Nitrates in watermelon. How to choose the right watermelon Why watermelons are not visible in the water

“How to choose a watermelon?” — a question arises in the minds of thousands of people as soon as green-striped beauties begin to appear on the shelves of shops and markets. The task is not easy, but solvable.

You just need to remember a few proven ways to identify ripe and sweet watermelon.

There are a number of characteristics that will help you choose a truly ripe and sweet specimen from a pile of alluring striped fruits. Here is the treasured list:

• size;
• spot on side;
• unharmed;
• sound when tapping;
• color and structure of pulp;
• season;
• appearance of the crust;
• "floor" of watermelon.

In addition, there are quite popular “signs” of watermelon ripeness, which actually do not work and will not help you in such a task as choosing a ripe watermelon. The most common of them is the myth that a ripe watermelon must have a dry tail.

Many people try to choose a fruit that is not too large. Some fear that it will be too heavy and difficult to carry, while others are afraid that the watermelon has become large only because of the abundance of nitrates in it.

But there are different varieties of watermelons, and in some varieties the size of the fruit can reach 20 kilograms. Therefore, when choosing, it is better to give preference to a medium-sized watermelon. The rule of the golden mean also works in this case.

Ripe watermelon does not hide its “cheeks”

For reference: a “cheek” is a small light spot on the side of a watermelon, formed in the place where the watermelon lay when ripe. The spot is not a sign of disease or immaturity; the sun simply did not touch that area of ​​the crust.

So, looking at the light spot on the rind will help you determine how to choose a good watermelon. Everything is simple here: the more yellow it has, the better.

But when buying a watermelon with a white circle on the side, you risk running into a tasteless product.

The size of the spot also requires attention. Know that a large spot indicates that the watermelon for a long time matured in not too warm conditions. Because of this, the fruit loses its taste and becomes less juicy.

When buying a watermelon at the market or from the back of a car on the side of the road, pay special attention to this characteristic.

Under no circumstances should watermelon have the following flaws:

• cracks;
• dents;
• cuts;
• rotten areas (even very small ones!).

The fact is that the juicy and nutritious pulp of a watermelon is an ideal environment for the proliferation of bacteria, which, together with air and roadside dust, can get inside in abundance.

Eating watermelon with such a surprise can lead to poisoning and gastrointestinal upset. The same applies to cut watermelons, so don’t try to save money by buying not a whole watermelon, but only a half. Such frugality can cost you dearly.

The most commonly used method of checking watermelon for ripeness is tapping. Yes, here’s the problem: everyone knocks, but few people remember what the sound of a ripe fruit should be. So remember: a ripe and juicy watermelon makes a ringing, booming sound, while an unripe one makes a dull sound.

An overripe watermelon also sounds dull, in which there is already too much moisture and it has begun to sour. It is also better to refuse such a purchase. Thus, a voiced sound is good, a voiceless sound is bad.

To be sure, you can also squeeze the specimen you like with your hands. A slight crackle indicates readiness for use. The main thing is not to overdo it.

Color and structure of pulp

And this is a characteristic that will help you determine the ripeness of the fruit after cutting it. If the purchase is made in a supermarket, you can see halves of watermelon on the counter.

They are wrapped in cling film, which almost eliminates the entry of bacteria into the pulp, and provides you with the opportunity to study the product in detail. So, how to choose a delicious watermelon based on the appearance of the pulp?

There are two main positions: color and structure. The color of the pulp should be pinkish.

Scarlet color indicates the presence of nitrates or that the watermelon is overripe. Both of these things are not in his favor. The structure should be porous and granular. These watermelons are sometimes referred to as “sugar” watermelons.

Selling season

As a rule, watermelons begin to be sold almost from the beginning of summer. However, if you want to get your fill of the real southern fruit, and not the product of chemicals, you will have to wait until about mid-August.

Of course, there are also early varieties, but it still takes time to transport them. You may be lucky and the July watermelon will indeed be sweet, but it is unknown how healthy it will be.

A ripe watermelon can be easily distinguished from its peers by paying attention to the appearance of the rind.

