Watermelons: Types, Health Benefits, and How to Pick a Good One

Author:

Margaret Minnicks is a health-conscious person who researches the health benefits of foods and drinks.

There are some interesting things about watermelons that might be surprising. For instance, most people refer to watermelon as a fruit. Actually, watermelons are members of the gourd family and are related to cucumbers, squash, and pumpkins. Therefore, it is not an actual fruit just as the other gourds are not fruits.

It is a refreshing and delicious food that has become a summer staple. You will see watermelons at cookouts, picnics, and parties.

The average American eats about 17 pounds of watermelon each year. This makes it the most consumed melon in the United States.

Types of Watermelons

You might see only one or two different kinds of watermelons in your local grocery stores. There are about 300 different kinds of watermelons in Mexico and the United States. However, only about 50 kinds are popular. Forty-four states grow watermelons. Leading the country in production are Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, and Texas.

The item is so appropriately named because it is made up of about 92 percent water. That's why they are so refreshing. The ones that most people buy are those that are red inside, but they also come in pink, white, and yellow varieties.

Sizes of Watermelons

Watermelons come in all shapes and sizes. Some of them are quite large. County fairs award prizes for the biggest ones.

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Chris Kent from Sevierville, Tennessee raised the world's biggest watermelon weighing in at 350.5 pounds. It was verified on October 4, 2013.

People who eat a lot of watermelons say watermelons with seeds are much sweeter than the seedless ones.

How Are Watermelons Eaten?

Even though watermelons are more plentiful during the summer, they are actually eaten all year long.

Watermelons can be eaten many different ways.

Eaten plain by the slice
Cooked on the grill
Mixed into a salsa
Part of a fruit salad
Blended into a cocktail

Just one watermelon can feed up to three dozen people.

Different Uses for Watermelon

A watermelon is an excellent budget item. Just one can feed up to three dozen people. The cost is about 17 cents per serving.

There are many creative ways to use watermelons.

Use the watermelon as a basket for serving salads or desserts.
Use the watermelon as a centerpiece.
Use a watermelon as a punch container.
Put some color and flavor in fruit and gelatin salads by using watermelon balls.
Cut watermelon into cubes and top with cottage cheese.
Make a delicious salad with watermelon balls, chopped celery, and pecans whipped into softened cream cheese or whipped heavy cream.
Freeze the juice from watermelons to make cool pops.
Combine fresh melon and ham to serve as an appetizer.
Eat a slice of watermelon for breakfast.
Use watermelon rind to make pickles or preserves.
Stir fry the rind.
Slice the rind to use as coleslaw.

Health Benefits of Watermelons

Besides being good, watermelons are actually good for you to eat because of the health benefits.

Source of Vitamin A
Source Vitamin B6
Source of Vitamin C
Source of potassium
Very low in sodium
Contains only a small amount of fat
Contains no cholesterol of dietary significance
Has a high concentration of lycopene, an antioxidant that helps reduce the risk of some diseases
Has 82 percent of the total dietary fiber
Has 92 percent water and 8 percent natural sugar

How to Pick a Good Watermelon

Even though you can't see what's inside of a watermelon before you purchase it, there are ways to pick a good one.

Examine the watermelon. See if it is firm, symmetrical and free from cuts, bruises, holes, and dents.
Discover how heavy it is by lifting it up. It should be heavy for its size because it is made up of 92 percent water.
Check the underside of the watermelon. You should see a creamy yellow spot where it sat on the ground and ripened from the sun.

A watermelon is an all-American favorite, especially during the summer. Egyptians think so much of the food that they often placed a watermelon in the burial tombs of kings to nourish them in the afterlife.

Comments

Margaret Minnicks (author) from Richmond, VA on August 08, 2018:

Cynthia, watermelons are plentiful here in the US this summer. Hopefully, you will be able to find some delicious ones where you live.

Thanks for reading and commenting.

Cynthia Zirkwitz from Vancouver Island, Canada on August 07, 2018:

This is a delightful article on this luscious melon! I love all the pictures and the comprehensive "hub" coverage. I am afraid to say that there are only about 2 or 3 different kinds of watermelons represented in our little Canadian neck of the woods-- and neither of them can hold a candle to the ones we ate as kids. I'm going to do some hunting for some of the many other types when we go to the city next. Thank you!

Margaret Minnicks (author) from Richmond, VA on August 02, 2018:

Peggy, the red flesh is the most popular color in watermelons in the grocery store, but there are different colors. They taste about the same since all of them are made up of 92% water.

Peggy Woods from Houston, Texas on August 02, 2018:

I ate some watermelon today and have more in our refrigerator. I have yet to see a yellow or white-fleshed watermelon but it is interesting to know that they exist. They certainly are refreshing!