4/07/2008: A perfectly ripe cantaloupe will have a sweet, fresh fragrance. It should feel heavy for its size and give slightly at both ends when gently pressed. If the cantaloupe is soft, yellowing or feels wet at the stem end, pass it by. To ripen a hard cantaloupe, store it in a warm place for several days, away from sunlight. Once it is ripe, refrigerate and use within a week. For a melon basket, use a nontoxic marker to draw zigzag pattern on melon. Cut deeply into fruit along pattern, separate halves, seed, and fill with fruit. Last Updated 09/04/2008 |