Here Several main signs of a tasty watermelon:

• the stripes forming the pattern must be clear;
• glossy peel;
• the crust is hard, it cannot be damaged without effort;
• When the colored layer of the peel is damaged, a recognizable smell of fresh grass appears.

Signs indicating immaturity or disease of the fetus:

• the pattern is broken or uncharacteristic, the stripes are blurry;
• dullness of the peel;
• the crust can be easily damaged even with a fingernail.

Choose a watermelon with more space between the stripes, as they are considered to be sweeter.

"Floor" of watermelon

It is believed that girl watermelons are sweeter than boy watermelons, although the division itself is arbitrary. How to choose a watermelon girl? Just look at the speck left in the place where the flower once was.

If the spot is flat and quite large, then it is a girl. In male watermelons, the spot is convex and smaller in size.

This division has nothing to do with biology and exists only to simplify the selection process. Indeed, girl watermelons turn out to be juicier and sweeter in practice. There is an assumption that this is due to the characteristics of pollination.

Is a dry tail a sign of ripeness?

It is believed that when a watermelon ripens, it can no longer take nutrients and moisture and under its own weight is separated from the bush. In general, the theory is correct, but it is broken by the fact that in practice the watermelon can be separated from the food route before being cut.

And the tail dries in 3 days, so there may well be a green watermelon with a dry tail on the counter.

If you still do not want to give up this method, pay attention to the tip of the ponytail. Even with a dried stalk, you can determine whether it was cut or broke off naturally.

All characteristics listed above are general.

It doesn’t hurt to highlight several varieties of watermelons that end up on tables more often than others and highlight their features.

1. Kherson watermelons. Sugar Kherson watermelons never grow too large, their weight does not exceed 10 kg. If they show you a twenty-kilogram giant and claim that it is from Kherson, do not believe it. It is either of a different variety or grew on nitrates alone. The appearance of watermelons of this variety is classic: bright light stripes, oblong shape, soft pinkish flesh and rather thin peel.
2. Crimean Crimson Gloria. Watermelons of this variety can be really large. The average weight of one specimen can range from 10 to 17 kg. In addition, watermelons of this variety can withstand long-term transportation. They are also grown in the south of Russia. In appearance they resemble the Kherson ones, but differ in their thick skin and greater weight.
3. Hybrid chill. The peculiarity of this variety of watermelons is that they can be stored for a very long time, until the New Year. You just need to provide the fetus with comfortable storage conditions. To do this, place it in a dry, dark place. However, representatives of this variety appear on the market only in early September, as they ripen late.
4. Skorik. Watermelons of this variety are early and appear on the shelves among the first. They can be distinguished by the dark green, uniform color of the skin and low weight - no more than 7 kg.
5. Photon. The same applies to early varieties and differs from Skorik only in that it has a light skin with pronounced stripes.

Market or store?

Wherever you buy this juicy berry, this place must meet certain requirements. They are their own for both the market and the supermarket.

Watermelon on the market

To begin with, it should be noted that a market does not mean a spontaneous accumulation of tents near your entrance, but a territory specially designated for this purpose. And tents along the road are not even considered, since buying watermelon there can result in severe poisoning instead of enjoying the taste.

So, The following requirements must be met by the owner of a retail outlet selling watermelons:

• the presence of a canopy that protects watermelons from direct sunlight;
• distance from the roadway;
• the storage tray is located at a height of at least 20 cm from the ground;
• availability of an Epidemiological Surveillance service certificate for each batch of goods.

Watermelon in the store

When buying a watermelon in a store check the following points:

• watermelons are not stored outdoors, under the sun or near the roadway;
• storage trays are located at a height of at least 20 cm from the floor and do not have any damage;
• Availability necessary documents on the purchase of goods from trusted suppliers.

Now you know what the perfect watermelon looks like, and you can safely go in search of it. Where to buy and which variety to choose is up to you to decide.

Mother of two children. I have been running a house for more than 7 years - this is my main job. I like to experiment, I constantly try different means, methods, techniques that can make our life easier, more modern, more fulfilling. I love my family.

