp
Thanks so much for these tips John,, I did not read all 396 comments to see if I'm duplicating BUT - watching you do the "tap or slap" test I want to add a note - I live in Washington state so farmers in our state can grow some pretty awesome mellons too,, if we hold the mellon in our hand (or place the other free hand on the opposing side of the mellon) and using one finger (I use my index finger) TAP the mellon,, if you can feel the tap resonate thru the mellon, transmitting the vibration into the palm of your other hand "usually" you can be sure the mellon is of a high liquid content and is "ripe". BUT,, as you've said, these tests only help us eliminate the mellon we DO NOT WANT but don't always guarantee a sweet fruit. Thanks again,, your videos are AWESOME!! Thank YOU and Thank TH-cam for sharing them!!
I live in Washington state. They have delicious watermelons
One extra thing I look for in a melon is the amount of Bee stings it has on it. In my own findings I have found that the more stings the sweeter the melon. That would be the little brown spots that look like a lot of little dots when looking closely. Great info John.
It may be covered in the video, but weight of the watermelon compared to its size helped me get a really good one this year. I picked out one that wasn't gigantic (it was about the size of a basketball), but seemed rather hefty considering its size, and it was mostly deep red, juicy and sweet. I don't particularly like watermelon, but I've seen so many videos about the health benefits of its juice that I decided to go ahead and get one and try it. I can't help but think of an overenthusiastic little boy every time I watch one of John's videos. What a happy guy.
John, to my dismay I tried all your tips. My wife was sitting over my shoulder the whole time going, nope, nope, nope. Well it turns out she was right! The way she picks out the best one is by looking at the ground spot. If it is yellow in color as opposed to white (for store variety, seedless watermelon) it is ripe. She picks it that way and always comes up with a sweet one. I do believe the heaviest is best as well too because of what you said about the water content. Hope this helps some people!
Ive picked ones w a big bright yellow field spot and it’s sucked! There are no ways to tell. Sorry I’ve been trying this for a few decades and it’s all a crap shoot.
"Always choose the seeded watermelons because the seeds contain nutrition."
If you eat the watermelon seeds, you won't get any nutrition unless you chew them thoroughly.
Landrew0 thanks Charlie
The okraw guy probably blends it (and he said he juices it at home), therefore all the seeds get broken down. The thing is, seeds, all *seeds* , have anti-nutrients, some even are toxic to humans; it is not good to consume them in excess.
@@ExtraordinaryLiving the fool who eats apple seeds would probably deserve it.
And the toxins usually reside on the skin of the seeds.
Landrew~ Most of the watermelons I run into are seedless but I want the ones with seeds. Hope to find one today.
@@rickrollrizal2364 I don't let my birds get a hold of apple seeds. :)
I started this video thinking i would not watch the whole thing, but you are such s joy to watch and so informative! It was a pleasure watching you. Thank you for all these watermelon tips!
at 4 min, he finally gets to the 1st tip...SMELL it, finally at 5:54 2nd tip, you PRESS your finger into the rind, NOT GOOD, if you can actually press your finger into the rind,at 6:47 check the WEIGHT.. if 2 watermelons are the same size....choose the heavier one, then the "TAP" test, which we all know about, but he does not explain how tapping it can result in it being the sweetest one on the table, 12 mins to go, but I'm finished. Good luck!
Soils vary and do affect the sweetness.
The one you thumped was a bit on the green side it had a higher thud meaning not enough water.
A deeper thud means much more water then look for the extra weight.
Yellow is very important. The darker the yellow the riper it was when picked while light yellow to white between the green you should pass up.
My favorites are watermelons out of Hermingston eastern Oregon and Washington.
The soil there was blasted up out of the Columbia gorge when the ice dam broke during the melt back of the ice-age, depositing rich minerals and nitrogen which really adds to the sweetness.
Good video, John, want to add just a bit. The yellow belly spot on melons: it's not the size of the spot, it's the color. If it's white, it's not ripe yet. It needs to be yellow. The deeper the yellow, the riper the melon. If it's dark yellow, like school bus yellow, it's over ripe.
Also, if the surface is glossy, it's not ripe. You want that dull bloom all over the rind. However, if you rub the rind with a cloth, you can wipe off the bloom and have a glossy surface. Not likely to find polished melons, though, so usually, you can rely on having the dull surface to help identify a ripe melon.
