Avoid shriveled or bruised fruit or cantaloupe with punctured or cracked rinds.

A ripe cantaloupe will have a distinctive aroma and the blossom end should yield to gentle pressure. There should be a clean depression where the stem was attached with no remnants of stem remaining. This indicates that the melon was kept on the vine until fully ripe.

Choose a symmetrical watermelon that is heavy for its size.

Uncut - countertop. Cut - refrigerate.