When cutting into a cantaloupe, you may discover that your cantaloupe isn’t quite ready to eat. Wondering how to ripen cantaloupe after cutting? If so, stay tuned. We’ve got a ton of information headed your way about how to ripen a cantaloupe after it’s been cut open and what to do with any cut and unripe melon have you laying around. So, without further ado, let’s get going!
Table of Contents
- Will Cantaloupe Ripen After Being Cut Open?
- What Is the Fastest Way to Ripen a Cantaloupe?
- How to Ripen Cantaloupe From Store?
- What Do You Do With a Cut Unripe Melon?
- It’s Better to Select a Ripe Cantaloupe From the Start…
Will Cantaloupe Ripen After Being Cut Open?
In most cases, the answer is no.
Cantaloupe continues to ripen only when left intact. After cantaloupe has been cut open, the ripening process stops, and you may be left with an unripe melon.
Having said that, you can improve the texture of the melon by throwing it in the fridge or allowing it to sit at room temperature. Over time, you’ll notice that the flesh will begin to grow soft, however, unfortunately, you may find that the flavor won’t have changed much.
Will Cantaloupe Ripen After Cut?
Cantaloupe generally doesn’t ripen after being cut.
Because of this, you must select a ripe cantaloupe if you wish to enjoy it right away. Look for the following signs of ripeness when picking your next cantaloupe:
- Slight Amount of Giving When Squeezed
- Sweet-Smelling Stem Core (Where the Stem was Cut)
- Overall Tan Color With Spots of Green
What Is the Fastest Way to Ripen a Cantaloupe?
How to Ripen a Cantaloupe Quickly
If you do find that your cantaloupe is under-ripe when you bring it home, the best thing to do is to avoid cutting your melon.
Next, you’ll want to place your cantaloupe in a brown paper bag and leave it there overnight. The next day you may find the cantaloupe to be more ripe. If not, continue to allow your cantaloupe to sit in the bag for a few more days while checking for ripeness along the way.
For even faster ripening, consider placing an apple, banana, pear, or peach in the brown paper bag along with the cantaloupe. These ethylene-producing fruits can speed up the ripening process when placed in a bag with un-ripened fruit.
As mentioned above, slicing your melon will only stop the ripening process, and after this, it is impossible to cause the melon to continue to ripen, even if the flesh does soften a bit.
How to Ripen a Cantaloupe in the Oven?
While we wouldn’t recommend ripening a cantaloupe in the oven, there are plenty of other fruits that could potentially be ripened this way. Bananas and avocados are both known to be able to be ripened in the oven.
Still, you may be able to put your oven to good use for making your under-ripe cantaloupe a bit sweeter without the addition of refined sugar. Simply chop your cantaloupe into cubes and add a bit of maple and vanilla. Bake this mixture and serve hot for a perfectly healthy and delicious replacement for dessert!
Ripen Cantaloupe in Microwave?
We would not recommend that you put your cantaloupe in the microwave.
Instead, opt for the paper bag method or turn your unripe melons into something delicious–more on that later!
How to Ripen Cantaloupe From Store?
To ripen a cantaloupe from the store, place it in a brown paper bag, preferably with a banana or apple, and let it sit for a couple of days. This is generally the best way to quickly ripen a cantaloupe at home.
How to Ripen a Cantaloupe Overnight?
There is no quick and easy way to guarantee that your cantaloupe will ripen overnight. Our general recommendations are to try the paper bag method mentioned above, or, ensure that you buy a ripe cantaloupe from the start.
Just be sure to check for white spots on cantaloupe. Similar to brown spots in avocado, these white spots can be indicators of cantaloupe gone bad.
To speed up the ripening of your cantaloupe in a brown paper bag, make sure to place a banana, apple, or other ethylene-producing fruit in the bag along with your cantaloupe.
How Do You Ripen a Cantaloupe Without a Paper Bag?
While the paper bag method generally works best for cantaloupe, some people have found success using other methods as well. Covering your fruit with rice has been said to enhance the ripening process, and also, wrapping your cantaloupe all the way around with fresh linen cloths or linen napkins may also help ripen the fruit when you are in a bind and don’t have brown paper bags on hand.
What Do You Do With a Cut Unripe Melon?
Unripe melon lends itself to loads of fun and delicious recipes. Try throwing your unripe melons in a smoothie to thicken and add flavor to them. You can also turn your melons into a soup or jam. Sorbets are another fun option, especially in the summer or if you live in a warmer climate.
How Do You Sweeten and Unripe Cantaloupe?
Don’t think there’s anything you can do to bring an unripe cantaloupe back to life? Think again!
Although it isn’t possible to continue ripening your cantaloupe after it has been cut, you can still sweeten your cantaloupe in a variety of ways.
Consider adding the following the next time you are looking to sweeten unripe cantaloupe:
- Salt
- Sugar
- Lemon or Lime Juice
- Pure Maple Syrup
- Honey
You can also consider turning your cantaloupe into a salad-topper or using it in your next pie. The opportunities to use unripe cantaloupe are virtually endless!
It’s Better to Select a Ripe Cantaloupe From the Start…
Now that you know that ripening a cantaloupe that has already been cut isn’t possible, it is best to select a ripe cantaloupe from the start.
If however, you come home with a cantaloupe that isn’t ripe, simply consider placing your cantaloupe in a brown paper bag, wrapping it with linens, and checking it for ripeness over a few days.
Remember, even unripe melons can be put to good use to create something phenomenal. We hope this has helped you!
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