Melon and watermelon: washing is before cutting

Useful to know

Melon and watermelon should be washed before cutting. Iowa State describes cleaning the outside surface and using a brush, and the cut parts are kept covered in a refrigerator. These are different steps for the whole and the already open fruit. [1]

When preparing a portion, provide a stable working surface and a suitable vessel for the remainder. Decide in advance whether you will serve slices or cubes, so as not to rework the same pieces several times.

Do not carry a single criterion of maturity over all species. Watermelon, honey melon and different cantaloupes have different features when choosing. For storage, the key question is whether the fruit has already been cut. The large crust does not turn the exposed interior into a product that can stand as a whole uncut fruit.