It never occurred to me to smell them, great tip! So's and your other tip about pressing on the rind. If the rind is dull, the belly is yellow, and the rind is still hard with no give, I bet you'll have a perfect melon.
good point, I was thinking there had to be more to it, as he didn't explain why not having the natural chlorophyll on the bottom (other than lack of sunlight) should be a good thing, but what you say adds to the picture, thanks...
OMGOSH~ JBEARGRR ~YOUR TIP OF FINDING ONE WITH A YELLOW
BELLY SPOT IS THE K E Y T I P !!! THE SUGAR HAS HAD TIME TO DEVELOP BY BEING IN THE FIELD LONG ENOUGH FOR THE SWEET FLAVOR TO DEVELOP! I READ THIS LAST YEAR AND HAVE TESTED IT MANY TIMES:
YELLOW BELLY SPOT (NOT WHITE, NOT PALE YELLOW!!) IS THE
MAIN KEY TO FINDING A RIPE, SWEET WATERMELON!
TRY IT ~ IT WORKS! YOU CAN ALWAYS BRING BACK AN UNRIPE OR SPONGY MELON TO YOUR STORE FOR REFUND, TOO.
HAPPY MELON HUNTING NOW THAT YOU'VE GOT THE MAIN KEY TIP!!
jbear
great addition
jbeargrr hu
Everyone has a different way of expressing themselves. I was inspired by him to be healthier and lost weight.
He makes me feel inspired too, and I just enjoy the great energy and passion he has. Makes me happy to watch. I think most people's attention spans have been ruined. Just like a lot of people write, if it isn't crammed into 2-5 minutes, they can't handle it. They'll be the first to crumble if the sh.t ever hits the fan.
Jazz-makin-you-smile ki GT
@@billybareblu Survival of the fittest
That's the sort of positivity this world desperately needs right now
johns tips:
1. 3:10 fragrant smell
2. 5:36 press it-u want hard/firm
3. 6:32 heavy
4. 7:20 sound test/tap
5. 9:20 black spot/sugar spots from end
6. 10:38 color of melon get deep color
7. 11:25 tip that is false, sun spot
8. 12:28 buy a cut melon
jon smith thank you!
The sun spot for the sweetness is not a false tip at all. The yellow spot has to be yellow enough, though. It’s not good when the yellow spot either looks too pale or becomes too brown. That indicates the melon is either not ripe or too ripe. The size of the yellow spot is not that important, though.
You're the BEST, John!
Here in the Philippines we FLICK melons to test them, rather than tap with an open palm.
Thanks. Both my husband and I value your information. Blessings
I always look like an idiot at the store trying to pick the right watermelon
marvin123o
Lb.
Perfect timing! I just picked out a mediocre watermelon yesterday. Thanks for the tips!
My daddy all pick a good watermelon he did all the tips and I didn't understand what he was doing. I miss my dad. With these tips I may get a good one. Thanks
This kat talks forever in all of his videos. He loves to hear himself!
But unlike most, he was actually really entertaining
I stopped buying watermelons for years. I lived in Temecula ,California, and worked at a produce farm so I could learn about picking good sweet melons, as well as vegetables that I knew nothing about but will help me to create easy and best tasting dishes. I learned a lot, but for some reason so much has changed that even the best farmers selling produce on the roadside or Farmers market can't pick sweet ripened Melons. Family of farmers sold at Alpine Village for years the lady (mother) always picked the sweetest melons , and corn, the best of all everything she picked for me was great and I visited her every week for years. I moved away, came back to visit went to Alpine Village and that family still sold produce and other items only this time nothing was sweet anymore, not the apples, cherries, melons, or the mangoes, I mean it all looked great , luckily I sampled the apricot and plums I bought then I asked if I could sample what I wanted to buy I asked it when nobody was there buying anything, of coarse she said yes then asked if something was wrong, I was honest with her and she with me explaining that all farmers were having problems and tried to be specific. Bottom line was that it affected all the farmers so as I see it its a struggle to find sweet fruits especially in most popular markets. I had the privilege being raised by grandparents with a grandfather that had a green thump used an acre of our yard outside to grow the best fruit trees, and vegetables whatever it was we didn't have our neighbors did and they loved sharing what they had to get any produce my grandfather grew, I miss everything about my home and it's a shame that not all has had the experience of home grown anything to compare it to store stuff. I would hear my friend say "" oh my God this is so sweet " then handed a plum or grape and I just got quiet never tasted a real sweet apricot or most fruits for years. I knew all the tips to picking good fruit the stores usually have to buy from certain companies so they get what they get. I still crave a good sweet watermelon, honeydew and cantaloupe my Son picked one on his way to visit with me and it was SWEET only found 4 within last 2 years like that. Its been a hit or a miss for all other produce goods.
