Summer is here and we are in the sweet spot of watermelon season. Picking the perfect watermelon doesn’t have to be tricky. Follow these four simple steps to find the perfect watermelon to bring home with you!

Spot

The spot on a watermelon is the place where the watermelon sat and ripened on the ground in the field. Look for a watermelon with a creamy yellow spot. If you don’t find a spot, skip that watermelon. If the watermelon spot is white, it isn’t fully ripened.

Stem

The second step is to look at the watermelon stem. The stem, like the spot, will tell you if the watermelon has had enough time to ripen. A green stem means that the watermelon isn’t quite ready. However, a brown stem means it’s ready to go!

Sound

Another way of choosing a good watermelon is the sound that it makes when you knock. If you hear a hollow sound, your watermelon is ready to pick. If you hear a ping, the watermelon isn’t ripe enough yet.

Skin

The final step is checking the skin of your watermelon. Check the skin for bruising and any open gashes. Look for a dull or matter watermelon rather than a shiny one. If it’s shiny, it isn’t quite ripe yet.