Post by Toby Benoit on May 21, 2007 10:40:58 GMT 12.75
Thirty-two more days until the beginning of summer and I'm already craving watermelon.
They've already been picking the fields in S. Fl. and I've goten a few that were pretty good so far, but the prices they want for them are just stupid! Publix was asking twelve dollars a piece for a melon!
I bought a few so far off of roadside vendors (tow old Mexican men in a blue pickup) and they were decent, but it's tough to get a really good melon these days. Maybe it's from the drought, then again, I haven't spent much time comparing them either.
I was recently on the Old Farmer's Almanac site looking around and came across this bit of watermelon trivia that I thought you guys might appreciate. I know I'm planning on seeing my amigos de Mexico manana and if they have a couple of decent looking ones, I'll be satisfying my craving!
Watermelon Tips from The Old Farmer's Almanac
When shopping for the perfect whole specimen, look for a symmetrical round, oval, or oblong watermelon with a buttery yellow underbelly. Pick it up -- it should feel heavy for its size, which tells you it is juicy and fresh. Avoid melons with soft spots or bruises. And although the rind should have a healthy sheen, color isn't a good guide to ripeness. Depending on the variety, a fine, ripe melon can vary from deep emerald green to very light green to various shades of green with pronounced stripes.
If you prefer to buy a smaller, cut melon, choose one with a bright color and firm-looking flesh. Don't buy it if it looks mealy or water-soaked.
How much watermelon should you buy? If you take an average 20-pound melon and slice it into 1/2-inch-thick slices, and then cut each slice into six pie-shaped wedges, it will yield 138 pieces. If you slice it 3/4 inch thick, you'll have 90 slices. And if you buy a 30-pound melon and cut it the same way, you'll have 192 1/2-inch wedges or 126 3/4-inch wedges. The trickiest part is figuring out how many wedges each of your guests can eat!
Put the whole watermelon into the sink, gently wash with cool water, and dry with paper towels before cutting.
Store uncut watermelon at room temperature for longest life. It will stay fresh-tasting and sweet for up to two weeks after you purchase it if you keep it around 60°F. In hot weather, use it within a week.
If you have leftover cut melon, refrigerate it in an airtight container, or wrap loosely with plastic. Use within two days.
Never cook watermelon flesh; it loses texture and flavor when it is heated.
Be careful not to chop watermelon too fine or be too aggressive when chopping; it will disintegrate.
A watermelon won't grow in your stomach if you swallow a seed or two, but remove what you can to make it easier to eat. Or leave a few in. The world record for watermelon seed-spitting is held by Lee Wheelis, who propelled the winning seed 68 feet, 9-1/8 inches during the Luling Watermelon Thump festival in Texas in 1989.
The average melon yields about 1/2 cup of seeds. Put them into a skillet with 1/4 cup water and a sprinkling of salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring, for about 10 minutes, until the water evaporates and the seeds are toasted and have lost all their moisture. Cool and use to garnish your next salad.
Watermelons are well named: They are 92 percent water. Fat free as well, a 2-cup serving contains 90 calories and is a good source of vitamins A and C.
They've already been picking the fields in S. Fl. and I've goten a few that were pretty good so far, but the prices they want for them are just stupid! Publix was asking twelve dollars a piece for a melon!
I bought a few so far off of roadside vendors (tow old Mexican men in a blue pickup) and they were decent, but it's tough to get a really good melon these days. Maybe it's from the drought, then again, I haven't spent much time comparing them either.
I was recently on the Old Farmer's Almanac site looking around and came across this bit of watermelon trivia that I thought you guys might appreciate. I know I'm planning on seeing my amigos de Mexico manana and if they have a couple of decent looking ones, I'll be satisfying my craving!
Watermelon Tips from The Old Farmer's Almanac
When shopping for the perfect whole specimen, look for a symmetrical round, oval, or oblong watermelon with a buttery yellow underbelly. Pick it up -- it should feel heavy for its size, which tells you it is juicy and fresh. Avoid melons with soft spots or bruises. And although the rind should have a healthy sheen, color isn't a good guide to ripeness. Depending on the variety, a fine, ripe melon can vary from deep emerald green to very light green to various shades of green with pronounced stripes.
If you prefer to buy a smaller, cut melon, choose one with a bright color and firm-looking flesh. Don't buy it if it looks mealy or water-soaked.
How much watermelon should you buy? If you take an average 20-pound melon and slice it into 1/2-inch-thick slices, and then cut each slice into six pie-shaped wedges, it will yield 138 pieces. If you slice it 3/4 inch thick, you'll have 90 slices. And if you buy a 30-pound melon and cut it the same way, you'll have 192 1/2-inch wedges or 126 3/4-inch wedges. The trickiest part is figuring out how many wedges each of your guests can eat!
Put the whole watermelon into the sink, gently wash with cool water, and dry with paper towels before cutting.
Store uncut watermelon at room temperature for longest life. It will stay fresh-tasting and sweet for up to two weeks after you purchase it if you keep it around 60°F. In hot weather, use it within a week.
If you have leftover cut melon, refrigerate it in an airtight container, or wrap loosely with plastic. Use within two days.
Never cook watermelon flesh; it loses texture and flavor when it is heated.
Be careful not to chop watermelon too fine or be too aggressive when chopping; it will disintegrate.
A watermelon won't grow in your stomach if you swallow a seed or two, but remove what you can to make it easier to eat. Or leave a few in. The world record for watermelon seed-spitting is held by Lee Wheelis, who propelled the winning seed 68 feet, 9-1/8 inches during the Luling Watermelon Thump festival in Texas in 1989.
The average melon yields about 1/2 cup of seeds. Put them into a skillet with 1/4 cup water and a sprinkling of salt. Cook over medium heat, stirring, for about 10 minutes, until the water evaporates and the seeds are toasted and have lost all their moisture. Cool and use to garnish your next salad.
Watermelons are well named: They are 92 percent water. Fat free as well, a 2-cup serving contains 90 calories and is a good source of vitamins A and C.