Choosing the Perfect Watermelon: Expert Tips

Summer ain't complete without a juicy watermelon. Yet, not everyone knows how to choose the right melon to fully enjoy its taste and reap its health benefits. Experts from the Kransoyarsk branch of the FGBU "Center of Expertise for Agriculture" share their recommendations to avoid mistakes.

Watermelon is more than just a tasty treat—it's a treasure trove of nutrients. Packed with vitamins (A, C, B1, B3, RR), minerals (potassium, magnesium, iron, manganese) and folic acid, which plays a crucial role in blood production and the functioning of the cardiovascular system, watermelon is often included in diets for liver diseases, gout, and even post-surgery recovery.

However, there's a downside. Dishonest manufacturers sometimes use chemicals and growth stimulants to speed up the watermelon growth, leading to an accumulation of harmful substances such as nitrates, which can be dangerous to health.

Nitrates themselves are not toxic, but when they enter the body, they convert into nitrites, and then into carcinogenic nitrosamines. These compounds can cause serious poisoning, particularly for children, elderly people, and those with cardiovascular or respiratory problems.

Symptoms of poisoning include swollen lips, nails, and skin, headaches, discomfort in the occipital area, nausea, vomiting, and stomach spasms, as well as fever and seizures.

Consuming more than 400-500 mg of nitrates per day may be harmful to adults, while serious poisoning can occur in children even with a dosage of 40-50 mg.

Given this, choosing the right watermelon—tasty and nitrate-free—is crucial. But how to do it?

The natural growing season for these fruits in Russia begins in the second half of August and lasts until early September. Fruits appearing earlier may have been artificially grown with chemical fertilizers.

Therefore, experts strongly advise against purchasing watermelons until August!

Buy watermelons only from specialist stores or official sales points. Make sure the seller provides the necessary documentation: authorization from SES, medical books, and a certificate of safety. Avoid purchasing by the roadside, as watermelon rind easily absorbs toxic substances from car exhausts.
Choose medium-sized watermelons with round shape and shiny skin. The rind should be dark, with contrasting light stripes, without damage or suspicious spots. Gently scratch the rind with your nail—a ripe watermelon will be easily scratched.
After cutting, pay attention to the flesh. If the slice is smooth without seeds, it may indicate a high nitrate content. Avoid watermelons with unnaturally bright red flesh or yellow-orange streaks!

A simple test for nitrates: place a small piece of flesh in a warm teacup of boiling water. If the water turns pink, and the flesh decomposes, that watermelon should be avoided.

How to store and consume watermelon

Firstly, after purchasing, thoroughly wash the watermelon with soap and rinse well. This kills bacteria.

Remember, the highest concentration of nitrates is found in a three-centimeter layer beneath the rind. Therefore, the safest part is closer to the center of the fruit.

Cut watermelon should be stored in the refrigerator, wrapped in food wrap, and consumed within 12 hours. However, be moderate in consumption: one adult should eat only a couple of slices.

Image: DELA promt

Additional Tips

Buy local or organic: Organically-grown watermelons are free from synthetic nitrate fertilizers, reducing nitrate levels. Also, buy from local farmers using responsible fertilizing practices.
Check for freshness and ripeness: Select watermelons that are ripe and fresh by looking for a dark, dull rind and a uniform round shape. Knock on the watermelon; it should sound hollow, indicating ripeness and natural growth rather than chemical influence[3].
Avoid unusual watermelons: Sometimes excessive nitrate can cause odd textures or an overly bright flesh color, so pick watermelons with typical deep red flesh and firm texture.
Consider soil and farming environment information: If possible, inquire about the farming practices or nitrate testing from sellers or farmer's markets.

There are no simple at-home tests widely recommended for nitrate detection in watermelon, but awareness of sourcing and careful selection based on appearance and ripeness can help in choosing nitrate-free or low-nitrate watermelon for safe and healthy eating[1][2].

Watermelon is a powerhouse of nutrients, including essential vitamins and minerals that are beneficial for various health conditions, making it an ideal choice for diets tackling liver diseases, gout, and post-surgery recovery.
However, it's crucial to choose the right watermelon due to the risk of harmful substances like nitrates, potentially caused by dishonest manufacturers using chemicals and growth stimulants.
To ensure a nitrate-free, tasty watermelon, follow these expert recommendations: Buy from specialist stores or official sales points, look for medium-sized watermelons with round shape and shiny skin, and check for a dark rind with contrasting light stripes. Additionally, organic watermelons and those grown locally are lower in synthetic nitrate fertilizers.