Can you eat overripe honeydew melon?
In this brief guide, we will answer the question “Can you eat overripe honeydew melon?” and discuss how to tell if a honeydew melon has gone bad. We will also discuss how to properly store it and how long it lasts.
Can you eat overripe honeydew melon?
Yes, you can eat an overripe honeydew melon but it is important to make sure that the honeydew melon has not gone bad before eating it.
Honeydew melon which is overripe may be mushy or a little brown and overly sweet but as long as it is not rotten, it is safe to consume. Some people might find the texture to be unappealing so in that case, you can use it to make purees, sauces, smoothies and desserts.
Overripe honeydew melons can go bad pretty quickly as the mushy texture makes it easy for the microorganisms to invade them so they should be consumed as soon as possible.
How to tell if a honeydew melon has gone bad?
As explained above, spoiled honeydew melon is different from overripe honeydew melon. It is important to be able to tell them apart so that you can avoid getting sick. Here’s how you can tell if your honeydew melon has spoiled or is rotten:
- Look for any discolorations on the honeydew melon. If you see any discolored spots such as they are bruised, brown or black then it is a sign that the honeydew melon has gone bad.
- Wrinkly or discolored skin is also a sign of spoilage.
- Look for any growth of mold as well. Mold can appear as fuzzy gray or greenish growth or bluish or greenish spots. Such honeydew melons should be thrown out immediately.
- Look for any changes of the texture as well. Slimy or gooey texture indicates that the honeydew melon has gone bad.
- Give it a sniff test and see if it smells fine. An off odor or a sour smell is an indication that the honeydew melon has gone bad.
- Some honeydew melons may even start to feel hollow when they have been lying around for a while. If this happens, it does not necessarily mean that the honeydew melon has gone bad but just that it has lost most of its moisture.
It will not be flavorful so it’s up to you if you want to eat it or not, as long as there are no other signs of spoilage.
How to properly store a honeydew melon?
Honeydew melons can be stored in the pantry, on the countertop or in the fridge depending on how soon you plan on eating them. You can place them in the pantry in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight if you wish to have them within a couple of days or if you do not have enough space in the fridge.
You should keep them inside the fridge if you want to make them last for more than a week. Honeydew melons have a lot of water content so it is best to keep them inside the fridge even when whole to retain the water and avoid drying.
Cut up honeydew melon should be stored in the fridge after being wrapped with plastic wrap or by being placed in an airtight container or a ziploc bag.
How long does a honeydew melon last?
The shelf life of honeydew melon depends on how you store it. At room temperature, a whole honeydew melon can last for 2-4 days while it can last for 5 to 7 days when kept in the fridge.
Cut up honeydew melon should be stored in the fridge where it can last for about 5-7 days.
Find out if you can freeze honeydew melon or not here.
Other FAQs about Melon that you may be interested in.
Can you eat melon when pregnant?
Conclusion
In this brief guide, we answered the question “Can you eat overripe honeydew melon?” and discussed how to tell if a honeydew melon has gone bad. We also discussed how to properly store it and how long it lasts.
Citations
https://www.mashed.com/368545/signs-that-your-honeydew-has-gone-bad/
