| Sherri Brennen: Watermelon in the summer: How sweet it is! BETTER LIVING 06/03/2001 By / The Dallas Morning News
Nothing says summer like a ripe, juicy watermelon. Its refreshing
sweetness is largely due to its makeup: 92 percent water and 8 percent
natural sugars. Here are a few tips for selecting the best watermelons.
Choose a watermelon that is heavy for its size. The heavier the
melon, the more likely it is to be juicy.
It's normal for a good-quality watermelon to have a large yellow
spot on one side.
It's not considered a serious imperfection; it's simply the result of
the fruit resting on the ground during ripening
Lightly rub your hand over a watermelon to check for dents or
soft spots, which may not be apparent just by looking.
To check for ripeness, slap a watermelon with your flat palm. A
hollow sound usually indicates that the melon is ripe.
A lot of white seeds in a watermelon indicate that the fruit
probably was picked too early.
Whole watermelons are best kept refrigerated between 50F and 60F
but will keep at room temperature for about a week.
Overchilling a watermelon can cause it to become pitted and
develop an off-flavor.
A watermelon that has been injured by overchilling will spoil
more quickly.
Be sure to wash a watermelon before slicing because the skin can
harbor germs and dangerous bacteria. When the knife slices through the
rind, it can contaminate the fruit.
Don't throw away leftover watermelon; it can be used to make a
delicious frozen snack. Cut it into chunks and remove the seeds. Puree
the melon in a blender and freeze in ice-pop molds.
Freeze watermelon puree into ice cubes and use them in lemonade
or iced tea.
A hollowed-out lime makes a clever individual serving dish for a
scoop of watermelon salad or raspberry sherbet. Sprinkle the top with
mini-chocolate chips to resemble seeds.
Create an elegant serving bowl by inserting edible flowers all
around the rim of a hollowed-out watermelon. Use a skewer to poke the
holes, then slip the flowers into the holes. It's perfect for fruit
salad.
A small watermelon makes an ideal vase for an outdoor party.
Don't hollow it out – just push flower stems into the fruit. The flowers
will stay in place, and the high water content will keep the arrangement
fresh without the danger of spills. Cut a thin slice from the bottom so
the watermelon can sit flat.
A hollowed-out watermelon can be used as container for cooking on
the grill. It will keep foods moist, tender and impart a light, sweet
flavor.
Cut the top off a watermelon and scoop out the fruit. Fill it with your
choice of fish, shrimp, vegetables or even a combination. Add seasonings
and replace the top.
Set the entire thing on a cookie sheet and place it on the grill and
close the lid.
The cooking time will vary significantly with the size of the melon and
the type and amount of food, so start checking after 30 minutes. Do not
eat the watermelon.
Sherri Brennen is an Emmy Award-winning broadcaster, author, media
executive and mom.
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