What do the yellow and white veins in the flesh of a watermelon mean? Description of the amazing white watermelon Watermelon white inside what to do

What do the yellow and white veins in the flesh of a watermelon mean?  Description of the amazing white watermelon Watermelon white inside what to do

The watermelon season is in full swing and it will last until November 1st. This business is quite profitable - only according to official data, the turnover of the melon market in Moscow is 400-500 million rubles per season. However, the city authorities decided to reduce the number of watermelon and melon sales by almost half, and tighten the requirements for sellers.

For the first time in the capital, the placement took place on a competitive basis in all districts of the city, the permit for trade was issued by the capital's prefectures. And this is not only because of the love of order, improper storage of goods and its quality threaten the health of the consumer. In past years, many citizens, after tasting the "red delicacy", were admitted to hospitals with acute intestinal infections and nitrate poisoning. Therefore, now watermelons are under special control ...

In the capital, for example, there is a decree “On streamlining the trade in gourds in the territory of Moscow”, according to which watermelons and melons can only be traded in specially equipped chests. The presence of a protective shield and a hinged awning is mandatory. The fruits should lie on a deck at least 20 centimeters high from the ground. The distance to the nearest highway should be at least 5 meters, because watermelons, like a sponge, absorb lead emissions from hundreds of cars. Sellers are required to work in sanitary clothing, provide, at the request of the buyer, documents confirming the origin, quality and safety of watermelons and melons. It is forbidden to use steelyards and household scales. Each outlet should have a sign indicating the organizational and legal affiliation of the enterprise, PSRN (main state registration number) and operating hours. A retail outlet located near a residential area must be closed at 22:00. After that, the sellers are obliged to remove the territory in which the trade is carried out. Along with this, the trade rules now include clauses prohibiting the sale of melons in underground passages, in the arches of residential and administrative buildings.

Despite the fact that police barriers protect our city from low-quality watermelons, checks still show a high percentage of nitrate goods. Unfortunately, most buyers do not know the rules for buying berries, so today our expert, chief specialist of the Moscow Rospotrebnadzor Administration in ZelAO, Oksana Avdoshina, answers the most common questions.

- When buying a watermelon, many do it according to the “cut-out” principle ...
- Never buy cut fruits and do not allow the seller to make a "trial cut". After all, buying a part of a watermelon or trying it on the market, you are at great risk. Firstly, there is no guarantee that the seller actually passed a medical examination, and did not buy a health certificate. Secondly, watermelons grow on the ground and are not transported in sterile conditions. Dirty hands of pickers, porters and sellers, a dirty knife, leaking juice from cracked watermelons not only attracts flies and wasps, but also becomes a breeding ground for microorganisms, plus the warm season, violation of storage conditions for cut watermelon, etc. As a result - the prospect of catching a food infection, up to dysentery.

- What about supermarkets? There, watermelons are sold year-round in halves, quarters ...
- In supermarkets, the sale of melons in sliced ​​form is also prohibited, they risk ...

- Where can I complain about low-quality watermelons?
- You can complain about violations of trade rules and the unsatisfactory quality of fruits at the TO Department of Rospotrebnadzor of Moscow in ZelAO (tel.: 499-736-67-62, 499-735-54-53). If it turns out that you really were poisoned, then, having taken a certificate from a doctor and keeping receipts for the purchase of medicines, you can safely file a lawsuit in the Magistrate's Court demanding compensation for the damage. The laboratory level of nitrates in watermelons is determined at the Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology of Moscow in ZelAO.

- Does it make sense for customers to go to the stalls with test strips themselves?
- With the help of express analysis, you can, of course, independently check watermelons for the content of chemicals. But test strip control is not always effective. There is a laboratory in the market in each administrative district where watermelons and melons are tested for nitrate content. In addition, each batch of products is accompanied by documents confirming the quality and safety of gourds.

- Is there an acceptable level of nitrate content?
- Yes, for example, in watermelons it is up to 60 mg per 1 kg.

- Is it worth buying watermelons, which appear on our shelves in June?
- If you are offered to buy domestic soon in June ripe watermelon or a melon, that summer may not be remembered for sunny days and an abundance of fruits, but, alas, for hospital walls - because along with watermelon you will probably eat nitrates.

