Buying fruit from a grocery store or a farmer’s market can be a nuisance. You want to make sure that you are spending your money on fresh fruit, and if you don’t know how to tell the difference between an unripe, ripe and rotten piece of fruit, you could end up highly disappointed.
The following tips will help you choose fresh, ripe fruit:
Strawberries
Do not buy strawberries that have green or yellow patches. You should also stay clear of strawberries that look moldy. A ripe strawberry has a deep red color and slightly shiny skin. You should also try to buy strawberries that are smaller in size, as they tend to contain more flavor than bigger strawberries.
Apples
When an apple is ripe, it will have a deep color to its skin. The more red, green or yellow an apple’s skin, the more ripe it is. Ripe apples will also be firm when gently squeezed, and some may even have a rosy tint to them.
Cantaloupe
If a cantaloupe has a green tone, it means it is not ripe enough. Instead, choose cantaloupes that are more peach or beige in color. You also want to press on the end (opposite of the stem) and choose a cantaloupe that has a soft end.
Grapefruit
Disregard the color of a grapefruit to determine its freshness. Instead, pay attention to its skin and texture. Choose a grapefruit that is firm, but still a bit bouncy when pressed. You should avoid those that have soft spots or very thick skins.
Oranges
The color of the orange doesn’t matter as much as its texture. Even if you notice a green or brown patch on an orange, it could still be just as ripe as a brightly colored orange. Instead of focusing on color, choose an orange that is firm and has a smoother skin.
Pears
Choose pears that are firm to the touch (but not rock solid) and don’t have any soft spots. Since pears are often picked way before they’re ripe (so that they don’t damage during shipping), you should leave pears on your countertops for a few days to allow them to properly ripen.
Pineapples
To ensure you get a fresh and flavorful pineapple, you want to choose those that are more gold or yellow on the outside. Try to stay away from those that are green. You also want to make sure that the body of the pineapple does not have any soft spots or mold on them.
Some people make the mistake of buying a pineapple and letting it sit on their counter for days or weeks to ripen. The problem is that this technique doesn’t work. Pineapples will not ripen once they’re picked, and leaving it sit will actually decrease its sweetness.
Watermelon
Like pineapples, watermelon will not ripen once it’s picked. In order to choose the best watermelon, you want to choose one that is heavy for its size. You also need to look at the spot on the watermelon that was on the ground. You want to choose a watermelon that only has a faint yellow spot on the bottom. Don’t choose watermelons that have large brown or white spots on them. If the watermelon is missing this spot altogether, you want to leave it alone, as this is a sign that it was picked too early.
Using these tips will ensure that you pick the best fruit and do not return home with unripe or rotten produce.
About the author: Hannah Daily loves to write about how to make quick and easy meals. She always chooses fresh fruits to go with her family meals.
Credits: Photo courtesy of John Smith.