There is no doubt that watermelon and melon are symbols of the Israeli summer, especially during the hot days that accompany us quite a bit throughout the season.
As you know, it is important to drink a lot of water in all seasons and not only in the summer, but you do not have to do it just by drinking water – in watermelon and melon you can find about 90% fresh water. Perhaps for this reason, these fruits retain a special place in the fruit box we take to the sea.
Anyone who has ever bought watermelon and melon knows that it is not easy to choose these fruits. Everyone has his own method - and sometimes it works for us, but sometimes less. On the occasion of International Watermelon Day, experts from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development explained to us how we can make the right choice.
Full of fresh water, photo: GettyImages
How to choose watermelon or melon?
Hue
The watermelon should have a matte tint, since a shiny and vital color indicates immaturity. On the other hand, a faded color indicates prolonged storage, which usually impairs the quality of the fruit. As for the hotel, it is important that it has an orange hue. The color of its shell should be attractive, fresh and uniform. If it is a reticulated variety, note that the networking is full throughout the fruit.
Spots
How many spots appear on the watermelon? On each watermelon there is one necessary bright stain, which forms in the area of contact of the watermelon with the soil in which it grows. If you detect additional spots, yellow or faded, know that this is a watermelon that has experienced very prolonged exposure to the sun. This causes a decrease in its quality.
Pay attention to the stains, Photo: GettyImages
stinger
Look at the sting of the fruit - a fresh green sting indicates fresh fruit. The drier the sting, the less fresh the fruit is and was picked a relatively long time ago. In a hotel, it is extremely important to have a sting indicative of a long shelf life - as described. A hotel without a sting indicates overripeness and fermentation.
Tactile
Touch the fruit. Try to feel how flexible it is. Choose watermelon or melon as solid as possible. Their elasticity indicates prolonged storage that, as mentioned, harms the quality of the fruit.
Best for the season, photo: Ministry of Agriculture
mirror
Choose a fruit that is as symmetrical as possible, round or oval. This structure indicates normal development of the fruit and ensures that no cavities appear inside the pulp of the fruit. In watermelon, cavities of this type are more characteristic of the months of March and April. These joyous months mark the start of watermelon season. In motels with a network, the network should be full and dense.
Sound
The watermelon patting myth has become so widespread that most of us pat it without even knowing what we should hear. Shimshon Omer, Director of the Vegetables and Field Crops Division of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, explains: "When we pat a watermelon, we have to wait for a sound back. The watermelon should "reply" to us with a kind of clean sound. It is recommended to pat a few watermelons, if you feel that there is no echo of the pat, the watermelon is too ripe and its texture and taste will be poor."
How do we preserve the fruits we chose at home?
At the end of the meticulous examination and after you have carried the selected fruit home, and chosen the right hotel, how will you take care of them in order to maintain freshness and high quality until served? Explains that the watermelon can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week. "Before cutting the watermelon, wash it thoroughly and cut it with a large, firm and sharp knife," Omer explains, adding: "If you haven't finished the entire watermelon, it is recommended to wrap the remaining part in plastic wrap and return it to storage in the refrigerator." The watermelon can be kept for a week. However, he said, the hotel's shelf life is shorter and once opened, it can only be kept for a few short days. That's why it's important to keep it refrigerated. "If you buy half a melon, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap. If it's an entire hotel, you can keep it out of the fridge for up to three days."
Saturation, Photo: GettyImages
And about the price?
Data from an examination by the Research, Economics and Strategy Division of the Ministry of Agriculture show that the average price per kilo of watermelon in June in the wholesale market is NIS 1.73 and the average consumer price is NIS 2.8 per kilogram.
The average price per kilo of melon in the wholesale market was NIS 3.3 in June, compared with the consumer price in the various supermarket chains, which was NIS 4.31.
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