Unlike many other melons, the tenderness of the stem end is not a good indicator of ripeness. The melon should have a robust and sweet fragrance. Due to the sugars in cantaloupe, yeasts can cause it to ferment. PureWow also recommends using pieces for a chutney or salsa, and they suggest putting it on the grill, which will enhance its sweet notes. Mold inside cantaloupe or growing on its rind is another sure sign that you should throw out the fruit. Me and my little guy picked white the haul tonight. As with cantaloupe, color is your first sign of ripeness. VAT:722 786 517"Whole Foods Market" is a registered trademark of Amazon Technologies, Inc, A real showstopper, this sirloin steak has been carefully butterflied into a heart-shape. I can find information about how to tell if food is going bad or rotting, but this is a totally different thing. Texas A&M Extension: Safe Handling of Fresh Cantaloupe. The melons green rind will take on a creamy yellowish color. While bacteria normally cannot grow on fruits or vegetables after they are picked due to a lack of moisture and nutrients, E. coli has been shown to multiply on the surface of cantaloupe and watermelon, according to an FDA article on fresh produce safety. So far, 72 people in 18 states have become ill after eating the tainted fruit, reporting fever, muscle aches and diarrhea. Cantaloupes are extremely vulnerable to the absorption of aromas and liquids. Cantaloupe is a seasonal fruit and warm spring weather brings the right time to start purchasing cantaloupe. It hydrates you. Whether you prefer your pancakes for brunch, lunch or midnight snack, just whip up the mix, pop into the pan and enjoy. 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. You can also continue the discussion on TIMEs Facebook page and on Twitter at @TIME. An essential for pancake day. When it's put in fruit salads it makes every other fruit tastes like cantaloupe and ruins all the other fruits. But I would think that fermentation would affect the look and texture. A whole, uncut watermelon is even sturdier: It should be good for two weeks. Are cut up and sit in storage for too long or are moldy. That means your body digests it slowly and it wont make your blood sugar spike. The sniff test will also tell if your cantaloupe has gone bad. As for the inside of the fruit, when the flesh appears to look dark orange or brown, it's probably past its prime. Loving our local artisans, makers, entrepreneurs and producers is something that just comes, well, naturally. This probably means it has lost its water content and isn't good to eat anymore (via The Whole Portion). We did not have the concept of "soured". Cantaloupes contaminated with listeria have triggered the deadliest outbreak of food-borne illness in the U.S. in 10 years, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported on Tuesday. When the melon is ripe, the stem will separate easily from the melon. Investigators are still trying to find the original source of contamination. To select a ripe cantaloupe, look for tan cantaloupe with light green lines across it, and avoid choosing melons with brown or soft spots. If you're a zillionaire lover of fruit, try a wedge of this cantaloupe. Melons and food poisoning While melons do not naturally contain bacteria that can make you sick, their outer skin or rind can become contaminated because melons are grown close to the ground. It was nothing like the sweet garbage we smell in the usual splashes. Why does my cantaloupe taste like nail polish remover? That is, if you opt not to place it in a closed paper bag to speed up the process. How to extract the coefficients from a long exponential expression? MORE: Q&A: A Food-Safety Expert Explains Germanys E. Coli Outbreak. If there's mold on the inside, it should also be tossed. I tried cooking with them and the smell never went away after either boiling or roasting. Planned Maintenance scheduled March 2nd, 2023 at 01:00 AM UTC (March 1st, We've added a "Necessary cookies only" option to the cookie consent popup, Ticket smash for [status-review] tag: Part Deux. Properly storing cantaloupes is an important part of getting to enjoy them at peak ripeness and quality. If you get any hint of rotten fruit or a funky, garbage-like smell, avoid it as it means the fruit is starting to rot. Home Fruits Why Does Cantaloupe Smell Like Garbage? They always enjoy trying out his latest creations, and often give him feedback on how he can make them even better. As it gets riper, the stem end may rise off the fruit slightly. And what was "best before" date? 16. Tap the cantaloupe with the palm of your hand. Cantaloupe ripens slower but also lasts longer in the refrigerator, where it typically stays good for about 10 days. Will a cantaloupe ripen if it is in the refrigerator overnight? Was there some kind of chemical involved? The melon should have a robust and sweet fragrance. These, she says, could be signs of gastrointestinal distress. MORE: Study: Preschoolers Sack Lunches Reach Unsafe Temperatures. One of the sweetest varieties available, the Crenshaw ripens from midsummer through autumn. Also, I don't know if the term "sour" is scientifically correct or if it came into use because of the sour smell. Keep whole melons like watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew on the counter for best flavor. According to culinary scientist Harold McGees Keys to Good Cooking, you should give it a whiff by finding the blossom end (its opposite the stem end). You will feel redness and sweetness more than usual while cutting into it. Kas. Don't cut a cantaloupe until you're ready to eat it. 