Casaba melons have a distinctive appearance with golden yellow skin and shallow grooves. Choose a heavy, uniformly colored melon with a slightly soft flower end for ripeness. They can be stored longer than other melons and are versatile in cooking.
Casaba melons belong to the family of winter melons and, therefore, a distinctive appearance that makes them easily recognizable. Typically, the outer skin is golden yellow with hints of green, although its color varies according to the particular variety. To choose the best casaba melon, look for one that gives slightly when pressed lightly on the flowering part of the fruit. Avoid melons that are too soft, have soft spots, or have dark mold or blemishes.
Varying from other types of melon, the casaba melon sports numerous shallow, irregular grooves that run from one end to the other on its skin. The wrinkled skin lacks mesh and its color ranges from green to yellow. The winter pineapple variety of the casaba melon has a light green skin even when fully ripe. The Crenshaw type acquires a light tan yellow when mature, while the Golden Beauty becomes a beautiful bright yellow.
While it resembles a round pumpkin shape, it tapers slightly to the stem end. Casaba melons grow on a vine like other melons, but they don’t slide off the vine when they ripen. Harvesting them involves cutting the stems when they are ripe and storing them. To choose the best casaba melon, look for a fruit that is slightly heavy for its size. A typical melon weighs three to five pounds (one to two kilograms).
Choose a large, firm casaba melon whose rind is uniformly colored with a deep yellow color and very little or no green. A slightly soft flower end indicates a ripe melon. It’s best to avoid melons that are extremely green throughout, although that depends on the variety. The best melons are those that have been allowed to ripen naturally on the vine.
Vine-ripened casaba melons can be identified by looking at the rind. It should be slightly crinkled. The skin also acquires a waxy feel when the melon is ripe. If they aren’t ripe, they can be stored at room temperature until they do. Casaba melons differ from other melons in terms of shelf life. They are much harder and can be stored longer.
Once they are ripe, and this is easily seen because the skin changes color from green to a deep yellow, the fruit can be refrigerated for several days if cut. They keep well when stored in a covered container or plastic wrap. Because they’re not as sweet as melons, cooks can prepare them in a variety of ways, including in cold soups or paired with curries.
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