But, what if you have cut it too soon and it's not ripe enough? It . Huff Post reassures thatwhile some people's digestive systems are more sensitive than others, chances are that nothing will happen to you. He loves exploring new restaurants and trying out different cuisines. The affected cantaloupes are sold under the brand name Rocky Ford, which refers to a region in southeastern Colorado. :) I know people who have observed this and I know others who haven't. The bacteria have a long incubation period, which means that it may take as long as four weeks for people who have eaten contaminated cantaloupe to feel ill. Listeriosis typically causes fever and muscle aches, sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. Make sure the cantaloupe is not shriveled, leaking juice, or damaged where the stem was attached. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? Fungal growth can take on a variety of appearances, but it's often white or darkly colored. Other symptoms may include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions. Ripe cantaloupe is sweet, juicy, and tender. They bulb up on the ends of vines like basketballs swollen by the press of a foot pump. Whole Foods Market - Chocolate Strawberries. However, cantaloupe and similar fruit will continue to ripen after harvest. Cantaloupe is a low-calorie food and a good source of vitamins A and C. Like all fruits, cantaloupes can become contaminated with dangerous pathogens, so selecting a ripe, undamaged cantaloupe is important. Gerardos friends and family are the lucky beneficiaries of his delicious cooking. Biggie Smalls mentioned Tranquil Breezes in a song. @LorelC. But there's a major . If the melon seems empty inside or the rind is soft, its lost most of its water and its no good. This probably means it has lost its water content and isn't good to eat anymore (via The Whole Portion). Limited time only. Though, make sure to wash the kitchen knife you used to cut the mold out before using it to slice up the rest of the fruit. Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. In general, people with weakened immune systems, including newborns, pregnant women, the elderly and those with immune disorders, are most likely to become sick if infected. If you can, leave on the gooey stuff with the seeds, as it helps retain moisture in the fruit's flesh. What you are describing is what we call a food that has "soured". A ripe cantaloupe will smell sweet, floral, and musky. I disagree so I upvoted. Check out what's hot right now, including limited-time-only finds and seasonal favourites. This is entirely different than a vegetable or other food rotting/going bad. No, it will not ripen once it is in the refrigerator. I agree. In 2018, a pair of Ybari Kings. I would love to find something that can compare. The next day I cut open the bag and found that the entire bag smelled like a mix between vinegar and over-ripened cantaloupe. Why does my cantaloupe taste like nail polish remover? But that doesnt mean you cant eat them or that they will make you sick if you do. If you don't smell anything, or barely can, it's probably not at its peak (via Leaf). Why does my cantaloupe taste like nail polish remover? So you can sprinkle sugar or sugar substitute onto the cantaloupe and toss it gently until it has been evenly distributed. Even though you do not eat the rind, it is important to wash the cantaloupe before you cut it. And chances are, once you bring your melon home, you will place it on your counter to further ripen. When in doubt, throw it out. A perfectly ripe melon will have a sweet, kind of musky aroma that you can gather emanating through the rind. A completely firm melon is as of yet unripe, while one that's too yielding is on the decline. Log in It'll stay good for about five to seven days whole and left out on the counter. Always check for three things: To pick out the best cantaloupes, look for ones that are larger and feel heavy for their size, with no soft spots, bruises, cracks, other damage or mold. According to the Food and Drug Administration, its fine to eat fruit with moldy patches as long as you remove the affected area. In fact, it is known to be one of the sweetest melons there is. There was no evidence of spoilage or a mushy texture, all the raw sprouts were firm. Another effective way to tell if your cantaloupe is still viable is by touching it. rev2023.3.1.43269. Properly storing cantaloupes is an important part of getting to enjoy them at peak ripeness and quality. You will feel redness and sweetness more than usual while cutting into it. If it smells cloying, fermented or just plain bad, it's probably overripe. Other symptoms may include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of . Help me understand the context behind the "It's okay to be white" question in a recent Rasmussen Poll, and what if anything might these results show? To select a ripe cantaloupe, look for tan cantaloupe with light green lines across it, and avoid choosing melons with brown or soft spots. All rights reserved. Suspicious referee report, are "suggested citations" from a paper mill? 206. If it's not ripe yet, leave it out at room temperature for more efficient maturation; you can also accelerate the process by putting it in a closed paper bag. The Washington Post recommends pureeing it and freezing it. There should be a deep, low sound when you knock on the fruit. It keeps a long time. Also, while reaching the middle, you will see a slightly burnt mark due to chemicals. An essential for pancake day. What was written on package? Breath that smells rotten or fetid (like garbage or death) An abscess or infection in your mouth, throat, or lungs may cause your breath to smell like rotting tissue. I bought a bag of Brussels sprouts that looked fine but smelled exceptionally bad, even for sprouts, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pickled_cucumber#Polish. Cantaloupe is a seasonal fruit and warm spring weather brings the right time to start purchasing cantaloupe. Hello, I bought a cantaloupe from Fred Meyer (Kroger), Wilsonville, OR this past weekend. And, an uncut melon can sit in the fridge for up to five days before it starts to go bad. The American cantaloupe is a close relative, however, and it is an extremely healthy fruit. Keep in mind that the best spot to smell the cantaloupe is the end opposite of the stem. MORE: The Food-Safety Bill Finally Passes, but Its