Cantaloupe Melons Delivery or Pickup

Cantaloupe melons are sweet fruits with soft orange flesh and a cream-colored rind with a netted texture. Cantaloupe is related to pumpkins, watermelon, zucchini, and squash. 

You'll find a cluster of seeds in the center of the melon that you can easily scoop out with a spoon. The tender flesh is sweet and silky. If it's crisp or crunchy, the melon is underripe. At peak ripeness, cantaloupe fruit is juicy and soft but not mushy or mealy.

Cantaloupe is the most popular melon in the United States, and for good reason. It's a tasty snack by itself and doesn't require any additional preparation to make a tasty treat. In the United States, the per capita consumption of cantaloupe was 6.11 pounds.

When you're getting ready to cut cantaloupe, you should wash the outside of the melon, your cutting surface, and your knife before cutting into the melon to keep it safe from bacteria. You can serve the flesh in melon balls, wedges, or cubes. It makes a delicious addition to any fruit salad and pairs particularly well with watermelon. Add a bit of mint to enhance the flavor of a sweet cantaloupe salad. 

If you'd like to enjoy cantaloupe in a savory snack, try eating it with prosciutto and mozzarella. Grill the cantaloupe to give it a distinctive smoky flavor. You can also toss cantaloupe in a salad with cucumber, feta cheese, basil leaves, lemon juice, olive oil, and salt.

When you're choosing a cantaloupe melon, you should look for one with a firm rind that yields only slightly to pressure at the blossom end. Avoid fruit that's soft, bruised, or shriveled. Cracks and other abrasions should be avoided as well. A ripe cantaloupe will sound hollow when you knock on the side and have a sweet, fruity aroma.

Choose a cantaloupe that's heavy for its size. Compare a few melons of a similar size to find the best one. A heavier fruit has juicier flesh.

You can leave a note for your Instacart shopper to help them choose the best fruit for your needs! You might specify the size or ripeness that's best for your purposes, so you get the perfect cantaloupe delivered to your door.

You can store a whole cantaloupe on the counter for up to a week, depending on the ripeness when the melon is purchased. In the refrigerator, a whole cantaloupe melon can last up to 12 days. If you freeze the melon, it will last up to a year.

Once cut, you should consume cantaloupe as quickly as possible. Discard any cut cantaloupe that's been out at room temperature for more than two hours. You can refrigerate cut cantaloupe in a tightly sealed container for up to a week. Frozen cantaloupe chunks will last up to a year.

Fortunately, you can buy cantaloupe as you need it, even if you don't have time for a trip to the store. Have fresh cantaloupe delivered the same day through Instacart!