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Watermelons Delivery or Pickup
The Instacart guide to watermelons
Summer fun almost always includes a crisp, refreshing slice of watermelon. Instacart makes it easy to get a fresh, tasty watermelon delivered straight to your door. Add watermelon to your cart using the Instacart app, and our dedicated shoppers will do the rest. With our same-day delivery, you can order your groceries in the morning and be enjoying them at dinnertime!
About watermelons
Watermelons are one of the few foods classified as both a fruit and a vegetable. Like peppers, tomatoes, and pumpkins, watermelons are a fruit of a vine, making them botanically a fruit. Watermelons are also considered vegetables because of the methods used to grow and harvest them. Watermelons are native to South Africa but today are grown in almost 100 countries around the world. By weight, watermelon is the most popular fruit in America. Although you can find watermelons in the supermarket year-round, the peak season for watermelons is from July to September.
All watermelons have a green rind. Some varieties are striped. There are hundreds of watermelon varieties, most commonly broken down into the following groups:
- Seeded watermelons: These watermelons are round or oblong and can weigh between 5 and 40 pounds. They have sweet, deep red flesh and large black seeds.
- Seedless watermelons: Available since the 1990s, these round or oblong watermelons can weigh up to 25 pounds. Despite their name, these watermelons are not truly seedless. They are free of the large, dark seeds common in seeded watermelon. Seedless watermelons have undeveloped white seeds that are usually small, soft, and completely edible. Most seedless watermelons have deep red flesh.
- Icebox watermelons: Named because they are small enough to keep in the refrigerator, these watermelons can weigh between 5Â and 15 pounds. These sweet, red watermelons are perfect for feeding a family. The most popular icebox watermelon on the market is the Sugar Baby.
- Picnic watermelons: These watermelons are perfect for any backyard get-together. They are almost always oblong, with a bright green rind and deep red flesh. These watermelons can weigh between 15 and 50 pounds. Common picnic varieties include Crimson Sweet and Charleston Gray. The Black Diamond picnic watermelon can grow to an astounding 75 pounds.
- Miniature watermelons: Also known as "personal" watermelons, these fruits are small, weighing seven pounds or less. They are usually seedless with a dark green rind. The rind on miniature watermelon is thinner than the other kinds of watermelon.
- Yellow/orange watermelons: These unique watermelons have yellow or orange flesh. Yellow watermelons are sweeter than the traditional red and honey-flavored. Common varieties of yellow and orange watermelons include Honeyheart, Yellow Doll, and Tendergold.
How to pick out watermelons
To pick out a ripe, sweet watermelon, look for firm skin free of cuts, dents, and bruises. Don't worry about scratches from harvest and transport. A ripe watermelon will feel heavy for its size.Â
Watermelons lie on the ground as they mature. Turn the watermelon over and look for a yellow spot. A watermelon with a deep yellow "belly" was allowed to ripen in the sun, making it sweet and juicy. Contrary to popular belief, thumping a watermelon is not a reliable way to determine watermelon ripeness. Look for the deep yellow belly to get the sweetest fruit.
How to prepare watermelon
Always wash the outside of your watermelon before cutting. Most people prefer that watermelon is chilled, but it is not necessary to do so. Fresh watermelon can be cut into slices, cubed, or balled. Watermelon makes a great addition to salads alongside feta cheese, bitter greens, and red onions. Watermelon can be juiced or pureed for gazpacho, cocktails, or a refreshing granita. If you buy seeded watermelons, roast the seeds for a crunchy, nutty treat.
The rind of the watermelon is edible, but most people prefer not to. Fresh watermelon rind can be cut into cubes or slices and used similarly to cucumbers. Watermelon rind pickles or jams are also popular.
Watermelons Near Me
Buy your favorite Watermelons online with Instacart. Order Watermelons from local and national retailers near you and enjoy on-demand, contactless delivery or pickup within 2 hours.
FAQs about watermelons
An uncut watermelon does not need to be refrigerated until you plan on eating it. Uncut watermelons will stay fresh in your refrigerator for a week or at room temperature for two weeks. Cut watermelon should be wrapped with plastic and refrigerated. Larger watermelon cuts will last longer in your refrigerator than small cubes.
If you cut a watermelon open and find that the flesh is cracked, don't worry. Cracked flesh is called "Hollow Heart" and occurs when watermelons experience extreme cold or heat as they grow. The watermelon's sugars are often concentrated along the cracks, so enjoy that extra sweetness.
No. Seedless watermelons are a hybrid species created by breeders without the use of genetic engineering. None of the watermelons on the supermarket shelves are produced using genetic modification. Watermelon growers use old-fashioned cross-breeding techniques to create new varieties.