Buying fruit may seem easy… until you get home and realize that the watermelon doesn’t taste like anything, the melon is tasteless or the mango still needs another week to ripen. Knowing how to choose the right fruit is almost an art, but with these practical tips you’ll be able to do it like an expert. Here are the key tips for the most popular fruits:
🍉 Watermelon.
What to watch:
- Yellow spot: It should have a large yellow spot on one side. This is a sign that it has ripened in the field.
- Small navel: The smaller the “navel” (the point where it was attached to the plant), the better.
- Tap: Tap a few times. If it sounds hollow, it is ready.
- Marked stripes: Green stripes should be well defined and contrasted.
🍈 Melon.
What to watch:
- Sweet smell: Smell the base of the melon. If it has a strong sweet aroma, it is at its peak.
- Cracked skin: Small cracks around the peduncle (the top) indicate maturity.
- Weight: Should feel heavy for its size.
- Slight subsidence: Press with your finger near the stem. If it gives a little, it is perfect.
🍌 Bananas.
What to watch:
- Uniform color: Avoid those with many green spots (not yet ripe).
- No black dots on the stem: They indicate that they have started to decompose.
- For right now: Yellow with a few brown dots = sweet and ready.
- For later: Green-yellow if you are not going to eat them in 2-3 days.
🍎 Apples.
What to watch:
- Firm and shiny skin: It should be taut, without wrinkles or bumps.
- Weight: The heavier, the juicier.
- Color: It must be intense and uniform for its variety.
🍐 Pears.
What to watch:
- Pressure on the neck: Press gently near the stem. If it gives a little, it is ready.
- Skin free of dark spots and wrinkles.
- Shape: Mature pears tend to have a well-defined curve between neck and base.
🍍 Pineapple.
What to watch:
- Sweet smell: At the base it should have a tropical aroma. If it does not smell of anything, it is green.
- Central leaves: If they tear off easily, it is ripe.
- Golden color: Avoid greens; look for a pineapple with golden or yellowish tones.
🥭 Mango.
What to watch:
- Color: Depending on the variety, the reddish or orange color usually indicates maturity.
- Touch: When pressed, it should yield slightly.
- Sweet aroma near the stem.
- Avoid: Very hard or fermented smelling mangoes.
🍑 Peaches, nectarines and apricots.
What to watch:
- Sweet aroma: If they do not smell of anything, they are not ripe yet.
- Texture: They should be slightly soft to the touch, without being overcooked.
- Color: Avoid those with green spots.
🍇 Grapes.
What to watch:
- Firm and full: Squeeze gently. They should be consistent, not soft.
- Vibrant color: Whether green, black or red, they should look bright.
- No excessive white powder (although a slight coating is normal, it is the natural bloom).
- Green stem: Indicates freshness.
Citrus fruits (oranges, lemons, tangerines).
What to watch:
- Weight: The heavier they are for their size, the juicier they are.
- Firm and thin skin: Better taste.
- Uniform color and without brown areas.
🥝 Kiwis.
What to watch:
- Press gently: If it’s too hard, it’s not ripe yet; if it gives a little, perfect!
- Skin free of wrinkles and bumps.
🥥 Coco.
What to watch:
- Shake it: If the liquid sounds inside, it is fresh.
- No external cracks.
🥑 Avocado
What to watch:
- Color: It should be dark green to almost black (depending on the variety).
- Touch: Press gently near the stem. If it yields slightly, it is ripe.
- Stem: If you remove it and it looks light green underneath, it is perfect. Brown = past.
- Avoid: Avocados too soft or with sunken areas.
Final tips:
✅ Buy seasonal fruits: cheaper, tastier.
✅ If they are not ready, let them ripen at home (avoid the refrigerator for some).
✅ Always check for mold, soft spots or visible damage.
Conclusion:
Choosing fruit is not a matter of luck, but of knowing how to observe, touch, smell… and follow these tricks. With a little practice, you’ll never go home with a tasteless watermelon again!
