What are the signs of a watermelon past its best?
Last week I bought a watermelon, and that day cut the rind of it. Also that day it was placed in a glass container, with a plastic lid that fits snugly around the glass on top, and stored in the refrigerator.
Today I went to finish it off, after not eating some for a few days, and was greeted by a 1/4 inch of milky white colored watery liquid in the bottom of the container, along with partly mushy watermelon innards.
I don't intend to eat it, but have had slightly mushy watermelon innards before, without the liquid described above. Anyone have any ideas what that is?
Additionally, what are other signs an already-cut watermelon is past its best (but not spoiled)?
Best Answer
It sounds like your water melon simply spoiled in the refrigerator. It is a very perishable food, once the rind is cut off, as it is basically a sugar syrup waiting to be eaten by whatever comes along—people, dogs, bacteria, yeasts, molds, whatever.
The milky liquid would be waste from the metabolization processes of whatever colonized the water melon.
You are probably wise not to eat it; just discard it.
Some signs of past-prime watermelon include--but all of these border on signs of spoiled, because it is a continuous process:
- Aroma: If you detect an alcoholic, winy, or boozy smell, it is a sign the flesh has started to ferment.
- Another sign is when the rind is not taught and firm.
- The melon is light for its size, indicating it may have lost moisture
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Quick Answer about "What are the signs of a watermelon past its best?"
- Texture – The shriveled, gritty, dry, mushy, or slimy fruit flesh is the clear sign that you have a spoiled watermelon.
- Color – Deep pink or clear red indicates the fruit is healthy. ...
- Smell – Bad odor or vinegar-like smell is a sign the watermelon has turned sour.
How do you know if watermelon has gone bad?
If the flesh of your watermelon is slimy, off-colored, foul-smelling, or growing something fuzzy, this means it has gone bad and should be thrown away (after being wrapped in layers of plastic bags to avoid stinking up the whole kitchen). These traits also apply to pre-cut and pre-packaged watermelon.When should you not eat watermelon?
It is recommended to not consume watermelons at night right before going to bed. "I would not recommend consumption of watermelon or any fruit after 7 pm. Watermelon is slightly acidic and if consumed at night, it may delay the process of digestion when the body is inactive.How do you know if a watermelon is good?
Look for the yellow spot: Watermelons develop a splotch where they rest on the ground. When this splotch is creamy yellow, it's ripe. Give it a thump: Tap the underbelly of the watermelon. A ripe one will have a deep hollow sound, which means it is brimming with juice and at the peak of its ripeness.Can you eat overripe watermelon?
Eating overripe watermelon should not have any consequences; however, if you purchase a watermelon and find it yucky on the inside return it to the store for a replacement. Have your local grocer help you select a good melon.How to Pick a Sweet Watermelon
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Answer 2
Past its best is subjective; as long as it's safe to eat, it's your preference that makes it "best" or not. By most people's standards, it will be past its best when the texture is compromised (it's slightly mushy, like you said) or a lot of juice has been released. There's not any fancy tips here; it's good if it's good and it's past its best if you don't like it anymore.
But as SAJ14SAJ said, the milky white liquid is a sign that it's spoiled, not just past its best.
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