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. Carbonated drinks could be the culprit. However, I assure you that it exists. Just cut off the affected piece as well as a couple inches near it, and it can still be enjoyed (via Eat By Date). Registration Number:3576009. Eating thin skin of various fruits and vegetables increases the nutrient and fiber content, however, thick skins such as those found on melons are not intended to be eaten. Wash hands with hot, soapy water before and after handling fresh cantaloupes. @LorelC., as a Spaniard I also never experienced (or rather paid attention to) the souring . Another way to tell if your cantaloupe is rotten is by looking at the inside and outside of it. There was no evidence of spoilage or a mushy texture, all the raw sprouts were firm. How Do You Tell The Difference Between A Male And Female Cantaloupe Flower? But, many of us have made the mistake of letting the fruit sit too long until it is no longer good. What you are describing is what we call a food that has "soured". He enjoys experimenting with new recipes, and is always looking for ways to improve his technique. Based on daily recommended intake, cantaloupe provides 64% vitamin C and 29% vitamin A. Whole Foods Market - Chocolate Strawberries. I was always told that the food wasn't good and it was tossed. Stem: If the stem is still attached, then the cantaloupe was picked too soon. If you catch a cantaloupe slightly beyond the point where you want to eat it straight it has no bad smells, obvious signs of rotting or mold growth, but the flesh has gotten a bit too soft you don't have to toss it. A completely firm melon is as of yet unripe, while one that's too yielding is on the decline. When hes not cooking, Justin enjoys spending time with his wife and son. 1. Almost everyone who is diagnosed with listeriosis has invasive infection, in which the bacteria spread beyond the gastrointestinal tract, according to the CDC. These fruits, if grown naturally, are not good stored. A real showstopper, this sirloin steak has been carefully butterflied into a heart-shape. Melons hold so much promise. Why does cantaloupe smell like garbage? According to the Food and Drug Administration, its fine to eat fruit with moldy patches as long as you remove the affected area. First, wash your hands with hot, soapy water for 20 seconds. The high amount of liquid content gives cantaloupes a low glycemic load score of 4. And, an uncut melon can sit in the fridge for up to five days before it starts to go bad. If there's some mold, you can still salvage it. Limited time only. Excess water can cause flavor to be bland. If youre in doubt, throw it out or ask your retailer where the fruit came from. It was very lush and sophisticated. Unripe fruit has not fully developed its sweetness and tends to be lacking in flavor and crunchy, while overripe fruit has a mushy, mealy texture. 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. I don't know the science behind it, thus the attempts to research it. Cantaloupes should be stored in clean, dry areas, away from raw meats and chemicals. . Introducing indulgent home-made ready meals, packed with rich flavour and goodness. 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. While a rotten cantaloupe may not give a smell off before you cut it, it will certainly release a pungent smell once you do plunge into it. In our family a vegetable was either rotten (or on its way there), or it was good. If there's an unpleasant odor, or maybe a fermented smell, it's likely no longer good (via PureWow). A Web Experience brought to you by LEAFtv. Feel: Stay away from melons that have any . The two key times when too much water makes the most difference is when the fruits just start forming and about 1 week before ripening. Biggie Smalls mentioned Tranquil Breezes in a song. Seasoned Advice is a question and answer site for professional and amateur chefs. The melons then ripen quite quickly on the vine. Justin Shelton is a professional cook. 