Can you ripen a honeydew melon?
Honeydew melons unusual in that they can become riper after they have been picked; simply set one into a paper bag with apples for a few days so that it can finish the ripening process using the ethylene gas released by the apples.
How do I know when my honeydew melon is ripe?
When ripe, the color of the rind should be a creamy yellow rather than green, and the rind will become smooth and waxy rather than dusky. If you press on the bottom of a ripe honeydew (the opposite end from where it’s attached to the vine), it should feel slightly soft or at least a little springy.
Do melons continue to ripen after picking?
However, the melons will continue to ripen after being picked. Their sugar does not change after harvest, so they don’t get sweeter with age. However, they do become more desirable to eat because the flesh continues to soften and the melon becomes juicier, the University of California-Davis reports.
How long do honeydew melons take to ripen?
65 to 100 days
Tip. Honeydew melons mature in 65 to 100 days, depending on the cultivar.
How do you ripen a honeydew melon?
She recommends that you ripen them faster in a perforated paper bag. When ripe, refrigerate. Cut melons should be wrapped in plastic to contain the odor. Do not remove the seeds until ready to eat because the seeds keep the flesh from drying out.
What can you do with unripe honeydew?
If you choose a honeydew melon that is not fully ripe, you have a couple of options. Toss your cut honeydew melon with fresh lemon or lime juice (start with just a squeeze of juice, and add more if necessary). This brings out the natural flavor of most room-temperature melons.
How do you ripen a honeydew melon after it’s been cut?
Place the fruit in a brown paper bag rolled closed at the top to help the melon to ripen faster for eating. Once you’ve already cut the cantaloupe it needs to be refrigerated, which slows any further softening.
How do you make honeydew sweeter?
Toss the melon pieces with a little bit of sugar or honey, and let the pieces sit at room temperature for a few minutes. This will help bring out the melon’s juices and enhance the natural sweetness of the fruit.
What can I do with unripe honeydew melon?
Unfortunately, melons don’t ripen after they’re harvested, so what you buy is what you get. But if you slice into a honeydew and it happens to be underripe, don’t despair. You can try blending it into smoothies or making a gazpacho, or tossing slices on the grill to bring out some of its sweetness.
How do you ripen a honeydew melon after cutting it?
Nope. Unfortunately, melons don’t ripen after they’re harvested, so what you buy is what you get. But if you slice into a honeydew and it happens to be underripe, don’t despair. You can try blending it into smoothies or making a gazpacho, or tossing slices on the grill to bring out some of its sweetness.
How do you pick a sweet honeydew melon?
Push your fingers on the round section where the vine was attached (this is often referred to as the “blossom end”). The ripe honeydew should be slightly soft and springy, and it should smell fresh and faintly sweet. You should also feel fine ridges in the skin, whereas less ripe melons will have smoother skin.
How do you make honeydew ripen faster?
How can you tell if a honeydew melon is ripe?
Look at the color of the honeydew melon. You can tell it is ripe if it is a golden color with possibly some brown speckles. If the melon is beige with green stripes or bright yellow, it is not ripe.
How to determine a ripe melon?
The Right Way to Tell if a Watermelon is Ripe Green Stem. If the melon still has a bit of its stem attached at one end, make sure it is green and not dried out and brown. Ground Spot. When a watermelon is ripe, you’ll see a patch of white or yellow rind on its underside. Smooth Skin. Give the rind a close inspection on all sides. Hollow Sound. Nice and Heavy.
Do melons continue to ripen off vine?
If the tendril is still green and springy, the melon is still growing. Sometimes all your vines may start dying back before you’ve harvested, not just a tendril. Ready or not, this is as ripe as your watermelons are going to get. Unlike some fruits, watermelons do not ripen further once they are off the vine.
How do you ripen melons off vine?
Most of the netted melons will ‘slip’ from the vine when ripe. Slipping is where the fruit will detach from the vine without being pulled, it will come off in your hand with a touch or very slight push. These melons will often show a lightening of the skin under the netting a day or so before being fully ripe.