Along with a creamy underneath, a ripe watermelon sounds hollow when tapped with your knuckles or the heel of the palm of your hand. You can learn to distinguish the sound... tap several melons at the market and pay attention to which ones sound hollow. If you find a melon that thuds dully, compare that sound to the others and find one that does NOT.

At 92% water, a watermelon should seem heavy. Pick it up, turn it over, look at it carefully. With a little care, you'll be able to choose the perfect watermelon every time.