Melon balls with tarragon. Photo courtesy
American Diabetes Association.

MELON & HERBS

Tossing any variety of sweet melon with chopped herbs adds a flavor twist to the ordinary, say the folks at Good Eggs. Their suggestions:

 
We’d also suggest mint or tarragon with any melon.

If you like heat, try a sprinkle of red chile flakes.

WHAT TO DO IF THE MELON ISN’T SWEET OR SOFT

Here are two NIBBLE tricks:

If you get a melon that isn’t sweet, simply toss it with a light sprinkle of plus sugar or non-caloric sweetener.

If the melon is too hard, cut it into cubes and store it in an airtight container. In a day or two, you may find that the texture has gotten a bit softer.

 
HOW TO TELL IF A CANTALOUPE IS RIPE

1. PRESS the stem end; it should give slightly to the touch. But don’t let the stem end get soft; the melon will be over-ripe.

2. SNIFF the stem end for slight aroma. An unripe melon has no aroma.

3. CHECK the natural netting on the rind. It should have a yellow-orange hue, not green.

HOW TO TELL IF A HONEYDEW IS RIPE

The rind of a honeydew is much thicker than a cantaloupe, so the “press” trick doesn’t work.

1. SNIFF for a sweet aroma.

2. CHECK the rind for a golden color. Brown freckling on the rind is also an indication of a ripe honeydew. It actually can become sticky from the seepage of the natural sugars.
 
HOW TO TELL IF A WATERMELON IS RIPE

Watermelon doesn’t ripen further once it has been picked. Instead, when buying a whole watermelon:

1. TURN it over. The underside should have a creamy yellowish spot, not a greenish-white one. This is where it had contact with the ground as it ripened in the sun.

2. COMPARE melons of the same size. Choose the heavier melon.