How To Pick The Best Texas Watermelon According To Experts

It’s that season again. When the heat cranks up, nothing refreshes or satisfies quite like a big slice of Texas watermelon. And lucky you—I’m about to give you the secret to picking a great one.

Now, I believe honesty is the best policy… but I wasn’t planning on sharing this tip. I was going to commit the sin of omission and keep the knowledge to myself—just hoarding the best Texas melons while the rest of you wandered around picking duds. Pretty evil, right?

For years, I relied on the old “knocking” method. The idea was that a good, hollow sound meant you’d landed a ripe one.

Other folks go by the watermelon’s coloring. I’ve seen entire charts on stripe patterns and shades of green. But let’s be real—the goal isn’t to get a pretty watermelon. The goal is to get the best-tasting one.

The Secret To Picking The Sweetest Texas Watermelon This Summer

So here it is. The big reveal. And it’s probably not something you’ve ever considered:
Look for watermelons with grey, crumbly-looking spots—almost like dirt that won’t wash off.

Believe it or not, there’s science at work here. Those grey spots—while they may make the watermelon look a little ugly—are actually sugar seeping through the rind. That means your melon is sweet and fully ripe.

Read More: Texas Tech Grad Donaldson Returns for Survivor 50

Just one small warning: don’t confuse these with scars. Scars are usually indented or grooved into the skin. The grey sugar spots sit on top of the rind, like powdery residue.

Trust me on this. This technique has never failed me, and it came straight from the produce manager at my local United Supermarket. He’s been schooling me on fruits and veggies for years—and so far, he’s batting a thousand.