Melon is a kind of fruit belonging to the Cucurbitaceae household, together with watermelons, cantaloupes, honeydews, and different varieties. Melons usually have a candy, juicy flesh and a thick rind, which might be {smooth} or netted, relying on the sort. They’re recognized for his or her excessive water content material, making them a refreshing selection, particularly in heat climates. Whereas some melons, like watermelons, have a crisp texture, others, similar to cantaloupes, are softer and extra fragrant.
Is melon a fruit?
Sure, melon is a kind of fruit. Botanically, it’s labeled as a berry, particularly a ‘pepo’, a fleshy fruit with a tough outer rind.
What number of varieties of melon are there?
Many melons, together with heritage and non-edible varieties, will not be generally present in outlets. Nevertheless, roughly 40 sorts of edible melons are usually consumed worldwide.
Are melons wholesome?
Sure, melons are a wholesome addition to your food plan. They’re naturally low in energy and wealthy in important nutritional vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.
For instance, watermelon is a superb supply of lycopene, a strong antioxidant which will assist enhance levels of cholesterol and assist coronary heart well being. Learn extra in regards to the well being advantages of watermelon. Cantaloupe is filled with nutritional vitamins A and C, which contribute to wholesome imaginative and prescient and a powerful immune system. In the meantime, honeydew melon, with its excessive water content material, aids hydration and offers potassium, which performs a key function in regulating blood stress.
Are you able to freeze melon?
Melon might be frozen in a sealed bag or hermetic container for as much as 3 months.
Are you able to eat melon seeds?
Melon seeds are edible, although many individuals want to spit them out resulting from their texture. Nevertheless, should you can overlook this, roasted watermelon seeds make for a extremely nutritious snack filled with protein, wholesome fat and important minerals similar to magnesium and iron.
Take a look at extra nuts & seeds recipe concepts for inspiration on methods to use each a part of a fruit.
20 various kinds of melon
Watermelon
Watermelon is a big, vine-growing fruit with a tough inexperienced rind, usually striped, and a vibrant pink or pink flesh dotted with black seeds. It’s recognized for its exceptionally juicy and candy style, making it a refreshing selection, significantly in heat climate. Native to Africa, watermelons are at their greatest from mid-June to late August. They’re composed of about 92% water, making them wonderful for hydration, and are wealthy in nutritional vitamins A and C, in addition to lycopene, which helps coronary heart well being and will scale back the chance of sure persistent situations. Watermelon is very versatile—loved contemporary in fruit salads, blended to make a watermelon smoothie, made right into a refreshing watermelon lemonade, or paired with feta in a savoury watermelon & feta salad. Discover extra methods to get pleasure from watermelon with our assortment of watermelon recipes.
Honeydew melon
Honeydew melons are spherical to barely oval in form, with a {smooth}, pale yellow-green rind and candy, juicy mild inexperienced flesh. They’re usually medium to giant in dimension and have a agency but succulent texture. Initially from West Africa, honeydew melons at the moment are grown in heat climates worldwide. They’re at their greatest in the course of the summer time months. Wealthy in vitamin C and supply of hydration resulting from their excessive water content material, honeydew melons make a refreshing addition to fruit salads, smoothies and lightweight summer time desserts. Mix them with cucumber and lime in our honeydew melon, cucumber & lime juice for a fruit packed begin to your day. However don’t simply save them for candy dishes—strive them in our heat trout & melon salad with lime & chilli dressing for a vibrant, omega-3-rich summer time supper or our smoked venison with melon salad, the succulence of the melon contrasts with the richness of the cured meat making a formidable starter.
Galia melon
Galia melons are a hybrid of cantaloupe and honeydew, that includes a netted golden pores and skin and candy, fragrant pale inexperienced flesh. They’re usually small to medium in dimension and are recognized for his or her significantly juicy texture. Initially developed in Israel, they thrive in heat climates and are in season in the course of the summer time months. Wealthy in nutritional vitamins A and C, galia melons assist immune well being and hydration, making them a nutritious selection. Their pure sweetness pairs fantastically with savoury flavours—strive them in our barbecued lamb with punchy melon salsa, the place the melon’s juicy freshness balances the warmth of chilli and the richness of lamb. Or showcase their versatility in our melon & rose granita, a light-weight, floral deal with that’s half drink, half sorbet—ideally suited for heat summer time evenings.
