Melons are a fruit grown on vines and belong to the same family of fruits as squash. Melons, though similar to squash have a much sweeter flavor than most squash varieties. In culinary terms squash (even though squash is a fruit) is used more like a vegetable. Melons on the other are consumed more like a fruit and our often eaten raw, with skin removed.
Watermelon – Characteristics, Nutritional Values and Storage
Watermelon is probably the most common of all melons. The skin or rind is usually smooth and the exterior colors are green (most common), yellow or white. The most common varieties of watermelon have a green rind with a very sweet and watery inside flesh that’s reddish in color. Watermelons are produced with seeds and seedless and can range in weight from as low as 1 pound for the minis to 45 pounds for the more common variety.
Watermelon Nutritional Values – 1 cup diced 152 grams
- Watermelon is low in calories with 46, zero total fat and 1 gram of dietary fiber. The only negative is most of the calories comes from sugar with 9 grams of sugar.
- Watermelon is not a good source of protein with .9 grams.
- Watermelon is a good source of vitamin A and vitamin C with 17% and 21% of the daily value of a 2,000-calorie diet respectively.
- Watermelon is not a good source for minerals.
Watermelon Storage
Watermelon are a tropical fruit and don’t like cold temperatures. A whole uncut watermelon will stay good for up to 10 days at room temperature. Watermelon that’s refrigerated will start to lose flavor in a couple of days. Freezing a watermelon will created a mushy melon due to the high water content in watermelon.
Cantaloupe - Characteristics, Nutritional Values and Storage
The skin on a cantaloupe is usually beige and has a rough net like texture. Most of the cantaloupe that’s produced in North America has an orange flesh that has a sugary sweet taste. Cantaloupe is more common eaten raw like a fruit and is especially popular as part of a balanced breakfast meal. The flesh surface of a cantaloupe can contain some harmful bacteria, particularly salmonella so it’s advisable to thoroughly wash cantaloupe before it’s consumed.
Cantaloupe Nutritional Values – 1 cup diced 152 grams
- Cantaloupe is low in calories with 53, zero total fat and 1 gram of dietary fiber. The only negative is most of the calories comes from sugar with 9 grams of sugar.
- Cantaloupe is not a good source of protein with 1 gram.
- Cantaloupe is an excellent source of vitamin A and vitamin C with 106% and 95% of the daily value of a 2,000-calorie diet respectively.
- Cantaloupe is not a good source for minerals with the exception of potassium with 12% of the daily value.
Cantaloupe Storage
The best method to store cantaloupe is to refrigerate it between 36 and 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Cantaloupe like high humidity so storing cantaloupe in a vegetable crisper is the best option. The amount of time that cantaloupe can be stored under these conditions depends on the ripeness of the cantaloupe. Typical ripened cantaloupe can be stored for about 5 days. Cantaloupe shouldn’t be frozen for more than 1 month.
Besides watermelon and cantaloupe, honeydew and cucumbers are also a popular variety of melons. Watermelon and cantaloupe are a good choice as part of a healthy balanced diet. If choosing between watermelon and cantaloupe, cantaloupe is the clear winner due to the exceptional amount of vitamin A and C.
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