Help! How Do You Pick The Perfect Melon?

One of my very favorite summer foods is melon. Honeydew, cantaloupe, and watermelon are always nice, refreshing, healthy treats.

But when it comes to actually choosing a melon, I still haven't found the perfect advice yet.

Believe me, I've tried.

I've done plenty of Googling, and have read plenty of advice.

Yes, I'm that guy in the supermarket inspecting the rind, smelling the stem, and knocking on the melon.

What am I looking for when I do all that?

I have no idea.

Some say that when you sniff the stem, you should get a slightly sweet scent. While others will say that by the time you get an odor, the flesh of the fruit is already overripe.

I've read that when you rap your knuckles on the outside, you should get a dense, solid result. But I've also read that you want a hollow sound in return, which would indicate a perfectly ripe result.

But it seems like no matter what trick I try, it always comes down to getting it home and cutting into it before you really know whether you'll be enjoying a perfectly sweet treat, chewing through tough, unripe flesh, or throwing out soft and mealy mush.

On top of all that, now we apparently have "designer melons" to choose from!

So, I need your help!

What are your life hacks for picking out the perfect melon? Chime in on the comments section below and let us know if you've figured out the special sauce for bringing home a marvelous melon!

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