Ever stood in front of a big ol’ watermelon at the grocery store and panicked? You didn’t know whether that thing was going to fit in your fridge. I think this happens to everyone who’s ever purchased fresh produce without a scale.
We size up the fruits; we estimate their weight based off looks, but we should be sizing them up based on what they do once inside our kitchens. Is it a party centerpiece or a personal-size snack? How many bites will you get from it? What will it cost you, per bite?
Stop Guessing the Size of Melons
Knowing the diameter and weight of various melons makes the whole process less confusing. It turns shopping for produce from a shot-in-the-dark guessing game to a calculated decision. For example, the visual guide helps you understand where in the range of heavy crates to tiny snacks each variety sits.
How does size of a large crate differ from that of a single melon? How many melons do you really need to buy, given what your household will be able to eat before spoilage? That’s what the breakdown saves you from: You want to think you’re getting a good deal by buying the most melon you can carry home, so most folks go for the largest they can handle… But that’s often a wrong move.
A Crenshaw at 9 pounds may sound like a steal compared than a smaller one; but unless you’ll cut it up and eat all of it in three days time, you’re shelling out money for something you won’t even get through eating. By grouping melons as either shipping or personal class, the chart flags that distinction.
The Koreans and Sprites is personal melons. Just big enough to last a serving or two (they’re easy eating; there’s no need to wait), yet small enough to tuck into a lunchbox or fit onto a refrigerator shelf (or to enjoy as part of an appetizer plate). Not only are these convenient, though (this is about maintaining quality), too.
After you slice into a melon, the countdown has begun: how fresh will it be? The bigger ones is there to be packed in bulk and sold wholesale. Because they fit conveniently in cardboard cartons for shipping, not because they’re no good for eating for your own purposes (though I’ll admit it’s pretty rare to find me eating a whole cantaloupe or honeydew by myself).
At some point if you have a big event coming up, maybe one of those will make sense, but for a solitary meal on a Tuesday evening, bringing home a five pound Honeydew would of been like filling your fridge with a gallon of milk when all you want is a splash for your morning coffee. You will probably throw out more than you eat.
The graphic above also explains why size relates to weight, which is another helpful hint if you don’t get to weigh each fruit for yourself. And roughly speaking, about six inches around is usually a comfortable size for most peoples homes. When you encounter a melon the size of a basketball or larger, you know you’re dealing with some serious commitment and a hefty lift.
Another part of information from the visual data is the growth timeline shown here. It demonstrates how a pea-sized piece of melon flesh becomes a full-grown melon (ready for market) in about forty or forty-five days.
Because that period of fast growth happens quickly, it explains why timing is everything on the farm stand. Pick your melon too soon, and it’ll be flavorless and hard as a rock. Leave it on the vine too long and it might turn to mush and get overripe. The goal: That sweet spot between fully grown (the same diameter and weight it will have when you bring it home) but before any deterioration starts.
No wonder we’re looking for “fruit set to full size.” That’s the time to remind ourselves that melons don’t sit still, that they’re alive and still changing. Even once off the vine.
The truth of the matter when selecting a melon is simply picking out the one that matches what you’ll be doing with it, matching the fruit to your actual needs rather than your assumptions. For instance: if it’s just you eating, get yourself some light weight, smaller melons. Not only are they less prone to rotting, but they’re also going to taste sweeter and have a more concentrated flavor.
If you plan on serving up to a crowd, get yourself some heavier, shipping grade ones. These is going to hold together better and give you some consistent slices.
Bottom line: stop guessing and start measuring. And no, this doesn’t require owning a scale at home. Simply consider how much food you’ll be cooking for and think about its size.
A tiny melon works for a few people. It is perfectly matched. A giant watermelon for two? It is a logistical nightmare. Trust the size. Trust your stomach.
Also, remember: the best melon is the one you end up finishing before it goes bad. That’s the true secret behind buying fruit.