FYI: Cantaloupe � Ripe & Ready
Source of Recipe
Light & Tasty 2003
Cantaloupe � Ripe & Ready
Light & Tasty Magazine 2003
How do you tell if a cantaloupe�s ripe? Some folks tap the fruit, listening for a �thump�. Others swear by their sense of smell.
Actually the first thing you should do is check the rind. A ripe cantaloupe has a dull yellow background and a raised �netting�. There should be a small, clean depression where the stem has fallen off. If the melon still has a stem it was picked too soon.
On the opposite (blossom) end, the cantaloupe should smell fragrant and give a bit when pressed.
The melon should also feel heavy for its size and be free of soft spots and any bruising.
You can tell if a melon is juicy if you can hear the seeds rattle when you shake it.
To ripen a melon, let it sit at room temperature � Not in an open window � until ripened. Then refrigerate.
Add cantaloupe to soups � salads � salsas � and jam�.or enjoy it right from the rind!
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