Nothing says summer like ripe watermelon. Phyllis Wilson takes a closer look at these luscious melons, including how to test if they are ripe, and the best ways to eat them.
Have you ever noticed the similarity between a slice of watermelon and a smile? The shape is the same — and I always SMILE when I see a watermelon.
Watermelon is always my introduction to summer, a time for relaxing and enjoying the outdoors. Watermelon season runs from May to September, but peak is mid-June to late August, making watermelons a perfect summer dessert choice.
So how do you choose a watermelon?
Some say the best way is to use the thumping method for insured success of getting the perfect slice that will result in sticky, sweet juice running down your chin.
My dad was a methodical thumper, always flicking his middle finger off the thumb against the melon, and listening for that deep thudding sound. I also remember him picking up the watermelon and checking to see if the bottom was pale yellow. This bright red-fleshed, round or oblong melon should not have any flat sides, and it should feel heavy for its size.
As a child back in the mid-1960s, the watermelons we ate typically had dark brown or black seeds. We were told never to swallow the seeds or else a watermelon would grow in our stomachs! And if we cut it open and there were lots of white seeds, it meant the melon was picked before its peak. For me, the only no-fuss kind of watermelon to eat is the seedless ones. Now that is summertime fun!
Some people like their watermelons chilled in the refrigerator, but I like mine best at room temperature. The joy of eating watermelon begins for me when I take a melon scooper and make watermelon balls until I have a large mound of them in my bowl. I then match the sweetness of the melon by lightly sprinkling on salt to draw out the juices and cause a bursting of two different flavors in my mouth – sweet and salty.
Now, let summertime begin…
Photo Credits
“Watermelon Slices” Kirti Poddar @ Flickr.com. Creative Commons. Some Rights Reserved
“Watermelon on the Sky” mfrascella @ Flickr.com. Creative Commons. Some Right Reserved.
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AND new research is being done on substance extracted from Watermelon rind called Citrulline which is supposed to be a protection against Alzheimers and Age related Dementia! couldn’t find any in the UK health shops yet so will have to wait to get it from the Doc when it becomes an approved drug – that is if I don’t forget!