The benefits of watermelon seeds. Class of watermelon as a fruit.

Summer is the time for vegetables, fruits, herbs, and berries. Nature shows itself as abundantly as possible, giving us health and strength for daily actions.

It is perhaps difficult to find a person who is indifferent to watermelon not because of the doctor’s prohibitions.

Why is watermelon called a berry?

Contrary to popular belief that watermelon is a fruit, it is not.

Take a look at the pages of Wikipedia and you will find that a fruit is an edible juicy fruit that grows from a flower on a tree or shrub.

The same encyclopedia defines the meaning of “berry” as a thin-skinned, fairly hard fruit with juicy pulp and many seeds in a dense peel. However, this is what botanical science says. And from this point of view, watermelon is a berry.

• cucumbers
• zucchini

The same botanists note that all the fruits listed above and watermelon are berry-shaped pumpkins and form a separate class.

Watermelon or melon, which is healthier?

Speaking about the benefits of famous melons, it should be noted that it is enormous in both watermelon and melon.

• cleanse our body of waste and toxins
• promotes the removal of sand from the kidneys
• help restore radiance to the skin. For example, masks made from melon pulp are effective for acne.
• contain useful substances, which are still more abundant in melon

Watermelon is especially valuable for:

• slimming people who have decided to reduce their weight
• leading a healthy lifestyle and practicing fasting days
• everyone who suffers from constipation
• treatment of diseases of the digestive system, such as colitis
• people suffering from excessive amounts of bad cholesterol

Melon is unique in its effects on the human body because:

• contains a lot of natural sugars, which cause a feeling of happiness in the one who eats it
• is able to prolong the youth of the code and the whole organism thanks to the rich composition of valuable elements, for example, vitamins C, group B, organic acids

The only differences when consuming these melons:

• melon cannot be mixed with other foods
• it should be eaten only in the first half of the day between main meals
• it is contraindicated for women during lactation, as well as for people with diabetes, ulcers, and excess weight
• You can eat watermelon on an empty stomach, but not melon

Is it possible to eat watermelon seeds?

Definitely yes, if you are not pregnant, do not have congenital pathologies in the synthesis of citrulline - a specific amino acid, and also when you are confident in the fetus grown on clean soil.

The beneficial qualities of watermelon seeds appear from the moment they are chewed with the teeth. If you simply swallow them while eating the watermelon pulp, they will go unnoticed by your digestive system.

Watermelon seeds beneficial properties

Their beneficial properties are hidden in their uniqueness chemical composition. Thus, watermelon seeds contain:

• vitamins PP, A, C, group B
• iron, which is responsible for blood formation
• zinc, which helps preserve the beauty of skin and hair and ensures the smooth functioning of the nervous system
• natural protein involved in the structure of muscle tissue
• amino acids, among which arginine is especially valuable. It helps the heart work and maintain its health

• magnesium, which regulates blood pressure, carbohydrate metabolism and sugar levels
• other minerals - potassium, manganese, sodium, phosphorus, the amount of which in 100 g of seeds is enough to meet the daily needs of the human body
• fiber and dietary fiber, which are responsible for normalizing the functioning of the digestive system, removing toxins and waste from the body
• fats that provide calories to the product, but their value is low

What happens if you overeat watermelon?

Moderate consumption of watermelon brings only benefits to a healthy person. 300 g of aromatic pulp is enough to enjoy the taste without filling your stomach.

You should limit your daily dose of watermelon as much as possible or avoid it altogether if you have been diagnosed with:

• kidney stone disease
• gastritis, pancreatitis, ulcers of the digestive system
• cholecystitis
• pregnancy, especially the third trimester
• diabetes

Due to excessive consumption of watermelon, you:

• you fill your stomach with watery pulp and feel full. However, your daily need for various vitamins, minerals and trace elements is not met
• provoke stretching of the stomach walls
• create high blood pressure in this body, which in turn infringes on the boundaries of others

A heavy snack of watermelons is dangerous due to the following:

• diarrhea
• weaknesses
• nausea
• bad mood
• breathing difficulties
• excessive gas formation
• rapid heartbeat
• swelling
• in extreme cases, kidney failure

What happens if you boil a watermelon?

