Is your watermelon safe? Learn how to spot chemically ripened ones this Summer

With demand at its highest in summer, a majority of sellers resort to unfair means of artificially ripening watermelons with harmful chemicals such as carbide or coloring agents. These watermelons may appear to be flawless glossy, red, and blemish-free but may be destroying your body. So how do you distinguish between a chemically ripened watermelon and a natural one? Let's dissect.

Why watermelon is the Summer king of fruits

Watermelon is not only tasty it's 92% water, so it's perfect to avoid dehydration. It's full of vitamin C, vitamin A, potassium, lycopene, and citrulline, all of which enhance skin health, digest food easily, and even assist in heart health. According to Ayurveda expert Kiran Gupta, the seeds of watermelon too are an effort to overcome protein deficiency. Obviously, it's a superfruit. But only if it's natural.

1. Check the peel – too Shiny isn't good

Natural watermelons typically have pale green stripes or an irregular pattern. If you find a watermelon with an excessively shiny, smooth, and uniform green rind, then it is most likely chemically treated. Polishing chemicals are usually among the artificial ripening agents used to make the fruit look more attractive outside. 

2. Check the pulp – Is it unnaturally red? 

After cutting the watermelon, look at the color of the pulp. If it's too deep red, almost radiant or plastic-like, you have to be wary. Natural watermelon is a pink to red-colored, whereas chemical watermelon might be too strong and even slightly spicy or bitter rather than sweet.

3. Foamy juice or bubbles? Red flag alert!

Slice it and check. When the watermelon juice foams or will bubble upon cutting, it could have been tampered with dye or carbide. That kind of reaction is not natural and shows tampering. Always ask for a small slice or test a piece prior to purchasing.

4. Seed clues – Pale and thin means trouble

Real watermelons have dark brown or black seeds that appear healthy and plump. When you see white, pale, or greyish seeds which are thin and not strong, then it's probably the fruit has been forced to ripen with chemicals.

5. Smell and taste Test – Nature can't be faked

A naturally ripened watermelon gives off a light, fresh, and sweet fragrance. Chemically ripened ones often have no smell or emit a strong, strange, or synthetic odor. Taste-wise, if it’s not juicy, or feels artificial on the tongue, you’re better off discarding it.

Choose health over appearance

In a world of shortcuts and cosmetic fixes, your perception is your strength. Chemically treated watermelons can be appealing but are health riskers. So the next time you go shopping for watermelon, trust your senses look, smell, taste, and see.