Plan the perfect garden with our interactive tool →

How to Ripen Cantaloupe Quickly

...
Bryan Sander/Demand Media

Tip

For home-grown cantaloupe, a sign the melons are ripe and ready for harvest is easy separation from the vine, the Texas A&M University AgriLife Extension reports.

In addition to smelling the melon for ripeness, look for cantaloupes that appear to have an evenly distributed netting over their surface when purchasing the fruit, the Ohio State University recommends.

Some people shy away from purchasing cantaloupe because it's difficult to tell a good melon from a bad one. With its tough, netted rind, ripeness is not readily apparent on a cantaloupe. However, the melons will continue to ripen after being picked. Their sugar does not change after harvest, so they don't get sweeter with age. However, they do become more desirable to eat because the flesh continues to soften and the melon becomes juicier, the University of California-Davis reports.

...
Bryan Sander/Demand Media

Store your cantaloupe at room temperature after harvesting it or purchasing it from the grocery store or a market, the Ohio State University Extension advises. This will encourage the fruit to soften and become more juicy.

  • Some people shy away from purchasing cantaloupe because it's difficult to tell a good melon from a bad one.
  • However, the melons will continue to ripen after being picked.
...
Bryan Sander/Demand Media

Set the cantaloupe in a paper bag once you want to speed up the ripening process. Keep it at room temperature during this process.

...
Bryan Sander/Demand Media

Place ethylene-producing fruits such as an apple or banana in the paper bag with the cantaloupe to further speed up the ripening. Cantaloupes are not as responsive to ethylene to hurry the ripening process, but it will help somewhat, the University of California-Davis reports.

...
Bryan Sander/Demand Media

Check on the melon the next day to see whether it appears ripe. The best way to check the ripeness of a cantaloupe is by smelling it. A ripe cantaloupe will smell sweet and musty, the Ohio State University Extension advises. A strong smell is an indication that you may have allowed the fruit to become too ripe, so it's best to check the fruit frequently.

  • Set the cantaloupe in a paper bag once you want to speed up the ripening process.

Related Articles

How to Ripen a Watermelon
How to Ripen a Watermelon
How to Ripen Mangos Faster
How to Ripen Mangos Faster
How to Ripen Asian Pears
How to Ripen Asian Pears
The Best Ways to Ripen Kiwi Fruit
The Best Ways to Ripen Kiwi Fruit
My Avocado Won't Ripen
My Avocado Won't Ripen
How to Know When to Pick Apples
How to Know When to Pick Apples
My Cucumbers Are Getting Soft After Picking
My Cucumbers Are Getting Soft After Picking
How to Know When a Papaya on a Tree Is Ready to Be Picked?
How to Know When a Papaya on a Tree Is Ready to Be...
How to Wrap and Store Apples and Pears
How to Wrap and Store Apples and Pears
How Long Does It Take for Lemons to Ripen on a Lemon Tree?
How Long Does It Take for Lemons to Ripen on a Lemon...
Should You Wait Until a Freeze Before Picking Apples?
Should You Wait Until a Freeze Before Picking Apples?
How to Ripen Butternut Squash After Picking
How to Ripen Butternut Squash After Picking
How to Store Pears in the Fridge
How to Store Pears in the Fridge
Garden Guides
×