Do you want to experiment with taste and appearance watermelon? Then cook it whole.

As a result of this preparation, you will get a watermelon that:

• has a soft skin
• increased in size, that is, it absorbed part of the water in which it was boiled
• has a specific smell
• lost its original taste due to cooked pulp

In the vastness of the Runet you will find different answers to this question, for example, what you will get:

• compote
• jam
• spoiled product

However, there is an opinion that if you boil the peel, peeled from the green coating, in the sweet juice of a watermelon, and then dry it, you will get candied fruit.

Why doesn't a watermelon sink in water?

Watermelon pulp is a watery, porous substance, and the most delicious part of it.

When a watermelon was picked ahead of time, it will behave like this in the water:

• will float a little on the surface
• will gradually sink

Ripe fruit behaves differently. He constantly drifts on the surface of the water. In this case, the watermelon is mostly immersed in it, and only a small part of it looks out.

The reason lies in its pulp. Having air bubbles, its density is less than that of water. That’s why a ripe watermelon drifts on the surface and doesn’t sink.

How to wash a watermelon?

You must wash your watermelon no matter where you bought it.

To do this use:

• brush

While turning the fruit, carefully brush with a soap solution over its entire surface.

If you plan to feed watermelon to children, wash it twice with soap.

So, we looked at the benefits of watermelon and melon, and found out that both of these pumpkins are good for our health.

Enjoy the warmer months and the taste of sweet, juicy watermelons in August and September!

Be healthy!

Video: what are the benefits of watermelon?

How to find the most delicious, and most importantly healthy, watermelon among the dozens lying on the counter? Finding ourselves in front of a mountain of delicious pumpkins, we begin to remember the common advice, some of personal experience, but how many inaccuracies and contradictions there are in this random information! Let's get serious about this.

Photo of watermelon

First of all - sanitary standards. You are still choosing from a heap dumped near a dusty, gas-filled road. Copies for sale must be carefully laid on the floor under a canopy. There is no point in cutting a slice to make sure it is ripe; it is better to risk buying an unripe watermelon than to probably bring home harmful microorganisms that came from a knife or from the street air. For the same reasons, you should not buy a fruit with a crack, even a small one, or with a trace of a bruise - bacteria quickly multiply in open or damaged flesh.

Unscrupulous melon growers abuse the responsiveness of watermelon plants to fertilizing and overfeed them with nitrogen. The fruits quickly reach apparent ripeness; they are large, but unripe and dangerous to health. The seller must have a certificate confirming the absence of harmful substances in doses hazardous to health. If it is missing or there is no confidence in its authenticity, you have to rely on your own knowledge.

Video about how to choose a ripe and tasty watermelon

Sometimes saltpeter is injected into an unripe fruit using a syringe, leaving a speck on the rind with a puncture in the middle. But if excess nitrates are introduced from the soil, such an uncut specimen cannot be recognized; it is given away by the pulp. A confident seller will present an opened sample that is not intended for food for control.

The taste of excess saltpeter cannot be directly distinguished, but can be assumed by the discrepancy between the bright, ripe-looking, but not very sweet pulp and unripe seeds, too light and soft. This happens if maturity is imitated using chemistry.

In an environmentally friendly fruit, the structure at the break is granular, with distinguishable cells, while in one overfed with fertilizers, it is fibrous. White veins appear under difficult ripening conditions, for example, with a lack of heat, yellow formations are a sign of overfeeding with fertilizers. If the pulp is very bright, stir a piece in a glass of water. If the water turns red, the berry is “tinted” artificially; if it just turns cloudy, then the product is pure.

In the photo there is a watermelon

If we exclude pumping with nitrates, then the size depends on ripeness, ripening conditions and variety. Most likely, the average fruit, weighing about 6 kg, will be of high quality. Too small can be suspected of immaturity, but first it must be assessed for other signs. You should not choose one that is too large if you have to store the cut residue; even in the refrigerator it can spoil within a day. It has been noticed that a slightly unsightly, slightly lopsided fruit is usually sweeter than a watermelon with a perfectly regular shape.

