Summer is officially here and that means ripe produce is finally hitting the grocery stores near you. Nothing tastes better than ripe fruit on a hot summer day, the only problem is knowing how to pick ripe fruit. Some of these tricks and tips I learned from my mother growing up and some during my schooling to become a dietitian. While picking out fruit, it’s always important to check for blemishes because if the skin of the fruit is bruised, chances are high the fruit itself is also bruised. It is recommended for all healthy adults to eat at least three servings of fruit per day so here are some tips for picking out your favorite varieties.
Watermelon: Ripe watermelons should sound hollow when tapping or knocking on them and have a yellow (NOT white) spot on the bottom where they laid on the ground as they grew.
Oranges: Pick heavy oranges: the heavier they are, the juicier they’ll be!
Pineapple: Look for a golden color, then grab a leaf from the top and pull slightly. If the pineapple is ripe the leaf should pull out easily. I if it doesn’t, let the fruit sit on your counter for a few days before cutting.
Cantaloupe: Needs to smell sweet and feel heavier than it looks. A very ripe cantaloupe will give a bit when you press your thumb into it.
Honeydew: Feel for firmness and the appearance of its skin should be golden, not yellow.
Avocado: Purchase avocados when they’re still hard and then ripen them in your fruit bowl. When avocados are ready to eat they will give slightly when pressed SOFTLY between your palms. Don’t use your finger tips to test avocado ripeness or you will bruise the fruit.
Peaches: Should be slightly soft and smell as sweet as you want them to taste. Stay away from the bruised ones though!
Strawberries: Pick a pack that’s bright red without blemishes and, like the peaches, they should smell sweet. If you smell mold or fermentation grab a better pack.
Mango: Ripeness has nothing to do with color because there are many different types of mangos. As they ripen they’ll go from firm to soft and should smell sweet right around the stem. I like to let mangos ripen on my counter but, to pick ready to eat mangos in the grocery store search for soft, not mushy!
If I have failed to mention your favorite fruit or you would like to know more please visit the 1RCNC1 Facebook page and ask all about it! We are always open to questions or ideas on what our community would like to know more about. Follow us on http://www.pinterest.com/1rcnc1 as well for health tips and delicious recipes.
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