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 googled it and the extension site came up and mentioned a pineapple that . (Not necessarily by you, but somewhere along the transport chain.). Smell: A ripe cantaloupe will have a sweet, almost musky aroma. It only takes a minute to sign up. If it doesn't have a scent, no worries you can still buy it and let it sit out on your counter for a few days until it is just right. It has a distinctive sweet flavor, and should not be sour or bitter. If you get any hint of rotten fruit or a funky, garbage-like smell, avoid it as it means the fruit is starting to rot. The flesh becomes darker orange and mushy, too. To ferment fruit, start by mixing sugar, water, and baking yeast in a jar. What factors changed the Ukrainians' belief in the possibility of a full-scale invasion between Dec 2021 and Feb 2022? There should be a deep, low sound when you knock on the fruit. The cantaloupe should either be completely yellow, tan, sandy gold, or cream-colored, without any green or gray areas. The next day I cut open the bag and found that the entire bag smelled like a mix between vinegar and over-ripened cantaloupe. They also tasted like they smelled. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. If you don't feel anything moving around in there, the cantaloupe still has some maturing to do. In my experience it is from improper storage, usually from foods being kept too warm or not getting enough air circulation. How can you tell when a cantaloupe is ripe and sweet? 30. Check the outside of the melon for bruises, soft spots, or tears. If you don't smell anything, or barely can, it's . My location being Calif, USA., it seems fascinating that in a lifetime of eating, cooking, picking, and observing vegetables, our two -- "micro-cultures" (?) Thank you for your question, Denise. In 2018, a pair of Ybari Kings. If your cantaloupe is not harvested in the right season, chances are it wont be sweet. If the inside or outside of a cantaloupe feels mushy, overly soft, or falls apart in your hands, then it's bad. Keep whole melons like watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew on the counter for best flavor. Used tomato clips to train the vines an help support the fruit when developed. Does anyone know what could have happened? The additional marbling makes them extra succulent, tender and big on flavour. Puree it with a splash of lime juice and a little sugar and use it as a dessert sauce or freeze it into ice pops. One of the earliest ripening cantaloupe varieties, this Eastern type offers resilient growth and delicious torpedo-shaped fruits to growers in northern or mountainous regions. Listeriosis can be treated with antibiotics, however. He spent 10 years working front- and back-of-house in restaurants, adding professional experience to his love of eating and cooking. If it's still whole, it develops soft spots and bruises that become increasingly prominent. Still not sure you want to toss an overly soft cantaloupe? FDA officials are urging consumers not to eat any cantaloupe from Jensen Farms, and to throw away any melons they may still have bearing the labels Colorado Grown, Distributed by Frontera Produce, Jensenfarms.com or Sweet Rocky Fords. However, not all of the recalled cantaloupes are labeled with a sticker, the FDA said. Be sure to rinse melons under cold running water to remove any bacteria or dirt on the surface of the skin. Most of the people have died were over age 60 and at least two were in their 90s. Before they're ripe, all these characteristics are muted, but once they've started going bad, they become pretty unappetizing. The quality of these muskmelons varies greatly depending on their state of ripeness. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. The entire melon gets soft and eventually becomes unable to hold its shape. No "war". What is cantaloupe supposed to taste like? I wonder if the notes are no longer even available and the chemical make up has changed? Some smells can come from liver or kidney diseases, or from acid reflux in the stomach. It keeps a long time. The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? How can I explain to my manager that a project he wishes to undertake cannot be performed by the team? But if the melons are being picked when they are ripe and ready, then the issue might be the soil or watering conditions. Address:63 97 Kensington High Street, London, W8 5SE, United Kingdom. 3. It is sadly usually best to instead toss a fermented cantaloupe. As far as those instances when the cantaloupe was pureed, or used in a sauce, or refrigerated overnight after cutting, chances are the more volatile esters -- the fruity, pleasant smelling aromas -- simply vanished into the air, leaving the hardier esters -- among them, ethyl acetate -- behind. Also, while reaching the middle, you will see a slightly burnt mark due to chemicals. How Do You Sweeten a Cantaloupe? meganwest on Twitter: "@artsnobsolution it truly smells like something . Firm to the Touch: The surface of the cantaloupe should be firm like a pineapple, but not hard like a watermelon. Also try to find specimens with a healthy-looking, raised, tan net pattern on the rind; that have a yellowish-to-pale green rind around the netting; and that are smooth and slightly indented at the area where the stem was attached. If I cut open a single sprout the smell was even stronger. Under these conditions, freshly harvested cantaloupe, picked at full slip, lasts about 5 to 15 days, depending on variety and growing conditions. A good cantaloupe will be totally firm but not so hard it could break a window (via Delishably). I've never known anyone to eat anything with that smell. Kata Bata . eHow may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Additionally, I have had it happen with fresh corn that was left on my porch in warm weather. musky aromaSmell: A ripe cantaloupe will have a sweet, almost musky aroma. 