My Dad’s Simple Trick to Tell When a Watermelon Is Ripe Is So Genius

Watermelon season is here and, I don't know about you, but I’ve personally made it my life’s mission this summer to eat as much watermelon as humanly possible. With its high water content—92 percent to be exact—few foods are as refreshing and synonymous with summer as watermelon.

Even though watermelon is at its best this time of year, choosing the perfect watermelon can still be a tricky task. Nothing is worse than putting in all of the work cutting into a large watermelon just for it to taste like virtually nothing. Thankfully, though, I’ve spent years grocery shopping with my dad who has always taught me the best tricks on how to always pick the ripest watermelon.

When I was younger I used to think my dad was a magician as I watched him tap, analyze, and slightly squeeze various products to discern their quality, somehow always picking perfectly ripe fruits and vegetables. But over the years he’s taught me the best ways to determine which fruits are the best to purchase and consume, including the simplest (and most effective) way to always pick a ripe watermelon.