As it ripens, the color of the skin of the striped kavun becomes more and more contrasting. Be sure to pay attention to the stain formed where the fruit comes into contact with the ground. In ripe watermelons it is yellow, about 10 cm in diameter, in unripe ones it is white, and if the spot is too large, the fruits have been ripening for a long time due to poor conditions.

The skin of a ripe watermelon is easily scraped off with a fingernail, underneath there is a dense, white layer.

The stalk should be dry and yellowish. Until the fruit is ripe, it is green. A trained eye will determine whether the “tail” separated from the stem easily, because when the fruit was picked it was already dry or it had been pulled for a long time, tearing it off green, and it had already dried out during storage. The mark of the knife on the cut is more difficult to see, but possible. By itself, this part does not fall off the fetus, which means that if it is not there, then it was removed deliberately - it is better not to choose this one.

Watermelons in the photo

Another well-known sign of a well-ripened fruit is a characteristic cracking sound when squeezed. The sound that a ripe watermelon makes when clicking or patting is described in words in completely different ways. To some it seems sonorous, as if from an empty vessel, others call it “volumetric.” It is best to experiment by drumming on a obviously ripe fruit and remember the resulting sound.

The density of the pulp decreases as it ripens; a ripe kavun does not sink in water. Taking it in your hands, you can feel that it seems too light relative to its size. For those who like to trust the exact sciences in the question of how to determine the ripeness of a watermelon, there is a simple calculation. If it does not sink in water, then its weight, according to Archimedes’ law, must be less than the weight of water in the same volume. And this is achieved with the following ratios: if the circumference of a watermelon is 80, 70, 60 cm, then its weight should be less than 8.6, respectively; 5.8; 3.6 kg. The calculation was made for a ball, therefore, it is applicable only for round watermelons.

About watermelon girls and some prejudices

The division of fruits by sex, into “boys” and “girls,” is too common to be ignored. Vegetable growers, sellers, buyers different countries It has long been believed that there are female watermelons - with a large flat mark from the separated flower, and male watermelons, in which it is smaller and convex. Practice shows that, indeed, watermelons with a large spot opposite the stem are tastier, and you can take advantage of this feature when purchasing. Perhaps this has something to do with the characteristics of pollination.

Video about tips for choosing a delicious watermelon

But calling watermelons “boys” and “girls” can only be done as a joke. All plant fruits are formed from the organs of a female flower, which has a pistil and an ovary, in our case - from the pericarp; they cannot have sex! What would we think of a person who thought of dividing, for example, apples or sunflower seeds into “men” and “women”?

The bad reputation of early, too large or small berries, unfortunately, is not without foundation. But we must not forget that breeders are constantly working to create more and more advanced varieties and hybrids. For the Russian climate, varieties called ultra-early, as well as large-fruited and with pulp, have been bred different colors. In Europe, tasty and low-seeded watermelons weighing 2–3 kg are popular. You need to pay attention to all the signs of maturity and naturalness, of which there are many, and not discard in advance specimens that ripened in July or fall outside the recommended size standard. Otherwise, you can pass by an excellent watermelon, and the achievements of scientists will remain unclaimed.

Grown in natural conditions. In Russia, these are, first of all, Astrakhan watermelons. Today, overseas varieties of melons and melons are often grown in Astrakhan. However, even they, grown on the generous soil of the Volga delta, acquire an extraordinary aroma, sweetness and juiciness.

Very soon Astrakhan watermelons will go on sale. In the meantime, I suggest you brush up on the rules for choosing the most delicious watermelons. At the end of the article, you will find 2 videos about choosing a watermelon from an expert melon grower and from the “Test Purchase” program, as well as express rules for choosing ripe watermelons.

The most difficult things in life are two things:
recognize a good watermelon and a decent woman.

Watermelon season

In Russia the ripest and delicious watermelons can be purchased no earlier than the second half of August. In some regions you will have to wait until September. Before these dates, buying a watermelon is not only useless, but also dangerous: there is a high chance of buying a nitrate watermelon or a tasteless watermelon grown under film.

