How to Tell If a Watermelon Is Ripe: 8 Farmer-Approved Tips

It’s officially peak watermelon season, and grocery stores and farmers’ markets are overflowing with them. But as sweet and refreshing as this fruit can be, nothing’s more disappointing than cutting into one that’s underripe or bland. To help you avoid that, farmers say there are a few reliable ways to tell if your watermelon is perfectly ripe. Here are eight simple tricks you can use right now to pick the best of the season.

Look for the Field Spot

That creamy yellow patch on the underside of a watermelon tells you where it sat in the field while ripening. If the spot is pale or white, the fruit was likely picked too soon. A golden, buttery yellow patch means it had more time to mature on the vine, which usually leads to a sweeter flavor. Think of it as nature’s built-in ripeness marker.

Check the Webbing

Those brown, web-like scars on the rind aren’t flaws—they’re signs of sweetness. Webbing happens when bees pollinate the flowers, and the more pollination, the sweeter the melon. So, instead of avoiding watermelons with heavy webbing, reach for them first. They may not look picture-perfect, but they usually taste better.

Give It a Knock

Tapping or knocking on a watermelon might feel old-school, but it works. A ripe melon will produce a deep, hollow sound, almost like a drum. If it sounds high-pitched or dull, it’s probably underripe or overripe. Farmers say this test takes a little practice, but once you learn the sound, you’ll never forget it.

Assess the Weight

Pick up a few melons of similar size and compare. The one that feels heavier is likely packed with more juice and flavor. Watermelons are about 90% water, so extra heft is a good sign that it’s ripe and refreshingly juicy inside. A lighter melon, on the other hand, may be dry or underripe.

Inspect the Rind

A shiny, glossy watermelon might look appealing, but it often means the fruit isn’t fully ripe. Instead, farmers recommend choosing one with a matte, slightly dulled rind. The change in appearance happens as the fruit finishes ripening, making this an easy visual cue for shoppers.

Look at the Stem

If the stem is still attached, it can reveal a lot about ripeness. A green, fresh-looking stem usually means the fruit was harvested too early. A dry, brown stem suggests it had time to ripen naturally on the vine. Even without a stem, checking nearby discoloration at the stem end can give you clues.

Check the Shape

Watermelons grow in all sorts of shapes, but round, uniform ones tend to ripen more evenly. Lopsided or irregularly shaped melons may have developed under inconsistent conditions, which can affect texture and sweetness. When in doubt, go for symmetry—it often pays off in taste.

Choose the Right Season

No matter how many tricks you try, timing matters most. August is peak watermelon season in the U.S., which means fruits are at their juiciest and sweetest. Shopping in-season not only boosts your chances of picking a perfect melon but also supports local growers who harvest at just the right time.

Pick Smart, Eat Sweet

With watermelon season in full swing, knowing these farmer-approved tips ensures every slice is juicy, crisp, and flavorful. Instead of leaving it up to chance, a quick look, knock, and lift can help you choose the ripest melon available and make the most of summer’s sweetest fruit.