On a note

The World Health Organization has set the maximum allowable concentration of nitrates and nitrites in the body. An adult can consume up to 250 mg of nitrates and up to 15 mg of nitrites per day without health risk. But the frequent use of foods containing nitrates leads to the accumulation of heavy metals in the liver and kidneys. At first, in small concentrations, chemicals will not cause harm. But subsequently, saturation of the body with nitrates can result in a variety of sores, including cancer. Studies were conducted, and it turned out that in the presence of nitrates in the body, the process of assimilation of other useful components stops, magnesium is not absorbed, the absorption of vitamin C decreases by 3 times. Another feature of nitrates is that they can gradually accumulate in the body of an adult and not appear for a long time. As a result, chronic intoxication occurs, which leads to heart rhythm disturbance, convulsions and even suffocation. Such "reserves" are especially dangerous for pregnant women and nursing mothers.

How can you tell if a watermelon is unripe or overripe?
- In the standards of GOST 7177-80, in the section "Watermelons, fresh", the signs of an unripe and overripe fruit are described. In an immature fetus- the surface of the fruit is matte, the ribbing at the stalk is pronounced, the stalk is juicy, the tendril is not wilted. When struck with a bent finger, the sound is sonorous. The flesh is pink or pale pink, the border between the bark and the edible part is barely noticeable. The consistency of the pulp is rough, low-juicy, tasteless. Seeds white, immature.

In an overripe fetus- the pattern and color of the bark is lighter than that of a mature one. The luster is well expressed, the tendril and peduncle are shrunken, the ground spot is yellow. The sound when struck with a bent finger is deaf. The color of the pulp has changed to orange. Mucus appears at the seed nests. Pulp with voids. The consistency of the pulp is loose, fibrous. The fruit is inedible or not edible.

Ripe watermelon has fresh green, whole, healthy, uncontaminated fruits, with the shape, color and luster of the bark characteristic of a mature fruit of this botanical species. Fruits with deviations from the correct form are allowed, but not ugly, with healed (corky) damage to the bark from cuts and scratches. The pulp is ripe, juicy, without voids with color and seeds characteristic of this botanical species. The size of the fruit in diameter is minimal - 17 (13) cm.

- Is it true that watermelons that come to Moscow from Astrakhan must be labeled ...
- Indeed, Astrakhan watermelons have holographic stickers. Marking on Astrakhan watermelons is done so that some others are not sold under the guise of Astrakhan watermelons.

- Nutritionists advise buying gourds at the end of August or even in September ...
- At this time, you can be completely sure that the berry is ripe, has become truly ripe and juicy and will not harm the health of you and your loved ones. Early melons, as a rule, are literally “overfed” with all kinds of nitrates and growth stimulants, which can cause acute poisoning. It is better to wait until September, when watermelons and melons that have ripened naturally will go to the capital.

- What to do in case of watermelon poisoning?
- If you still tasted an inedible watermelon and felt signs of poisoning - do nothing, you yourself cannot determine what kind of poisoning has occurred - food or nitrites, it is better to contact the nearest medical facility as soon as possible.

Agricultural producer G. Romanenko told about how to choose a delicious watermelon and what you need to know when choosing a fruit:

A good watermelon should be sugar! At the same time, it does not leave a cloying aftertaste, such as sweet grapes or very sweet cherries. This is because, unlike cherries, grapes and other fruits that owe their sweetness to glucose, watermelon is saturated with fruit sugar - fructose. That is why even those who suffer from diabetes can afford watermelon - fruit sugar is absorbed without the help of insulin. The colors of the watermelon rind should be as contrasting as possible. Not the tail, but the transition from the tail to the watermelon should be dry. If the tail resembles a dried twig, then the watermelon was transported for a long time or stored somewhere for a long time. If it is not there at all, it means that the seller is interested in the fact that the buyer does not know the whole truth about the berry being bought. There should be a pale, uncolored spot somewhere on the skin of the watermelon. It says that the watermelon ripened itself, on the ground. But if the spot is larger - larger than a man's palm - it means that the fruit ripened in the cold or shade, it will be tasteless and watery. A ripe watermelon is covered with a hard, shiny rind that is difficult to pierce with a fingernail, and all because, having “torn” with melons, the watermelon is no longer able to absorb moisture and its rind hardens. But if the nail easily pierces the watermelon skin, then the fruit is raw, immature. Look for "watermelon"! The "girls" usually have flat bottoms and wide "patch" on them. It is believed that "watermelons" are sweeter and have fewer seeds. Too light watermelon is a sign that it has lain in the sun and, most likely, will turn out to be tasteless. When choosing watermelons, avoid too small and too large. If the watermelon is large, but relatively light - feel free to buy, it is fully ripe. A ripe watermelon always springs back under impact and sometimes resonates when slapped. If you knock on it, you hear not a deaf, but a clear, sonorous sound. You can put a watermelon to your ear and squeeze it with your hands with all your might. In a ripe berry, the peel will bend a little and crackle.