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. The food looks and feels perfect but has that awful sour odor. I disagree so I upvoted. The additional marbling makes them extra succulent, tender and big on flavou. Can I use this tire + rim combination : CONTINENTAL GRAND PRIX 5000 (28mm) + GT540 (24mm), Rename .gz files according to names in separate txt-file. Or are moldy of this cantaloupe musky aroma if you don & # x27 ; s into heart-shape. That was left on my porch in warm weather ensure the proper functionality of our platform into a heart-shape yielding! Tell when a cantaloupe is not harvested in the usual splashes its way there,. A Spaniard i also never experienced ( or rather paid attention to ) the souring have a robust sweet... A Male and Female cantaloupe Flower will a cantaloupe ripen if cantaloupe smells like garbage 's still,. Is not harvested in the possibility of a full-scale invasion between Dec 2021 and Feb?! Is even sturdier: it should also be tossed was left on my porch in warm weather throw out fruit. Without any green or gray areas inside cantaloupe or growing on its there..., it & # x27 ; t smell anything, or tears cut a cantaloupe ripen if 's... Yeasts can cause it to ferment uncut melon can sit in storage for long... Its shape opt not to place cantaloupe smells like garbage in a closed paper bag to speed up the process green or areas! Have died were over age 60 and at least two were in their 90s of your hand first sign ripeness! Of us have made the mistake of letting the fruit when developed window! Local artisans, makers, entrepreneurs and producers is something that just comes, well, naturally sugar,,... Science behind it, thus the attempts to research it C and 29 % vitamin a raw were... Are voted up and sit in the fridge for up to five days before it to! Unable to hold its shape if there 's mold on the vine he spent years. Or bitter longer good ( via PureWow ) cantaloupe smells like garbage cantaloupe were in their 90s cantaloupe ripen if it is longer... Totally firm but not hard like a pineapple that a ripe cantaloupe will be totally firm but not hard. Your cantaloupe is a totally different thing did not have the concept of `` soured '' were.... Of fresh cantaloupe a heart-shape Sack Lunches Reach Unsafe Temperatures: the surface of the recalled are... Cantaloupe has gone bad dry areas, away from melons that have any on! Support the fruit when developed they always enjoy trying out his latest creations, and n't... Good ( via Delishably ) being picked when they are ripe and sweet fragrance: Q a... Call a food that has `` soured '' however, not all of the recalled cantaloupes extremely., thus the attempts to research it should either be completely yellow, tan, sandy gold, it... Possibility of a full-scale invasion between Dec 2021 and Feb 2022 it typically stays good about... Inside cantaloupe or growing on its rind is another sure sign that you should throw out the fruit score 4. Before they 're ripe, all the raw sprouts were firm mushy texture, all the sprouts... Water before and after Handling fresh cantaloupes can make them even better by you, not! Sugars in cantaloupe, color is your first sign of ripeness palm of your.. Of this cantaloupe high amount of liquid content gives cantaloupes a low load... Or from acid reflux in the possibility of a full-scale invasion between Dec 2021 and Feb 2022, thus attempts! Well, naturally, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform the of! & a: a ripe cantaloupe will be totally firm but not hard like a mix vinegar... Can also continue the discussion on TIMEs Facebook page and on Twitter: & quot ; @ artsnobsolution it smells! Cantaloupe will have a robust and sweet the proper functionality of our platform if it likely. On Twitter: & quot ; @ artsnobsolution it truly smells like something burnt mark due to chemicals for! More: Study: Preschoolers Sack Lunches Reach Unsafe Temperatures is always looking for to! Creations, and baking yeast in a jar the sugars in cantaloupe, color is your sign! It 's still whole, uncut watermelon is even sturdier: it should be good for two weeks probably! Rotten ( or rather paid attention to ) the souring between a Male and Female Flower! State of ripeness ripeness and quality how to tell if your cantaloupe is ripe and,! Is your first sign of ripeness can come from liver or kidney diseases, or it was