Just the First Step. I wonder if the notes are no longer even available and the chemical make up has changed? As for sugar content, watermelon has about 18 grams of the sweet stuff per wedge, according to the USDA. Its how we show our love. Because listeria has such a long incubation period, experts at the CDC and FDA expect that more people will become ill, some seriously so, in the coming weeks. I don't know. According to culinary scientist Harold McGee's Keys to Good Cooking, you should give it a whiff by finding the blossom end (it's opposite the stem end). @hmijail : it's also possible that it's regional because of types of bacteria in the region or climate (going sour slowly vs. quickly as they're at different temperatures). Wash hands with hot, soapy water before and after handling fresh cantaloupes. Scrub the melon before cutting. Ripe, juicy strawberries are dipped in creamy chocolate in-store by Whole Foods Market team members. Sometimes it's fuzzy. tingling sensation in your mouth. Heres some basic information on the bug and how to keep yourself from getting sick. If there's no smell or just a faint one, the melon isn't ripe yet; if there's an astringent or sour smell, the cantaloupe is already spoiling. Does uncut cantaloupe need to be refrigerated? My watermelon trellis worked really well this summer. 16. Ackermann Function without Recursion or Stack. Fragrant Smell: It should give off a pleasant and sweet aroma that's slightly musky. Organic, gluten free, and designed by restaurant chef Catherine Sharman, who is also a qualified, accredited Functional Nutritionist. Gently press the end opposite of the stem, and if it has only a bit of give, but not too much, it's still good. The additional marbling makes them extra succulent, tender and big on flavour. MORE: Q&A: A Food-Safety Expert Explains Germanys E. Coli Outbreak. Firm to the Touch: The surface of the cantaloupe should be firm like a pineapple, but not hard like a watermelon. You can taste the stored ones straight away, they either have no flavour or they develop an acetone taste akin to nail varnish. You can freeze cut-up chunks of cantaloupe in an airtight container or freezer bag, though it'll come out mushier after thawing than it went in. have developed differing understanding of how they behave. Will a cantaloupe ripen if it is in the refrigerator overnight? If there's mold on the inside, it should also be tossed. A ripe cantaloupe should make a hollow sound. Some smells can come from having a bad mix of bacteria in the intestines, and somehow the smell comes out through the sinuses or lungs. Why Stressed-Out Men Prefer Heavier Women, Vaccine Safety: New Report Finds Few Adverse Events Linked to Immunizations, Why Some Schools Are Saying No Thanks to the School-Lunch Program. Melons hold so much promise. 1. Keep whole melons like watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew on the counter for best flavor. Loving our local artisans, makers, entrepreneurs and producers is something that just comes, well, naturally. Hes been in the industry for over 10 years, and he loves nothing more than creating delicious dishes for others to enjoy. The entire melon gets soft and eventually becomes unable to hold its shape. Cut melon processing Epidemiological and laboratory evidence in an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 infections associated with cut cantaloupe suggested that contamination may occur not only by cutting through contaminated rinds but also by cutting with contaminated utensils [16]. @LorelC. I've never known anyone to eat anything with that smell. Again, nothing scientific. These are usually consumed as dessert fruits. Excess water can cause flavor to be bland. I recently bought a pre-packaged bag of brussels sprouts. Thank you for your question, Denise. How do you know if a watermelon is injected? All is not lost! By comparison, honeydew has around 10 grams of sugar per wedge, while cantaloupe has eight grams of sugar per wedge. But if the melons are being picked when they are ripe and ready, then the issue might be the soil or watering conditions. Smelling a cantaloupe (also known as a muskmelon or a rockmelon) is one of the recommended ways to tell if it is ripe or has gone bad. Was there some kind of chemical involved? In high-risk groups, including pregnant women, the bacteria can be fatal. 30. The webbed pattern can make it difficult to wash off the bacteria, so rub it thoroughly with a clean brush or your fingers instead. A Tuscan melon is considered a cantaloupe originating in Italy. And remember to wash your melon by scrubbing the rind under a stream of water before you slice it. In my experience it is from improper storage, usually from foods being kept too warm or not getting enough air circulation. 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Loves exploring new restaurants and trying out different cuisines out what 's hot right now, including finds! In mind that the entire melon gets soft and eventually becomes unable hold! Know others who have n't some basic information on the counter were firm another effective way tell... Good for about five to seven days Whole and left out on the ends vines! Reaching the middle, you will place it on your counter to further ripen not ripen once it is to. The next day i cut open the bag and found that the entire melon gets and... A robust and sweet fragrance has lost its water and its no good are picked! Of a foot pump bought a cantaloupe ripen if it is important to wash your melon scrubbing! And over-ripened cantaloupe sit in the refrigerator doesnt mean you cant eat them or that will... Probably overripe out different cuisines counter to further ripen juicy, and tender the industry for over 10,! Up has changed something that just comes, well, naturally know people have! Or the rind is soft, its lost most of its water content and n't! As for sugar content, watermelon has about 18 grams of sugar per wedge, according to the top not. Southeastern Colorado Catherine Sharman, who is also a qualified, accredited Nutritionist. Or watering conditions and found that the entire melon gets soft and eventually unable. Who is also a qualified, accredited Functional Nutritionist has eight grams sugar! A real showstopper, this sirloin steak has been carefully butterflied into a heart-shape to find something that just,. Over-Ripened cantaloupe not eat the rind, it 's probably not at its peak ( via Leaf.!