Places where watermelons are sold

You can purchase melons only in stores and equipped tents. Watermelon lovers prefer to buy their favorite delicacy in tents. In this case, the tent should have a hanging awning and decking 15-20 cm high, so that the fruits do not lie in direct sunlight and directly on the ground.

Buying watermelons near busy highways is strictly prohibited. Melons absorb heavy metals contained in car exhaust gases in just a few hours. Such watermelons can lead to serious food poisoning. Even having a quality certificate and other permits will not help in this case.

Wash me!

“Watermelon” documents

The right watermelon always has documents: at least a quality certificate and a certificate of sanitary services. The seller must have a medical record and a trade permit.

If the seller shows a copy of the quality certificate, then the printing on it should be in color, not black. Otherwise, what you are looking at is most likely a fake.

Hard shiny crust

A ripe watermelon should have a hard and shiny rind. However, before selling, watermelons are often rubbed until they shine, so you need to check at least the hardness of the rind - it should not be pierced with a fingernail. This is due to the fact that upon reaching maturity, the watermelon no longer absorbs moisture and the rind hardens. If the nail easily pierces the rind, and the rind itself smells like freshly cut grass, then the watermelon is not yet ripe.

Degree of striping of the crust

The sweetest watermelons have the most contrasting stripes. And their flesh is bright red, grainy and sugary. However, too bright and juicy color of green stripes may indicate insufficient maturity of the fruit. Therefore, a proper watermelon should have dark green flats.

Mustachioed - Striped

Crust without defects

Before purchasing, you need to make sure that the watermelon does not have cracks, dents, or damaged areas, especially those that emit a sour smell. Through any damage to the peel, pathogenic organisms enter the pulp of the watermelon and quickly multiply there, which can lead to very sad consequences.

Watermelons should not have small rotten spots with a dot in the center: this is a mark from a syringe with which nitrates were injected into the watermelon, promoting rapid unnatural ripening of the fruit.

Of course, you can’t buy cut or. If you are asked to evaluate the ripeness of a watermelon by cutting out a piece, then remember that the tail has the sweetest watermelon. The rest of the watermelon pulp is unlikely to be as sugary.

Size matters

It is advisable not to buy watermelons that are too large, because... they may be pumped with nitrates or overripe. It is better to give preference to medium-sized fruits weighing 7-12 kg, but not more than 15 kg.

Of two watermelons of the same size, you need to choose the lightest one, because... When ripe, the density of the watermelon decreases. Previously, a container of water was placed at the watermelon counter. If a watermelon does not sink in water, then you can safely buy it - it is ripe and sweet. If possible, this method can be applied now.

Small yellow spot

A watermelon grown in a melon patch has a spot on its side where it came into contact with the ground. The spot should be as yellow as possible, even orange. The optimal spot size is 5, maximum 10 cm. If it is larger, then the fruit is frozen, lacking heat and sun, so it will taste unsweetened and watery.

A ripe watermelon may have other small light spots, as well as scars (but not cuts or cracks!), which formed naturally during the ripening process of the fruit.

Correct ponytail

There is an opinion that the drier the tail, the riper the watermelon. However, this is not true. A tail that is too dry only means that the watermelon has been picked a long time ago and has been waiting for its buyer for a long time. The tail should be yellowish and moderately dry. It is better not to buy watermelons without a tail at all.

- I'd like half a watermelon, please.
- Easily! This is a male.

Sweet girls?

I don’t know how it is in other countries, but in Russia and the neighboring countries, watermelons are usually divided into “boys” and “girls”.

In “boys” the bottom of the fruit is convex with a small circle, in “girls” it is flatter with a wide circle. It is believed that “girls” are sweeter. In fact, there is no evidence that “female” fruits contain more sugar. But they contain much less watermelon seeds. So buy “watermelon seeds” if you want and don’t need watermelon seeds in large quantities (for butter, crafts, etc.).

Who is better: a boy or a girl?