Another important tip: carefully inspect the appearance of your purchase. If a small spot of rot with a puncture in the middle is found on the skin - no larger than a five-kopek coin - this means that saltpeter was introduced inside. Saltpeter is a good preservative. But eating such a watermelon is dangerous to health.

- How to choose a melon?
- Well-ripened melons should have a characteristic sweet smell that seems to ooze through the skin. The skin of a ripe melon will be soft and velvety to the touch, not woody and oaky. If there are dents on the fruit, it is better to refuse such a melon.

- How to determine that a watermelon is “overfed” with nitrates?
- He himself signals this to us, showing the following signs: too bright pulp, with a slight purple tint, the fibers go from the core to the crust, not white, as expected, but with all shades of yellow. In the “wrong” watermelon, the cut surface is smooth, glossy, and in a good watermelon it sparkles with grains. If a cut watermelon does not have pulp in the very middle, then, most likely, it was stuffed with chemistry for speedy growth and ripening. The flesh of the watermelon crust should be white without shades of yellow and brown. Yellowness indicates a high content of nitrates. On the pulp of a good kavun there are always starch grains. If the watermelon is red, but there are no seeds, this is unambiguous - saltpeter was injected into it, thanks to which the watermelon sings in a day.

An affordable way to check at home is to dip the pulp of a watermelon into a glass of water and grind it. If the watermelon is good, then the water will simply become cloudy, and not turn pink or red.

- What varieties of watermelons are considered the best?
- This is a matter of taste, but Astrakhan or Bykovsky, Monastyrsky, Mozdoksky, Uryupinsky, etc., early Apple, Korean, Chernouska, Raspberry cream are considered popular.

Square watermelons deserve special attention - they came up with the idea of ​​growing them in Japan, placing ripening berries in a special square-shaped container. Ripening watermelon, takes the desired shape. Now such watermelons are massively grown for export in Brazil.

Now that you are armed with all the necessary information, you can safely buy a watermelon and get the most out of it. Good appetite!

I haven't eaten a really good and sweet watermelon yet this year. Everything that we buy in stores (Metro, Auchan) somehow does not really meet my standards of what a real watermelon should be.

Of course, you can eat purchased watermelons, but where is the tight ripeness and sugar content in them that I love so much? There are none. And this is despite the fact that I know how to choose watermelons - you can say that I grew up on watermelon melons near Volgograd.


I was walking here on the Internet and came across an interesting one about how the guys from the UralWeb site chose and checked watermelons. Unfortunately, we, too, have recently been increasingly falling on the watermelons described in this article ...

Buying a watermelon is a whole ritual. Moreover, everyone who has tried to choose the right watermelon at least once in their life knows at least a dozen signs by which you can identify a good, ripe and sweet fruit. But in reality, it turns out that 100% of these signs do not always work. As a result, the watermelon, which crunched the best and “thumped” perfectly, and even on the cut was red, turns out to be sour and tasteless. Or in general - candied and fermented.

Of course, the UralWeb natural scientists cannot continue to put up with such uncertainty, and therefore it was decided to deal with watermelons once and for all.

So, we decided to test in practice all the existing signs of a ripe watermelon and find out which one is the most correct!

Through lengthy research, we found out several signs of a ripe watermelon, which we tried to verify in practice:

- the degree of dryness of the tail - according to some, this is the most popular way to determine the ripeness of a watermelon
- "gender" of watermelon. For some of us, this was a revelation, but there are indeed “boys” and “girls” among watermelons, and now we imagine with interest how they reproduce.
- skin brightness
- sonority when tapping - the more "deaf" the knock, the riper the watermelon.
- softness of the peel - the easier the peel is scraped off (with a fingernail, for example), the riper the watermelon. By the way, this can be determined by the allocated juice.
- the creak of a watermelon when squeezing it with your hands. This method is clearly demonstrated in one of the series "Well, you wait!". Like, if the watermelon begins to creak at the same time, then it has already ripened.
- a yellow spot on the side. It is formed when watermelon is aged on melon. If the spot is large, especially if the watermelon is flattened in this place, then it lay in the garden for a long time and matured properly.
- the color of the pulp. Here, it would seem, everything is clear: the redder, the riper.
The striped berries were purchased from three checkpoints: a nearby greengrocer's shop, a large supermarket, and a stall selling on a busy highway. Just in case, we warn you - the gooseberry is also a green striped berry, but it is smaller than a watermelon. Do not confuse!

So, where and under what conditions did we buy watermelons

The watermelon in the store, oddly enough, turned out to be the cheapest and was in much best conditions than its counterparts in other outlets. The watermelons were kept in a relatively cool room, on high racks away from street dust. For one kilogram of live weight here they took 10.90 rubles (2009 prices). Thus, a "berry" weighing 5.5 kg cost us over 60 rubles.

