How can you tell if a cantaloupe is good or not?

Question

My mom and I were shopping today and she asked me to pick out a good cantaloupe, but neither one of us knew how to tell a good one from a bad one from the outside. How would you do it?

Answer 1

smell and if it has any rotten spots on it

Answer 2

Both ends should be a little soft and it should smell like a cantaloupe.  

Answer 3

smell the place that the catalope conects to the vine if it is sweet then it is good

Answer 4

Your nose knows.

I found that was true years and years ago when trying to find out which one was good.

A ripe cantaloupe smells ripe; a half-ripe cantaloupe has some scent; an unripe one may develop but if picked too soon, as most are now, it will have no scent at al and you'll have to wait days while is sits in the sun and you can't eat it.  Usually one half will be riper than the other half---the sun side when it was growing ripens sooner.

Answer 5

tap it a little bit hard and see if it sounds hallow.. (or is that a watermelon?)

Answer 6

You smell the end where it came off the stem. A ripe cantaloupe smells sweet.  If you pick up a few in the store and smell them you'll see the difference.

Answer 7

The best way to tell if fruit is ripe is to pick it up.  If it is heavy for its size, it is a good choice. Also smell it, if it smells like it should when you cut it open, it is good.  Look at the fruit and make sure that there are no blemishes or bruises, which are normally signs of rough packaging and damage.

Answer 8

funny you should ask. i just bought a cantaloupe myself. i smell the melon and check the end of the cantaloupe where the small navel is, if it is soft it should be good.