Orange Flesh Melons Delivery or Pickup

Mouthwatering orange flesh melons are a popular treat during the summer. It's the season when most local grocery stores stock the shelves with these yummy fruits. There are several different varieties, including cantaloupe and orange honeydew.

These tasty fruits are oval to round in shape and often have ribs. They're prized everywhere for their firm yet juicy salmon-hued flesh. When slowly matured on the vine, their perfect ripeness has an unforgettably sweet and subtle flavor. A few uncommon orange flesh melons include:

This orange-flesh melon has smooth, light gray-green skin. It's best known for its divine flavor and delicious aroma, thanks to its high sugar content. This petite melon is about the size of a grapefruit, making French Charentais perfect for sharing with a friend.

Just as you'd expect with a name like Ambrosia, this melon is intensely sweet, with pale orange flesh. It's so smooth and juicy it melts in your mouth. Its floral nuances and silky texture help it live up to its name. It perfectly complements a plate of salty prosciutto and sharp cheese.

This oddly colored version of your favorite picnic treat is crisp, juicy, and mildly sweet. Like its red-fleshed siblings, orange watermelons can come seedless or with classic black and white seeds. Did you know that this variety can be candied or fermented, and it can weigh up to 30 pounds?

Choosing a perfectly ripe melon is similar to picking any fruit or vegetable. You'll use all of your senses, from sight and smell to sound and touch to determine ripeness. Look for a melon that is round and symmetrical with dull, not shiny, skin. Avoid a melon with a green or white blemish where it rested on the ground. This part of the rind should be yellow or cream-colored. 

Hold it in your hands. Is it heavy from all its juicy flesh? Give it a whiff. You should be able to pick up a hint of its musky aroma produced by enzymes that signal its ripeness. A light tap to the rind will make a hollow sound if it's ready to eat.

Next, take a look at the stem's scar. A smooth, hollowed mark lets you know that it was harvested ripe, while a lingering piece of stem may mean farmers picked it early. Press your thumb gently into the bottom of the rind, opposite the stem side. An orange flesh melon that's ready to eat will depress easily.

While orange flesh melons are delicious all on their own, their delicate flavor pairs well with various foods. They add a touch of sweetness and a pop of color to salads, cocktails, smoothies, and sorbets.

Although orange flesh melons are refreshing when chilled, refrigerating them may diminish their flavor, so remember to serve them at room temperature. You can also try grilling them, and the cooking process only intensifies their sugary flavor, or you can also pickle them or use them to make jam.

When you get a craving for the juicy, sweet, and refreshing flavor of an orange flesh melon, add some to your Instacart app, and have an Instacart shopper pick one up for you. Whether you pick a common cantaloupe or an exotic French Charentais, a shopper can have it to you in as little as 2 hours!