On the street tray they also lay quite high from the ground, however, they already had a slight coating of street dust. A kilogram of watermelon here cost noticeably more than in the store - 16.50 rubles, so 6.5 kg cost us 109 rubles.

By the way, a little later, while studying information about watermelons found on the Internet, we found out that buying watermelons on city streets and along highways is not very desirable, since watermelons very actively absorb toxins, and up to 40% of this poison gets directly into the watermelon pulp .

The last watermelon was bought on the outskirts of the city along a busy highway. They lay in simple boxes right on the ground and were thickly covered with road dust. The saleswoman claimed that they had been here only a couple of days, but for some reason she did not want to believe.

Apparently, offended by our incredulity, the saleswoman shortchanged us for 70 rubles (we discovered this already in the office). By the way, watermelons here were also the most expensive - 19.80 rubles per kilogram. Thus, after simple mathematical manipulations, a watermelon weighing 7.7 kg turned out to be a waste of 215 rubles for us and a firm conviction that we would never buy anything else along the highway.

After all the ordeals, the watermelons were eventually delivered to the base of naturalists, and we began to thoroughly check them.

External examination of watermelons showed the following

First of all, we paid attention to watermelon ponytails. As the popular saying goes, the drier the tail, the more ripe the watermelon. In fact, the dryness of the stem is more indicative of how long ago the watermelon was picked.
For example, a store-bought watermelon had no tail at all, a watermelon from a stall had a raw tail, and a watermelon bought on the highway had a dry one.

Next, we turned our attention to another watermelon "pole", that is, we tried to determine the "gender" of our subjects. It turns out that by the size of the trace from the flower, you can find out whether the watermelon is a “boy” or “girl”. If the trace from the flower is large, it is a “watermelon”, if it is small, then it is a “boy”. All three of us turned out to be "boys", and you should not be especially puzzled about this: according to the sellers, "girls" are practically not found in our area.

Tapping showed that the most "ringing" watermelon is the one we bought on the street. Of course, we did not measure this with any instruments, but relied solely on our collective ear for music.

According to folk signs, the third watermelon should have been the most ripe.

After listening to the watermelon echo, we moved on to examining its surface, that is, the crust. The color was bright enough everywhere, and the store-bought watermelon was even a little paler than its counterparts. Perhaps the point here is the lack of sunlight at the point of sale.

Having heard stories about how unfortunate watermelons are chipped with potassium permanganate and other dyes, we decided to examine the watermelons for injections as well. Suspicions of “doping” appeared only in relation to the watermelon bought on the track. At least, traces that vaguely resemble injection marks were found only on him. The rest, if they were tinted, then in some way unknown to us.

And the last point of checking the appearance is the size of the macula. This is the part of the watermelon with which it lies on the ground. Thus, the larger, paler and flatter it is, the longer he was in the garden with all the ensuing consequences. For a store watermelon, this spot was light yellow of a small size, for a roadside watermelon it was light green, for a watermelon bought on the street it was large and white.

The last test before opening is a compression test. It is said that a ripe watermelon, when squeezed with both hands, begins to crackle a little. All three watermelons were quite crunchy and thus passed the test. True, the store crunched less confidently.

And now we pass to the most interesting part - to the autopsy.

By the way, we found information on the Internet that some people check the readiness of a watermelon by the sound it makes when it is cut. We didn’t quite figure out exactly how the ripest watermelon should sound, so we only hoped for our aesthetic preferences. So, the watermelon bought on the track sounded the most pleasant.

In general, if you are offered to open a watermelon on the spot or, even worse, they offer to buy an already cut watermelon, it’s better not to risk it. Firstly, sellers, in principle, should not have a knife with them. Secondly, when cut, any infection can get inside the watermelon. And, thirdly, under plastic or food wrap, microbes multiply like in the best incubator, so if you buy a cut watermelon, you risk spending several unforgettable nights in the infectious diseases department.

So, an autopsy showed that all three watermelons had a different color of flesh.

At the store - red-pink,

bought near the road - red with patches of dark red pulp,

and the street one has an even red color.

But the color of the pulp was not the main thing. First of all, we wanted to test watermelons for nitrate content. In order to accurately assess their content in any vegetable or fruit, experts advise using a nitrate meter. It costs some 25 thousand rubles, and it is clear that such a thing will always come in handy on the farm, so there was nothing to waste on trifles. True, we would have to wait almost a month for its delivery, but we didn’t have such time in stock. I had to use the "grandfather" methods.