Yellow watermelon
Yellow watermelons are a vibrant twist on the basic pink selection, with vivid golden flesh that’s significantly candy and juicy, usually boasting a honey-like flavour. They’ve an analogous dimension and texture to conventional watermelons, with crisp, refreshing flesh and a thick inexperienced rind. Initially cultivated in Africa, they’re now grown in varied heat climates worldwide and are in season in the summertime months. For a chic summer time supper, strive yellow watermelon in our duck & watermelon noodle salad—duck pairs fantastically with candy fruits—searching for a refreshing drink? Mix it into our watermelon daiquiri for a tropical twist. And for a scrumptious nibble, serve watermelon with dukkah dip—an ideal steadiness of candy and spiced flavours.
Cantelope melon
Cantaloupe melons are small to medium-sized fruits with a tough, netted rind and candy, aromatic orange flesh. They’ve a juicy texture and a very wealthy flavour, making them a favorite for summer time dishes. Initially from Persia, cantaloupes at the moment are broadly grown in heat climates, together with Europe and North America. They’re in season from June to September, providing peak sweetness throughout summer time. Wealthy in nutritional vitamins A and C, they assist wholesome pores and skin and immune operate. For a chic feast starter, strive our crab & melon salad, the place cantaloupe’s delicate sweetness enhances the contemporary crab. Or serve it in our salad of melon & tomatoes with mint & elderflower dressing—a fantastically mild, gluten-free possibility good for feeding a crowd.
Winter melon (ash gourd)
Winter melon, often known as ash gourd or canary melon, is a big, rectangular fruit with pale inexperienced to white flesh and a gentle, barely candy flavour. It has a agency but watery texture, making it ideally suited for each savoury and candy dishes. Native to South and Southeast Asia, it thrives in heat climates and is usually in season throughout late summer time and autumn. Wealthy in fibre and low in energy, winter melon is thought for its hydrating properties and potential digestive advantages. Usually utilized in soups, curries and stir-fries, its gentle style lets it soak up daring flavours fantastically. Strive it as an alternative to squash in our inexperienced masala butternut squash curry or Thai prawn & squash curry for a contemporary twist on these fragrant dishes.
Snowball melon (gaya melon)
The Snowball melon, or the Gaya melon, is a small to medium-sized fruit with a pale yellow or creamy white rind and mushy, juicy white flesh. Originating from East Asia, significantly Japan and Korea, this melon is thought for its exceptionally candy flavour and {smooth}, crisp texture. Usually in season in the course of the summer time months, it’s a hydrating fruit wealthy in vitamin C and antioxidants, which assist pores and skin well being and immunity. Snowball melon is ideal for fruit salads like our melon, orange & raspberry cups. It additionally lends pure sweetness to melon & crunchy bran pots, making a easy breakfast way more thrilling.
Sugar child melon
The Sugar Child melon is a small, spherical watermelon selection with a darkish inexperienced rind and vibrant pink flesh. It’s a refreshing summer time deal with recognized for its pleasant and juicy style and crisp but tender texture. Initially from america, this melon thrives in heat climates and is usually in season from mid-June to late August. With its excessive water content material and a beneficiant dose of lycopene—an antioxidant linked to coronary heart well being—it’s a hydrating and nutritious selection for warm days. For an ideal steadiness of candy and savoury, strive our halloumi & watermelon bulgur salad, the place the melon’s juiciness contrasts fantastically with the salty cheese. Or let it shine in our tomato, watermelon & feta salad with mint dressing, an effortlessly vibrant dish ideally suited for summer time eating.
Santa Claus melon
The Santa Claus melon, often known as ‘Christmas melon’ or ‘Piel de Sapo’, is a big, oval-shaped fruit with a thick, green-mottled rind and pale inexperienced to white juicy flesh. This melon is especially candy with a crisp texture, making it a refreshing summer time deal with. Not like many different melons, it boasts a formidable shelf lifetime of as much as two months, which means it usually seems in shops round Christmas—therefore its festive title. It is a superb supply of hydration and incorporates helpful vitamins like vitamin C and potassium. The sort of melon is ideal for chilled soups similar to gazpacho or paired with strong-flavoured cheese similar to blues.
