How to Pick, Store, and Use Your Watermelons

Mouth-Watering Watermelon Tips

by: Dawn Bryan
How to Pick, Store, and Use Your Watermelons

Watermelons are considered to be the quintessential summer food staple. With so many choices out there, finding, storing, preparing, and serving a melon can be daunting.  

Here are my tips:

SELECTION:

  • To find your juiciest watermelon you first must look at the coloring: it should have bright firm skin, be symmetrical, and free of cuts, major bruises and scars
  • Pick up the watermelon to feel whether it is heavy. The heavier the melon the more water it contains, which translates to a very luscious fruit
  • Make sure that you pick a melon that is the right size for your needs—you don’t want to waste any juicy bite
  • The last test you need is the thumping method. You want to hold the watermelon close to your ear, thump it, and listen for a hollow sound. This means that you’ve got yourself a good melon

HOW TO RIPEN AND STORE:

If your watermelon isn’t quite ready to cut open and serve, make sure that you store it at room temperature, giving it time to reach its prime ripeness. However, if you have a melon that’s ready to eat you can cool it off in your fridge for a couple of hours so that when you’re ready to serve it, it's ice cold and delicious. Be sure to wrap all your leftovers in plastic and keep them in the refrigerator.

USES AND RECIPES:

There are a variety of ways you can eat—and drink—this tasty fruit. While biting into an icy chunk of watermelon is very refreshing, there are also new recipes you can try to spruce up the ways you enjoy this summertime staple. Here are a few recipe links to help you cool off on these hot summer days:

Now that you have the know how on picking, storing, and using your watermelon get out there and embrace the summer heat with a slice or a sip of your mouth-watering treat.

 

IMAGE SOURCE: TANALEE YOUNGBLOOD VIA UNSPLASH

 

Category: 
Eating
Tags: 
watermelon
how to choose a watermelon
choosing the perfect watermelon
picking watermelon
dawn bryan
Dawn Bryan

Dawn Bryan, is the founder of Qualipedia™, an authority on gifting, protocol, quality and conscious choice.

Dawn’s impressive career includes being selected as a consultant and advisor on international protocol for many luxury brands including Gucci, Neiman Marcus, American Express, Business Week Magazine, Hammacher Schlemmer, Citicorps/Diners Club, Swarovski Crystal, and Waterford Wedgewood. Dawn is the author of the best-selling “The Art and Etiquette of Gift Giving” (Bantam) and has authored many articles, columns and books on the subjects of etiquette, gift-giving and the quality of things for Business Week, Town & Country, Modern Bride, Vogue and Glamour among others. Dawn has taught international protocol to globalizing businesses and industries, as well as to Chinese journalists and diplomats in Beijing and Shanghai.

Dawn Bryan was the President and CEO of a New York City city-wide non-profit organization, The Momentum Project, Inc., which has frequently been recognized as a national model for congregate meals and services for disenfranchised urban populations. She served as the Director of Public Policy and Government Affairs for the American Heart Association (in Dallas, Texas and Washington, D.C.), and has been both a teacher and Professor. As a restauranteur Dawn opened and ran a successful South Carolina beachside dining room.

Dawn has served on numerous boards and councils, including Mayor Guiliani’s NYC Health Planning Council, and Mayor Bloomgerg’s/HRA Commissioner’s Citizens’ Advisory Group, representing hunger and AIDS interests.

Dawn has been the recipient of many awards, including “Above and Beyond” from the United Way of NYC; NYS Eleanor Roosevelt Community Service Award; National Association of People with AIDS Lifetime Achievement Award (2008); and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor (2007).