First of all, you need to carefully look at the fruit: the “nitrate” watermelon has an intensely red flesh with a slight purple tint, and the fibers that go from the core to the crust are not white, like good watermelons, but yellowish. If you rub a piece of watermelon in a glass of water, it should just become cloudy. This means that the fruit is good. If it turns red or pink - in front of you is a berry overfed with nitrates.

Of all three watermelons, only the roadside watermelon had a slight yellowish tint. The other two were plain white.

As for soaking in water, the water turned cloudy at the first and third watermelons. We let it settle, and a light pink tint remained in all three samples. However, he was not strong enough to suspect the content of nitrates on this basis alone.

Another folk method is to pierce the skin of a watermelon. If a milky liquid comes out of the hole, then the watermelon is pumped up with something. Store-bought watermelon gave clear juice, street watermelon gave a little cloudy, and roadside watermelon gave dark discharge.

We also tested the watermelons for their water content. The fact is that many dishonest merchants often pump watermelons with water to make them heavier. It is not difficult to check this: if, after cutting, the juice flowed abundantly from the watermelon, it means that it was weighted with water. And if store and street watermelons turned out to be of natural moisture, then roadside watermelons were too watery. Ah-ah-ah, gentlemen roadside merchants!

Well, now the most important thing - watermelon flavor!

Sample number two lived up to our worst fears. Immediately after the first slice, the entire watermelon weighing 7.7 kg, not counting the water, went into the trash can. It was very sour and it was absolutely impossible to eat it. Thus, on the track we were not only cheated (this is not so bad), but they also sold a completely indigestible watermelon.

Sample No. 3, that is, a watermelon bought on the street, turned out to be much more pleasant in taste. It was very sweet in the middle and less sweet near the crust. However, a solid "5".

The watermelon bought in the store was not so sweet, but the taste was very uniform. So here is the "four".

So, what you need to pay attention to when buying a watermelon:

The spot is an important sign of the ripeness of the watermelon. The bigger and lighter the better. Even better, if in this place the watermelon is slightly deformed from long lying.

Place of purchase - decides. Don't take it on the track if you don't want to glow at night. Although, in infectious you can easily become a local landmark.

No injection marks. See that the integrity of the crust is not violated, the fewer suspicious spots and the cleaner the surface, the better.

Knocking, crackling and a dry tail will not save you from a tasteless watermelon. "Nitrate" watermelons ring perfectly and have wonderful tails. However, if the place is verified, then these parameters should also be paid attention to.

A ringing sound at opening does not indicate the excellent quality of the watermelon. The most crunchy when opened, the watermelon turned out to be the most unusable.

The sound of a watermelon when tapped: the more sonorous it is, the better.

How to choose a healthy watermelon?

You need to buy watermelons only in permitted places.

You can not buy them near major highways and roads. It has long been known that vegetables, fruits and berries tend to absorb many toxins from the air (these are heavy metals and gas decay products). Berries lying on the road, a few hours are enough to feed on the "poison". And our watermelons sometimes lie on the streets for several days.

Since melons ripen by the end of summer, the safest time to purchase them is the end of August-September. Early watermelons, which are sold in July, are often stuffed with nitrates, with the help of which melon growers achieve high yields and large sizes. In early watermelons, the concentration of nitrates can exceed the norm several times, although there are practically no watermelons without nitrates. The main thing is that they do not exceed the permissible norm.

Signs by which it can be judged that the watermelon is immature or “fed” with nitrates:

Too large;

The presence of white spots and seals in the pulp, as well as dense yellowish veins. White veins indicate that the watermelon was not stuffed with fertilizer;

A small yellow spot on the rind indicates that the watermelon ripened naturally. The spot should be one and small. The presence of several spots on the rind of a watermelon indicates that it received less moisture;

A dry tail will indicate that the watermelon is either stale or overripe, although some mistakenly believe that it is a dry tail that is a sign of ripeness;

The rind of the watermelon should be a glossy shade without a matte coating. A contrasting rind pattern may indicate that the watermelon will be sweet;

On a cut of a "real" watermelon, the surface sparkles with sugar grains, on a nitrate one it is smooth and glossy;

A ripe watermelon always has dark seeds, and if they are white, then this indicates that it was "helped" to ripen faster;

The flesh of a quality watermelon is always noticeably separated from the rind by a light border, and if the red flesh begins immediately at the rind, then the watermelon is of poor quality.

How to avoid poisoning?

You can not buy cut gourds. In this form, they are stored for a very short time and quickly deteriorate. For the same reason, it is better not to buy cracked berries, and do not cut when buying.

Do not store cut gourds for a long time at room temperature.