Watermelons are like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get. :)
Love how informative and passionate you are!!!
I find watermelons are becoming "sandy" tasting. In general I find that fruit in general is not as good as it once was when I was a kid. Peaches now a days are not even juicy but are hard. Nothing like how they once were. It is sad how Monsanto has ruined our produce. I also eat all of the seeds in my fruit especially in peaches, plumbs, apricots, apples, watermelons etc. They have a lot of cancer fighting vitamins in them. Look up B-17.
Keith Taubemo ml ko
Keith Tauber lots of arsenic in apple seeds...not a good idea.
Keith Tauber ”vitamin” B -17 is actually not a vitamin, its basically poison that helps kill cancer
I know a lot of "stone: fruit pits have arsenic in theem, so you may want to do some research on that before conyinuing that practice, but I agree,most fruit, and many veggiest have gotten lss yummy over the lst 20 years orso, AS as well
true
Your watermelon tips are those that my dad followed many, many years ago when I was a child and he could sure pick out good ones!!! Thank you!!
You the best John.. I love watching you .. I always learn so much.. much love
I like your suggestions. Thanks.
Great tips and information! Thank you
African movies
Thanks for the tips John! I have found it extremely difficult to predict if the watermelon will be good while buying it and gotten disappointed many times. I hope these tips will help me pick the sweet ones when the watermelon season starts again here in Finland! =)
You mean you can grow these in Finland?
Btw, I'd really like to know which stuff you can actually grow. Can you have fruit trees?
o00oZu1o00o Yeah actually you can in the southern parts of Finland :D But I meant in general when the watermelon season is in Spain (june-july) and we get the best imported fruits from there.
Wippe Ⓥ Thanks Wippe.
I would not have guessed it was so.
And fruit trees? If so which one? And in the ground, or in pots you put in garages during winters?
I've given up trying to pick a whole melon. I just purchase melon halves, so you can see the inside of the melon. I can usually look at it and tell if it's sweet. It's a nice deep red when it's sweet.
Wippe Ⓥ
Use the creamy yellow "Field Spot" as the best tip for Sweetest -
The Heaviest of the same kind group - for Juiciest.
The dull exterior is ripe, shiny is still unripened.
And ignore the tapping or thumping - that's a sure way to not get a good Melon. (It takes practice and isn't necessary)
Tennessee - Rural area - I would know. 🍉
I actually use the "scarring" method. If it has crazy scars it means the bugs are trying to get to it because it's soo sweet
Thanks John. Hoping to buy a good one today with your tips. I've had a lot of mealy non sweet ones.
Only a generation ago the grocer, road side stand, farmer’s market.. just EVERY watermelon would “plug” your melon of choice. You got to taste it on the spot and then decide if you wanted it. You never ever got other than just what you wanted. The sellers said they actually sold MORE and made MORE $ because everyone bought! No one was afraid of getting a dud! Oh for the real good ole days!! Maranatha!
Oh, Fruit Heaven! (and in the shape of a Burmese Stupa - fab). I really need this information right now thanks, as my Husband (whose family have a watermelon farm in Burma) always knows how to pick out the best ones, but he's gone away and I have no clue! Great timing. Great video as usual xx
Karen Tun
Ohh watermelons, my favorite fruit! Yum! Thanks for the info!
Yeah Sarah indeed they are great fruits
It’s all BS and a total crap shoot. Even this guy admitted the one he picked wasn’t great. Just roll the dice, pick one and hope you got lucky. Trust me, I’ve been trying for a few decades!
we have a sorbet swirl watermelon it's yellow with lines of white it's the best watermelon I've ever had!
rebeccabeebe1.
rebeccabeebe1 huffy
Greetings from Dee Beebe and Bobby B. Beebe baby.
Awesome tips, thank you!
My man always laugh at me watching ripe fruit and veggies vids, I guess I am a fruit nerd, but it is so useful!