Loud and crackling

A ripe watermelon should buzz loudly when tapped. Unripe fruits have dense flesh and no natural resonators, so an unripe watermelon “sounds” dull. Also, a dull sound occurs in overripe, stale and spoiled watermelons.

A ripe watermelon cracks when squeezed, and the peel bends slightly. The cracking sound is clearly audible if you apply a squeezed watermelon to your ear.

Division castle, in the morning formation:
- Don’t eat these watermelons, they’re stuffing all sorts of chemistry and physics into them!

How to test watermelon for nitrates

Watermelons that reach the shelves before the end of August may contain nitrates - salts of nitric acid, which are used to feed melons to increase yield and early ripening. Directly in the watermelon pulp or already in the human gastrointestinal tract, nitrates are converted into toxic substances that disrupt the transport function of the blood and lead to oxygen starvation of tissues. Nitrates are especially dangerous for children, as well as for people with diseases of the respiratory, cardiovascular and excretory systems.

Watermelons containing nitrates have the following characteristics:

• The flesh is too bright and red, often with a slight purple tint.
• The cut of the pulp is smooth and glossy, and not grainy, like in a good ripe watermelon.
• The fibers running from the core to the rind are yellow, not white, as is normal.

To check watermelon for nitrates, just grind a piece of pulp in a glass of water. If the water turns red or pink, then the watermelon contains a large amount of nitrates. After properly watermeloning, the water will only be slightly cloudy.

That's all the wisdom of choosing a ripe, tasty and sweet watermelon. Finally, I suggest once again remembering the basic rules for choosing watermelons and watching a couple of very useful videos from experts.

Express rules for choosing a watermelon:

1. Buy watermelons no earlier than the second half of August in specially equipped legal places.
2. The watermelon rind should be hard, shiny, with maximum contrast and without visible damage.
3. You cannot buy cut and cut watermelons.
4. It is better to take a medium-sized watermelon weighing 7-12 kg. Of two fruits of the same size, you need to choose the lightest one.
5. On the side of the watermelon there should be a bright yellow or orange spot with a diameter of up to 10 cm (preferably no more than 5 cm).
6. The tail of the watermelon should be yellow and dried. There is no need to buy a watermelon without a tail or with a very dry tail.
7. In boy watermelons, the bottom of the fruit is convex with a small circle, while in girls it is flatter with a wide circle. Girls have fewer bones. Perhaps they are sweeter than boys.
8. A ripe watermelon buzzes loudly when tapped and crackles when squeezed. Unripe or stale watermelons produce a dull sound.
9. The flesh of a “nitrate” watermelon is smooth, glossy, bright red with a purple tint and yellow veins; when dipped in water, it turns red or pink.

Video about how to choose the right watermelon from the Test Purchase program

Video from an expert melon grower about choosing a ripe Astrakhan watermelon

Ekaterina Pyryeva, head of the laboratory of age-related nutrition at the Federal Research Center for Nutrition, Biotechnology and Food Safety, Candidate of Medical Sciences, answers AiF.ru’s questions.

How are they useful?

Watermelon is more than 90% water. Watermelon and melon contain a lot of easily digestible sugars (mainly fructose in watermelon, sucrose in melon) and mineral salts (primarily potassium). The composition contains ascorbic acid, carotene, folic acid, pectin substances (improves intestinal function), and watermelon also contains lycopene, a natural antioxidant.

Thanks to its composition, watermelon can do more than just quench your thirst. When we lose some salts along with water through sweat, watermelon perfectly compensates for the loss of both.

What is the calorie content?

100 g of the edible part of watermelon contains only 27 kilocalories. The energy value of melon is also low - 39 kcal per 100 g.

Watermelon is quite widely used in many diets - fasting, for diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract, problems with the gastrointestinal tract. This striped berry should only be avoided by those with stones (cholelithiasis and urolithiasis disease). Given the high content of sucrose in melon, it should not be recommended for people with carbohydrate metabolism disorders or excess body weight.

Recently, watermelons have been associated with high nitrate content, which has limited their dietary use. The fault is not with the watermelons themselves, but with unscrupulous producers who violate their growing technologies.

How to choose?