Watermelon poisoning is not uncommon, and some mistakenly believe that the cause is exclusively nitrates, which are stuffed with berries. This really happens, but more often poisoning is caused by bacteria that got into the watermelon during improper storage. Bacteria can enter through cuts and cuts. They say that dirt can also get into a watermelon during injection, when it is “pumped up” with additives - so that the flesh turns red, so that it is sweeter, but experienced melon growers laugh at this statement and explain this by the fact that watermelons are transported by trucks, and it is physically impossible to run with syringes and inject each.

What are the signs of watermelon poisoning?

Signs of melon poisoning are similar to ordinary food poisoning. There may be a headache (if there are too many nitrates in watermelon), diarrhea, vomiting, fever. Sometimes skin rashes and allergies may occur. In case of watermelon poisoning, it is better to call a doctor, but if this is not possible, you can drink a weak solution of potassium permanganate and rinse your stomach, drink a laxative. Sorbents are also used, such as Polyphepan, Ultra-adsorb, Enterosgel, Atoxil, Entegnin, activated carbon.

How to test watermelon for nitrates at home?

To do this, watermelon pulp must be placed in a glass of water. If the flesh turns pale, and the water turns pink, then the watermelon can be safely thrown into the trash, and a complaint can be written to the seller.

Comments

Everything that is written in this article is the necessary information for lovers of watermelons. Especially important are the warnings and recommendations for watermelon poisoning (this is at the end of the article). However, it is clear that until we buy the vending watermelon and do not have time to dissect it properly for our research purposes, we will still never understand how safe it is for health. So - it remains to choose a watermelon by eye, relying on your appetite and your own intuition. How else?

The most common varieties of watermelons that can be found in the markets.

"Spark". The fruits of this variety are small, spherical, dark green. Berries are poorly stored and poorly transported. The pulp is tender, granular. The skin color is dark green. If cleaned of dust, a clear sun glare should appear.

"Melitopol". The fruits are large, elliptical in shape, with dark blue-black-green stripes. Appear at the beginning of August. The flesh of a ripe watermelon is raspberry-colored, grainy, very juicy and sweet. The greater the contrast near the tail between light and dark stripes, the riper the watermelon.

"Volzhsky". The fruits are spherical, light green, with a smooth surface. Mature watermelons are almost white in color, huge in size. The pulp is tender, bright pink, granular, very sweet with a slight sourness. They ripen only by the beginning of September.

"Khait-kara". The fruits are large, spherical, sometimes slightly flattened, black-green. They appear on the markets last of all and are stored until the winter. Raspberry pulp, juicy, sweet. This is an Uzbek variety, somewhat reminiscent of a "light". This is sometimes used by sellers who lure buyers with Uzbek watermelons in early August - vbibl en

How much does it cost to research a purchased watermelon? - www.kazved.ru

It is difficult to resist the temptation to buy the earliest fruits and berries, but the appearance of such a fruit can be very strange, and the taste suspicious. Sometimes we see cuttingwatermelon white veins what is it? Naturally, farmers tend to start harvesting earlier.

Aggressive farming practices are a common way to speed up crop maturation, and nitrogen fertilizers are primarily used to increase yields. It is pointless to dispute the need to use dressings, but there is a measure for everything.

Causes of white veins in watermelon

An excess of nitrogen fertilizers when growing plants adversely affects the health of a person who eats their fruits for food. Mostly surplus mineral fertilizers accumulates in the crust. A white veins on a watermelon what is it? These can be said fibers , initially have a light shade and provide the fruit with nutrients. But under the influence of nitrates, they thicken, their color changes, and then they appearwatermelon has yellow veins or white.

Why does watermelon have loose flesh

The fruit looks most appetizing, the pulp of which has a dense and granular (sugar) appearance. But everyone had to buy strong-looking fruits, the structure of which was disappointing. Ifwatermelon has soft flesh, this can be due to several reasons: In overripe berries, the inside changes a lot. Near the crust, the pulp retains its density, sugary appearance, and closer to the center it softens.

But this is a completely normal, natural process of maturation. If the pulp is not just loose , and easily crushed with fingers, became soft , then it is not advisable to eat such a fruit. Incorrect storage also leads to a change in the structure. Many sellers store crops in open areas that are not protected from sunlight. Buy such a watermelon, cut it - and it soft inside, sluggish.

It's nice to enjoy slices of chilled watermelon. But if they were forgotten about and kept in the cold for a long time, the frozen pulp can also become cotton.