This video is sweet and very helpful!
ONE MORE TIP that I didn't hear which is related to the yellow spot that he mentioned is that if the watermelon has a big flat spot where the yellow spot is it could mean that the melon ripened on the vine and began sagging. Please let me know if this works for you.
Very very nice
How to pick a good watermelon
I always had a hard time finding the right welomelon. thanks.
Smells a watermelon up close. Him - "Sir you would have to buy it". Others - "What a weirdo!"
Thanks for taking the time to share your "watermelon picking expertise" Very helpful. :)
Thanks for the excellent tips. You were entertaining while being informative!
Just got a huge overripe watermelon yesterday, gonna try your tips next time shopping! Thanks for sharing!
Very informative. I'll be trying out some of your tips (as well as some others I've got from other experts) next Tuesday when I go shopping. I once had a watermelon that was yellow and it was very good. Some people get turned off cause of the color. One of my brothers wouldn't even try it.Every year I look for seeded watermelons cause I think they ruined them by going seedless. Its not that hard to remove the seeds or just swallow them. Thanks Keith
I use my finger nail to scratch the melon and the more skin I get under my nail the better the melon. I got this tip from my dad who got it from his dad
Really?
I'm gonna try right it away. Thanks
Definite had one today that was sweet and red. It had a yellow spot, not white. It also had the dried, brown vine at the end. It was heavy for it's size, LOTS of water. Finally, I didn't know this, but another shorter video I saw said that watermelons also have gender. The males are longer and oblong, while the females are rounder and stouter. Guess which they said is the sweeter? The female. The one I bought was female. I could tell when he cut the watermelon he bought that it was already getting old, because when you hear them crack open easily, that's a sure sign they are getting old. (I've bought a few like that in the past.) And if you look at the video, you can see that the rind is already started to shrivel. One last tip from the other video, they said you may see some brown, webbed lines on the outside of the watermelon. Signs that bees spent time pollinating that particular watermelon. But I heard him say a few tips that I would consider looking for to confirm all the other ones I have learned. Looking forward to the yellow one I bought to see if it is sweet! Good hunting and watermelons, everyone!
Sugar marks are sure sign.
Also, look for the 'bee sting'... the yellow spot
Steve Smekar what are sugar marks?
The tap test is what my dad taught me and it's worked for the past 38 years I've been buying.
I've never seen a watermelon at a farmer's market.
But then again, I live in Canada.
good job John. I've got a big patch of all kinds of melons growing this year and your tips will help me pick em when they're ripe. Thanks
I want to add one another tip. See the watermelon at: 16:45 see it has some sharp triangular edges. More sharp edges it has, more like it's going to blow out once you stab it. See at 17:14 sound it's making. These cracking sound indicate your watermelon is good and those sharp lines indicate that it's more likeky to crack on stab.
What if my chest isn't ripe?
If it gives* its ripe
Christopher A. Kreusel 😂
Good job John! I've just been educated, keep up the great work!
👍 Nice video. I have to say in all of my years of trying to find a sweet ripe watermelon & trying to use these and other tips I have always found it to be a 50/50 chance. The one I didn't think would be sweet was sweet & awesome & the one I thought would be sweet was not. 😔
I am pretty stingy with my likes, but this video was great! Loved the end too, it just made my mouth water so much!
Mattertea p
Mattertea same here
Hi John. 🤗 I've been watching your videos over the years and I'm not sure if I've ever thanked you. So, let me say it now. Thank you for the pure-hearted inspiration and information you give us all. I love you and your effervescence. ☀️💗 (I'm curious about your age. You haven't changed in 10 years or more! If anything, you look younger!)
John, you didn't show the sugar marks. The real marks are those brown flecks, they're not smooth as the melon is, but rough. These are the spots where THE BEES took sugar when the melon was growing. Also what you didn't say - the tail has to be dry. If it's dry - the melon is ripe, it sucked all the juices from the stem and was ready for picking. If the tail is big and green, still with juices inside - then it wasn't ready for picking yet.
Apollo 440 yes, the brown spots are 'bee kisses'. They 'kiss' the sweet ones.
THESE MELONS ARE SO AWESOME LOOKING. THANKS FOR BRINGING US THIS VIDEO. HOPE YOU HAD SOME WONDERFUL MELON MONO MEALS😄😁😋
I’m so envious that you have that marvelous variety!
