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Chef 's Corner Choosing a Perfect Melon By Randy Balt COMMUNITY NEWS Originally it was a guessing game for me in selecting a melon. I'd thump it, sniff it, squeeze it, shake it, turn it over and around and fi nally set my choice in the shopping cart like I knew what I was doing. The truth was I really had no idea what I should be looking for, but I tried to look good doing it. It turns out there are basic indicators you can follow which will help you in your selection process and improve your chances of picking a ripe melon. CANTALOUPES The best indicator is smell. A cantaloupe should smell sweet. The skin color under the netting should be tan, not green. Look for a melon with no evidence of a stem. A stem means that the melon was picked too early and will not be as sweet. The area around the nipple should be soft when pushed, but not mushy. The surface of the melon should be fi rm throughout. A fl at spot where the cantaloupe sat on the ground is acceptable, but that should be the only exception to a round rind. The melon should feel heavy for size. Remember, cantaloupes do not continue to ripen once they are picked so do not choose a green one expecting it to last a few extra days. HONEYDEW Choosing a honeydew melon is a little harder. There is little fragrance to help distinguish its ripeness. Look for a creamy yellow rind. Your honeydew should be slightly soft near the stem area, but otherwise feel fi rm and be without dark blemishes on the skin. Do not choose a melon that is too fi rm or a melon that is soft. Like the cantaloupe, it will not continue to ripen once it is picked, so a green melon is a bad choice. Lastly, try the "thump test." The sound should be deep and thick, indicating a dense, full fruit. WATERMELON A watermelon should have a dark green color with a waxy feel to the skin. The pale fi eld spot, where it rested on the ground, should be a yellowish cream color, not white. The darker the fi eld spot, the longer it was on the vine sweetening up. The "thump test" works with this melon. The sound should be deep and thick. Your knuckles should bounce off the melon and the surface should be pretty hard. As with all melons, it should be heavy for its size. That means there is a lot of water in there. National Notary Association NOTARY SIGNING AGENT CERTIFIED & BACKGROUND SCREENED WILL TRAVEL TO YOU! Glen Ashcraft Resident of Four Seasons in Beaumont 305 Spanos Park •Beaumont, CA 92223 (951) 769-8354 Cell (951) 265-4139 FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | SEPTEMBER 2012 11