Watermelon tastes bitter

Sweet and juicy are the most common characteristics of the most popular gourd. And if the pulp acquires it bitter smack, it becomes an unpleasant surprise. There may be several reasons for this phenomenon:

  • too long storage can lead to a change in taste, the structure of melon pulp (it becomes soft);
  • in Thailand and Turkey, fruits can be treated with a special gas - ethylene. Thus, the crop is better preserved during transportation. Most often, under the influence of a substance, the structure of the pulp becomes fibrous , it acquires a bitter aftertaste;
  • violation of storage rules that lead to damage to the crust. Through small cracks, bacteria enter the pulp, and from this it bitter.
Do not buy watermelon slices. Even if the halves are neatly covered with a film, it is not known how long ago they were cut, where and under what conditions they were stored.

Uneven flesh color

At different varieties the shade of the pulp is different. Usually, the pulp of a rich red color is more sugary, but the raspberry varieties are juicier, but not very sweet. Even small yellow patches of pulp mean a high content of chemicals, and it is better to get rid of such fruits.

The reasons why the pulp turns white

Increasingly, buyers, when purchasing a watermelon, ask to cut it. Because there were cases when a seemingly ripe fruit turned out to be white inside.

Sometimes the pulp may have an uneven color - separate light areas. If this watermelon was not picked completely unripe, then the main reason for the unnatural shade is an excess of nitrates. yellowish fibers, loose structure - all these signs confirm the high presence of chemicals. Naturally, the appearance of the fetus is not appetizing, and eating it is very dangerous for health.

How to choose a good watermelon

At the end of summer, watermelons fill the shelves of shops and markets. Each buyer has his own selection tricks. But in general, attention is paid to the shape, weight, shade of the peel.

By the appearance of the bark

Ripe watermelon has a whole peel, without damage, soft spots, cracks. Often on the counter there are fruits with a small crack. Such damage is an excellent environment for bacteria, so even a big discount cannot be a convincing argument for a purchase.

To judge ripeness by the shade of the bark is very doubtful. Indeed, in stores they sell a variety of varieties, each of which has its own color. But the appearance of the peel may well tell about the maturity of the fetus. If it is ripe, the surface is hard, shiny, but it is easy to scratch it even with a fingernail.

According to the size and color of the earth spot

On the crust, you can always see the place where it came into contact with the ground. By the shade of this rounded area, one can judge the maturity of the fetus. If the spot has a pale yellow tint (even, rather, whitish) or it is not there at all, this means that the crop was harvested early and it has not ripened. In ready-to-eat specimens, earthy spots have a dark yellow or even orange tint. The spot diameter depends on the size of the watermelon and ranges from 5–10 cm.

On a dry stem

Usually, buyers carefully look at the stem. There is an opinion that a dried tail is a sign of maturity. You should not trust this, because the watermelon could be plucked green, after a while it “ripened” and the tail dried up.

It must be borne in mind that a completely dry stalk or even its absence can be signs of overripeness, and the pulp will turn out to be lethargic, not at all juicy.If the tail is green, it means that the watermelon was literally just popped.

By weight

This sign can be considered objective and subjective at the same time, since buyers have different preferences: some like exceptionally large fruits, and some prefer small specimens. Mature fruits in individual varieties weigh differently. The famous Astrakhan varieties grow at least 8-10 kg, but the popular "light" is gaining weight of about 2 kg. Although in each variety there are record holders.

By sound

This is a popular technique used by most buyers. According to popular belief, a ripe watermelon will ring if you pat it with the palm of your hand. In fact, the sound is determined by the state of the pulp. And just an unripe fruit rings, but a ripe one will make a dull sound when patted.

Of course, nitrates cannot be considered the sole cause of the strange taste or unusual appearance of watermelons. A sharp change in temperature, periods of drought or rain, soil composition - all these factors affect the quality of the fruit.


One of the signs of August is that the city is littered with juicy, mouth-watering watermelons. They are sold in the markets, in shops, just on the street, by the road - literally at every step. We drive up to the eastern bazaar - from here the striped berry (and watermelon refers specifically to berries!) Disperses to all Krasnoyarsk markets. A young Azerbaijani praises his goods lying on a tarpaulin: “The watermelon is ripe, sugary. Astrakhan". "Astrakhan? - I ask in puzzlement, since I myself worked in those places on melons during my student years. “But they ripen there only at the end of August ...” And in general, the vast majority of varieties in our country ripen late. So doubts are natural: is it possible to take early watermelons, are they stuffed with all kinds of chemicals to accelerate growth? Even doctors in children's clinics recommend that parents first try the watermelon, wait three hours, and only after that, if there are no consequences, give a piece to the child.

Checked, you can!

