Fruit
Melon
MelónMelóCucumis melo
Picking a melon is famously a lottery, and there's some truth in that. But they don't all behave alike: cantaloupes keep ripening at home, while piel de sapo barely does.
When
Around: Jun–Sept · At its best: Jul–Aug
Around: Jun–Oct · At its best: Jul–Aug
Around: Dec–Mar · At its best: Jan–Feb
Around here
Local markets are ruled by piel de sapo («toad skin»), green and elongated, alongside cantaloupe and Galia. The two best-known geographical indications are nearby: Melón de La Mancha (PGI) and Melón de Torre Pacheco-Murcia (PGI). In Catalan- and Valencian-speaking lands there was the «meló de tot l'any» (year-round melon), hung up indoors to last until Christmas.
At the market
- It should feel quite heavy for its size.
- Press the end opposite the stalk: it should give a little without caving in.
- Cantaloupe and Galia: a sweet smell at the stalk end and well-defined netting on the skin.
- Piel de sapo: a touch of yellow on the skin and a yellowish patch underneath; a slightly sticky base is a good sign.
At home
- Whole, out of the fridge: piel de sapo lasts for weeks; cantaloupe a few days while it finishes ripening.
- Cut, deseeded and covered in the fridge: three or four days.
- Ripe cantaloupe gives off ethylene and a strong smell: keep it well sealed in the fridge.
If you have too much
- Melon sorbet or granita with a little lime or mint.
- Freeze balls or cubes on a tray for smoothies and sorbets (thawed, it goes soft).
- Cold melon soup: blended with a little yoghurt, or with cucumber and mint.
- Melon jam, best perked up with lemon or ginger.
In the kitchen
- Melon with cured ham, the summer classic that never fails.
- Chilled, in wedges, for pudding.
- In a salad with cucumber, mint, fresh cheese and pepper.
- Cold melon soup with shavings of cured ham.
- With a splash of sweet wine, such as Muscat, poured over.
“As they say in Spanish: melons and marriage are both a matter of luck.”
What it brings
Per 100 g, raw.
- Energy
- 36 kcal
- Water
- 90% water
- Carbs
- 9.1 g
- Sugars
- 8.1 g
- Fibre
- 0.8 g
- Protein
- 0.5 g
Stands out for
- Source of vitamin C18 mg · 23% of what you need in a day
Data from the USDA (FoodData Central). See the full table ↗ · How we decide what stands out
Goes with
- WatermelonJun–SeptOver 90% of a watermelon is water, and it's still a struggle to carry one home. Once cut it won't ripen any further: what you see is what you get.
- FigJun · Aug–SeptFig trees crop twice: brebas (early figs) at the start of summer, on last year's wood, and the true figs at the end. That's why figs take a break in July.
- CucumberJun–SeptBotanically it's a fruit, like its cousin the melon. What it tells you most is about cold: it likes being cool, but in a very cold fridge it goes soft and pitted.