Crenshaw melon
Crenshaw melons are giant, oval-shaped fruits with a barely wrinkled yellow-green rind and candy, juicy salmon-orange flesh. They’re recognized for his or her wealthy, honeyed flavour and {smooth}, creamy texture. Originating from a hybrid of the casaba and Persian melons, they thrive in heat climates similar to these in america and components of the Mediterranean. Usually in season from late summer time to early autumn, Crenshaw melons are a superb supply of vitamin C and hydration. Their sweetness makes them good for fruit salads, sorbets or cocktails—strive them in our melon & Campari cooler, a refreshing five-minute cocktail ideally suited for heat evenings.
Charentais melon
The Charentais melon is thought for its vibrant orange flesh, smooth-textured rind, and reasonably small dimension. Originating from France, this melon is good and juicy, making it a favorite throughout its peak season in summer time. Wealthy in hydration, it incorporates excessive water content material and important nutritional vitamins like vitamin C, which assist immune well being. Resulting from its sweetness, chanterais melon compliments salty meats and cheeses completely, so strive it in our mild summer time salad of minted melon, tomato & proscuitto.
Armenian cucumber
Armenian cucumbers, often known as snake melons, are lengthy, slender, and barely curved with pale inexperienced, skinny and considerably ridged pores and skin. Their flesh is crisp, juicy, and gentle, making them significantly refreshing in sizzling climate. Native to the Center East and the Caucasus area, they thrive in heat climates and are in season throughout summer time. Wealthy in hydration and fibre, Armenian cucumbers assist digestion and total hydration, making them a fantastic addition to a nutritious diet. Their gentle flavour pairs properly with contemporary salads, yoghurt-based dips, and lightweight summer time dishes. They may also be spiralised into noodles. Strive them in our Thai beef salad as a substitute for cucumber or courgette in our lime, sesame & coconut courgette carpaccio.
Casaba melon
Quite a lot of muskmelon, associated to honeydew and cantaloupe.
Golden yellow rind with pale inexperienced, creamy-textured fleshNamed after the place it originates, Kasaba in TurkeyMilder sweetness in comparison with honeydew or cantaloupeIt is likened to a mix of cucumber and Asian pear however with a mild trace of spice
Gac melon
Gac melon is a small, spiky fruit native to Southeast Asia.
Vibrant orange-red flesh with a creamy textureMild and barely sweetTypically in season from September to DecemberExceptionally wealthy in beta-carotene and lycopene, which assist eye well being and immune operate
Ananas melon
Oval-shaped fruit with a agency, netted rind and a inexperienced to golden yellow colourSweet tropical flavour, much like pineappleIts historical past is essentially unknown, nonetheless it grew to become widespread within the US within the nineteenth centuryThey can be found from summer time to early autumn
Ambrosia melon
Ambrosia melon is a hybrid selection recognized for the way candy and juicy it’s.
Golden-yellow netted skinVibrant orange fleshSimilar dimension to a cantaloupeIt has a {smooth} and creamy textureIt is native to North America, thriving in heat climatesIt is usually in season in the course of the summer time monthsIt is wealthy in nutritional vitamins A and C, supporting immune operate and pores and skin well being
Sharlyn melon
Resembles an elongated cantaloupe with a thinner, mosaic-like nettingIt was first cultivated within the late fifteenth century in Southern France, Northern Italy and AlgeriaIt is a crossbreed of melon varieties which might be native to the Center East and Northern AfricaIt thrives in sizzling, dry climates and is usually in season in the course of the summer time months
Snap melon
Small and {smooth} with a light-weight inexperienced to pale yellow skinIt originates from IndiaThe flesh of a snap melon is mild orangeIt has a considerably bland style, fairly much like a cucumberThe extra cracked and ripe it’s, the sweeter it tastesIt is often cultivated between April and Might
Crane melon
Recognized for its {smooth}, inexperienced and yellow noticed rindIt originates from California because of cross-farming Japanese, Persian and Ambrosia melonsIt may be very candy, juicy and floralDue to their exceptionally quick shelf life (September to October) they can’t be shipped, making them very uncommon
Goddess melon
Oval-shaped with medium-coarse netting and mushy, orange fleshSweet and fruity
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