Nitrates, which may be contained in watermelon, when ingested, break down into toxic nitrites and nitrosamines. These poisonous compounds affect the mucous membrane, lower the level of hemoglobin. As a result, the nitrate-laden sweet treat can cause not only an upset stomach, but also drowsiness, dizziness, and even a heart attack. Nitrosamines can also cause cancer. Especially at risk are those who gnaw at the crust - a storehouse of nitrates. However, according to the laboratory of the Federal State Institution Krasnoyarsky State Center for Agrochemical Service, where we submitted several watermelons bought on the market for examination, it is now almost impossible to get poisoned by them. The quality control system is well established. Each batch imported into the city undergoes strict control, and after that a declaration of conformity for the product is issued for it. Therefore, it is not at all difficult to decide whether to buy watermelons from a particular outlet. Just ask the seller for this document. In the center they say that there have been no cases when it was necessary to “wrap up” a party recently. The southern traders I spoke to in the market themselves assured me that the days of "intensive technology" with excess nitrogen fertilizers and growth accelerators were over. And for quick ripening, early seedlings and greenhouse film are used. "Watermelon Kings" (among which, for some reason, there are many Koreans) buy Dutch hybrids, breed them under film for 20-30 days - and go ahead.

Like it or not, nothing criminal was really found in the watermelons we bought. Nitrates in the fetus accumulated 15 mg, and the maximum allowable concentration is 60. Although poisoning, as doctors say, is likely if you "eat" them 200 mg. The indicators of lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic are below the norm. Cesium-137, which is excreted from the body for 28 years, is minuscule - less than 4.5 Bq / kg with MPC - 120. And strontium, which has been living in a person for 30 years, was not detected, although its presence is also allowed - 40 Bq. Unfortunately, berries-fruits generally do not contain impurities now. The cost of civilization. Organochlorine pesticides: DDT, DDS, DDD and other toxic pesticides banned in many countries of the world, including ours, have not been identified either. Thanks, and that's it. Only my doctor friend did not come to work yesterday, having tasted a watermelon the day before. Where it was bought by friends who treated it, alas, does not know. Maybe by the road? That's where watermelons should not be taken! Even if there are no nitrates, exhaust gases, road burning and dust contain toxic substances. They hit piles of watermelons and melons dumped on the side of the road.

How to choose a "stripe"

How to choose the right watermelon so that later you don’t have to complain about nitrate or some other poisoning? Let's start with the fact that the outlet where the fruits are sold should be no closer than three to four meters from the roadway. Watermelons, moreover, should not lie on the pavement or even a tarpaulin. They must be raised to a height of at least 20 centimeters - these are the rules. Rospotrebnadzor experts do not advise taking cut watermelons either. And also cut them when buying. On an unwashed surface - a lot of pathogens of intestinal infections. Microbes from a knife can get into the pulp, and then ... The danger of getting sick is the most real. To prevent intestinal infection, it is enough to thoroughly wash the watermelon with warm water and soap.

Despite the large number of popular observations and will accept how to determine the ripeness of a watermelon without cutting it, this is not easy to do. Experts say that absolutely reliable criteria do not exist. Although, as the most significant signs of sufficient maturity, it is proposed to consider the crackle emitted by a watermelon when it is squeezed with both hands; yellow (not white) color of the earthy spot on the side of the watermelon; as well as the ability to easily remove the top layer of the watermelon peel by scratching it a little with your fingernail. It is believed that a ripe watermelon should ring if you pat it with your palm. In fact, the sound depends on whether the pulp has softened inside or not. Just green and will ring, and a ripe watermelon should be deaf. The misconceptions also include the fact that a ripe fruit should have a wide watermelon (a trace from a flower on the lower "pole" of the fruit). A wide footprint is just an anatomical defect of a flower, it has nothing to do with ripeness. Do not trust the dry stalk (tail at the top of the fruit). This is indeed an indicator of ripeness, but not always, because the watermelon could be plucked green, and ripen, or rather, dry out - later.

Determine nitrates by eye

But here is a watermelon bought. How to make sure it's not dangerous? The following signs indicate that the fetus is overfed with nitrates: * intense red color with a slight purple tint;
* the fibers that go from the core to the crust, in a healthy watermelon are white, dark white, with an excess of nitrates and nitrites - yellow. In the pulp, yellowish compacted areas ranging in size from 0.5 to 2 or more centimeters can be found. The stroma veins in the pulp also have a yellow color;
* in a real watermelon, the cut is sparkling grains; in early ripening, the surface is smooth, glossy, as if polished;
* a piece of pulp can be ground in a glass of water. If the watermelon is good, the water will simply become cloudy. If not, it will turn red or pink and maybe even purple.


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