Thanks for the tips, John! Picking good watermelons is tough!
my grandfather (from SC) would not let us bring a watermelon in the house until August. So I grew up eating the sweetest watermelon. Now, I'm allergic LOL
I learned a lot. Thanks so much! Have a great summer🍉
Hello John 👋🏽 I tried your....picking the ripe watermelon, and so far I've been picking the ripe watermelon so far! Thanks for sharing how to pick a ripe watermelon!
what brand ceramic knife please? good vid.
Good tips!
Clear delivery!
Thanks!
We in Serbia say "heart" for the middle part of watermelon :)
and?
How do you guys have watermelon
John, I've got to share this with you. Yesterday I went into Costco and came across these peaches that smelled amazing!! They were nice and big too. I bought them totally from smelling them. They were amazing!!! So I learned from you to trust my nose!! Thanks. Sheila
Wow! We did not cover this subject in Home-Ec (1970) class, or at least in such detail as you voiced. Thanks!
You have a *beautiful* voice! Speaking as a former chef, your methods here are very good. I also look for little, tan, textured marks on the skin that my grandmother called 'sugar marks.' Personally, I never buy watermelons at the grocery store because I've been burned by bad melons far too many times. I always buy my watermelons at a little watermelon stand on the side of the road where the grower is selling them. Often times I let the grower pick one for me and have almost never been disappointed by their picks. I am lucky enough to live in the agricultural mecca of California's Great Central Valley so there are lots of growers in my area.
or just grow your own and let it stay on the vine for about 2 weeks. (Hobby is growing stuff)
I TELL YA JOHN, IT'S FRUSTRATING TO GO TO MY LOCAL STORES AND EITHER FIND GRAPES AND WATERMELONS WITH NO SEEDS OR PAY $7 A POUND FOR NON ORGANIC SEEDED GRAPES. WHY ARE THEY TAKING ALL THE SEEDS OUT??! AND RECENTLY, I FOUND "GRAPE JUICE INFUSED" APPLES. WHHAATT??!! HELP US GOD!!!! 🍇🍉
GOD is Love 1 John 4:16 Pine
Back in the day in Oklahoma you go to a fruit stand you would get a sample from the stand owner useley the rest of the the melons would Match the plug sample . We use to have a garden we mix cannelope and watermelon seeds in the same hole inside meat would be orange or yellowish
thank you John
Thanks for the instruction, now I can buy a good one.
Thanks man!
So getting ready for them to come in!
Thanks for your advice. And thank you for sharing!
Your watermelon advice makes sense!
Thanx for teaching us how to pick a good Melon
Always love your videos. Thank you much for teaching me how to pick out a better watermelon.
I have been wondering about this!! I always just grab one , and have got some good & not so good, thank you so much for your tips! I came across your video as I was eating watermelon! Lol
Thank you for this!
glad there is many tips not just one thanks!
;-)
Gotta tell my friend the bigger the yellow spot the better is very true because that tip has never ever failed me
Great information, I knew about the thumping and the weight, I didn’t know about the sugar spots, thanks for the info.
onion
thank you for the video John ! that is what i have done also. if a watermelon is not sweet enough to eat, just use a blender and blend it and it will be very healthy and somehow it is very tasty ! maybe there is a way to make it even more sweet and delicious by adding something to it the plain blended watermelon. i have not tried that.
oddly enough, a little salt makes any watermelon very sweet!
Thanks for the tips!
I agree on smelling the melons but I get slapped a lot
LoL, good one Mike.
Thanks for the tips Okraw.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge on the water melon. 😉✔💜🍉✌🍓🍉✔🍎🍉🍉🍓✔✔
great advice. I made a vid about what I eat for lunch the other day, incidentally an organic watermelon.
Thank you for your tips.
Great job of selecting the right one John. Now I'm feeling a little meloncholic cause I don't have a watermelon to eat. : )
BTW, us Greeks love to eat melon (and other fruit) with cheese! Try it. You'll like it.
Thanks so much!!
I ♡ learning from the Pro!
New subbie, great info and thank you for sharing GOD bless 💕 💕💕 💕
thks 4 all those tips!
I knew about hitting it and the weight but the rest were new info. Thanks man!
Very well performed tips! Thank a milli Jhon!
Thanks for the tips