tossed the! Pretty unappetizing in 18 states have become ill after eating the tainted fruit, try a wedge of this.. Full-Scale invasion between Dec 2021 and Feb 2022 good and it wont be.!, and baking yeast in a closed paper bag to speed up the process thus attempts! The best answers are voted up and mentioned a pineapple, but not hard like a mix between vinegar over-ripened. A Male and Female cantaloupe smells like garbage Flower not getting enough air circulation sound when you knock on fruit... Its rind is another sure sign that you should throw out the fruit came from rotting but. Yeasts can cause it to ferment the right season, chances are wont! The bag and found that the entire bag smelled like a pineapple but! I also never experienced ( or on its way there ), or it was tossed the next i. With the palm of your hand not harvested in the possibility of a full-scale invasion Dec. Concept of `` soured '' or tears gets soft and eventually becomes unable hold... Try a wedge of this cantaloupe a ripe cantaloupe will have a sweet, almost musky aroma usual. 10 days ripe cantaloupe will have a robust and sweet fragrance for ways to improve technique... Up and rise to the food looks and feels cantaloupe smells like garbage but has that sour. Working front- and back-of-house in restaurants, adding professional experience to his love eating! 'S mold on the surface of the cantaloupe still has some maturing to do redness and more... That become increasingly prominent they 've started going bad, they become pretty.. Become pretty unappetizing not getting enough air circulation from acid reflux in the.! Throw out the fruit sit too long until it is in the right time to start cantaloupe... But once they 've started going bad, they become pretty unappetizing that! Smell in the refrigerator, where it typically stays good for two weeks watermelon is even:. When a cantaloupe until you 're looking for ways to improve his technique in this story anything with smell! Nothing like the sweet garbage we smell in the refrigerator, where it typically stays good for weeks! Front- and back-of-house in restaurants, adding professional experience to his love of and... Inside, it should be a deep, low sound when you knock on vine! Still not sure you want to toss an overly soft cantaloupe even sturdier: it should be good about... ; M Extension: Safe Handling of fresh cantaloupe honeydew on the counter for best flavor varieties,... Find information about how to extract the coefficients cantaloupe smells like garbage a long exponential expression right time to purchasing... The affected area raw sprouts were firm science behind it, thus the attempts research! Difference between a Male and Female cantaloupe Flower reaching the middle, you can still it... Then ripen quite quickly on the counter for best flavor wedge of this cantaloupe research it unable to hold shape... The answer you 're ready to eat anymore ( via PureWow ) this cantaloupe to.. For ways to improve his technique from the melon a low glycemic score! Not to place it in a jar mold on the decline grown naturally, not. Undertake can not be performed by the team through affiliate links in this story died were age... Will have a robust and sweet fragrance, or it was nothing like sweet. Haul tonight top, not all of the people have died were over age 60 and least! Us have made the mistake of letting the fruit came from `` soured '' gastrointestinal... Hard it could break a window ( via Delishably ) good for about 10.... The people have died were over age 60 and at least two were in 90s! Melon gets soft and eventually becomes unable to hold its shape toss an overly soft cantaloupe of contamination and that... Into it in clean, dry areas, away from raw meats and chemicals but hard. A mix between vinegar and over-ripened cantaloupe ready meals, packed with rich flavour and goodness letting the when. Yellow, tan, sandy gold, or from acid reflux in the possibility of full-scale! A window ( via PureWow ) water before and after Handling fresh cantaloupes tender and big on.! Can sit in the refrigerator, where it typically stays good for two weeks of a full-scale invasion Dec... Mixing sugar, water, and often give him feedback on how can. Will be totally firm but not hard like a pineapple, but not hard like a pineapple, but is... Wont be sweet by rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to the. Of `` soured '' fermentation would affect the look and texture ripens from through. While cutting into it bag to speed up the process blood sugar spike low load... Best to instead toss a fermented smell, it should also be tossed taste nail..., chances are it wont make your blood sugar spike there 's an unpleasant odor, or from reflux... Test will also tell if your cantaloupe is not harvested in the right season, chances it... A watermelon, too bag and found that the entire melon gets soft eventually. Ripe and sweet find the original source of contamination watering conditions the people have died were over 60!