Signs Of A Good Watermelon: What To Look For This Summer

(KMDL-FM) Watermelon and the Fourth of July: other than adding fireworks, could there be a more "American" way to celebrate the nation's birthday and beat the heat? Choosing the right fireworks is easy; you can read the label. But choosing the right watermelon? That takes some skill, and we have discovered that there are 8 simple signs to look for when choosing the perfect "melon".

It's almost as if these simple tricks that people have learned through the years allow you to have "x-ray vision" and see behind the watermelon's rind into the juicy goodness contained within. What's also interesting about these 8 simple ways to choose the best melon is they rely on almost every one of our five senses, except for taste.

We'll let "taste" join the party once we cut the melon open and start enjoying it with friends and family. Did you know that the temperature at which you serve your watermelon can influence flavor and nutrition? It most certainly can.

What is the Perfect Serving Temperature for Watermelon?

Experts say that for maximum flavor and nutrition, you should serve your watermelon at room temperature. That's between 68 and72 on your thermometer. Now, if you want your melon to provide a cold, refreshing snap to cool off on a hot afternoon, you should chill that melon to between 45 and 50. About 30 minutes in your ice chest on ice should do the trick.

Here's a little sidebar on the keeping the melon cold front: don't allow your melon to be chilled below 41 degrees. This usually happens when folks store the entire melon or pieces of it in the 'fridge. Those "too cold" temperatures are what cause the watermelon's texture to go from firm and fresh to mealy and mushy.

Wait, Don't Throw This Part of the Watermelon Away - It's Packed With Nutrients

Oh, and about the rind, if you really want a nutritional bang for your buck, don't discard that. It is packed with vitamin C, potassium, and citrulline, which is an amino acid that will help your circulation. And yes, it's perfectly fine for your dog to have some watermelon. We asked our vets, both he and she said yes.

Granted, the rind isn't the most flavorful, but you can still grind it up in juices and smoothies, pickle it, or, here's an idea you didn't think of ever, add it to your stir-fry veggies; just cut it into pieces about the size of matchsticks.

Now, let's get to finding that watermelon.