It is better to prefer a large watermelon (but not a giant one), but at the same time light, and therefore ripe. Its tail should be dry, and there should be a yellow or orange spot on one of the surfaces. A ripe watermelon has a hard, shiny, ripe rind that is difficult to pierce with a fingernail, and always springs back when struck. And if you knock on it, you hear a clear, ringing sound. You can check the ripeness of a watermelon by throwing it into water. If it floats, it means it’s ripe.

The best melons in terms of sugar content and taste are considered to be those from Central Asia, in particular those from Chardzhou. The surface of the fruit can be either smooth or ribbed, lumpy, even warty, completely or partially covered with a mesh, which indicates a difference in varieties, and not poor quality. The flesh of a ripe melon can be white, orange or green. To determine whether a melon is ripe or not, you need to press on its end on the opposite side of the stem: in an unripe melon, this end cannot be pressed. Melon stem good quality- thick. Another important sign of ripeness is the strong melon aroma emanating from the peel. If you knock on the ripe one, ripe melon, there will be a dull sound. In addition, when choosing a melon, you need to make sure that there are no dents or softened areas on it. The pulp underneath is often bitter.

Are nitrates in melons dangerous?

Under good weather conditions, more than one melon crop can be harvested in one season. And to further accelerate ripening, producers overfeed them with fertilizers, mainly nitrates, which accumulate in the pulp. The accumulation of nitrates is promoted by a lack of sun and an abundance of moisture. So in a rainy, cloudy summer, the risk of buying a nitrate watermelon is higher. In addition, early fruits usually contain more nitrates than in late summer or autumn. IN different parts In plants, nitrates accumulate unevenly. Most of them are in the first 3 cm of pulp from the peel. Therefore, it is better to offer the child the part that is closer to the core.

Nitrates themselves are slightly toxic. However, they are precursors of N-nitroso compounds, which have a carcinogenic effect (increase the risk of developing cancer) and nitrites. This transformation occurs mainly inside our body, and to a lesser extent in the watermelon itself during storage. Nitrites, unlike nitrates, are toxic and lead to hypoxia - oxygen starvation of tissues, which is especially dangerous for children.

How to recognize the presence of nitrates?

The following signs indicate overfeeding watermelon with nitrates:

• intense red color with a slight purple tint;
• the fibers that go from the core to the crust are not white, as expected, but with all shades of yellow;
• the cut of the watermelon should sparkle with grains, and the “wrong” watermelon has a smooth, glossy surface;
• You can check the quality by grinding a piece of watermelon pulp in a glass of water: if the watermelon is good, the water will simply become cloudy, if not, it will turn red or pink;
• To determine nitrate levels, you can use household nitrate meters.

Where to buy watermelons and melons?

Improper storage and violation of trade rules can make melons hazardous to health. The first thing to be wary of is roadside waste, where substandard goods or goods rejected by trade and sanitary inspectors are collected. According to the rules, roadside trade in melons is generally prohibited, since in a few hours they can absorb heavy metals contained in car exhaust.

In addition, the trading place must be fenced and under a canopy. Watermelons and melons should be laid out on sales trays, and not piled on the ground. Dirt and pathogens can penetrate into carelessly scattered fruits through microcracks. On point of sale there must be permission from Rospotrebnadzor, and the seller must have a medical book. Finally, a certificate of compliance of the goods sold with the requirements of the standard is required.

Under no circumstances should you open a watermelon outside to check its ripeness. Fruits with damaged skins are dangerous.

Opened watermelon should be stored only in the refrigerator and no more than a day.

How much watermelon and melon can be given to children?

You can offer watermelons and melons to children from 2-3 years old. A preschooler needs 1 piece a day, a schoolchild – 2 pieces.

How to understand that you have been poisoned?

Signs of poisoning are fever, lethargy, weakness (symptoms of intoxication), repeated vomiting and diarrhea. Intolerance may be indicated by skin rashes, changes in stool character in the absence of fever and intoxication, as well as the fact that the child is using watermelon or melon for the first time. It should be noted that they are not products with a high allergenic potential. In any case, you should consult a doctor.