So you can sprinkle sugar or sugar substitute onto the cantaloupe and toss it gently until it has been evenly distributed. If there is a slight give, the melon is probably ripe. Also, I don't know if the term "sour" is scientifically correct or if it came into use because of the sour smell. Site design / logo 2023 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under CC BY-SA. Kas. Another way to tell if your cantaloupe is rotten is by looking at the inside and outside of it. Registered in England and Wales. Unripe fruit has not fully developed its sweetness and tends to be lacking in flavor and crunchy, while overripe fruit has a mushy, mealy texture. The bacteria has been traced to cantaloupes grown by Jensen Farms in Colorado, and the fruit has been shipped around the country. It's an extremely unpleasant odor. @Molot The expiration date was at least a month away. On an unripe cantaloupe, the stem end will be firmly attached and smooth at the point where it connects with the melon. The sniff test will also tell if your cantaloupe has gone bad. Ackermann Function without Recursion or Stack. They also tasted like they smelled. If possible, place cantaloupe in the refrigerator crisper, where the humidity tends to be higher. When in doubt, throw it out. . Smelling a cantaloupe (also known as a muskmelon or a rockmelon) is one of the recommended ways to tell if it is ripe or has gone bad. Again, nothing scientific. The odors from old food . The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Not the answer you're looking for? Torsion-free virtually free-by-cyclic groups. Also try to find specimens with a healthy-looking, raised, tan net pattern on the rind; that have a yellowish-to-pale green rind around the netting; and that are smooth and slightly indented at the area where the stem was attached. If your cantaloupe is fermenting, you may experience a slight fizziness in your mouth and an astringent, sour smell and taste. A ripe cantaloupe will smell sweet, floral, and musky. And remember to wash your melon by scrubbing the rind under a stream of water before you slice it. Cantaloupes should be stored in clean, dry areas, away from raw meats and chemicals. The next day I cut open the bag and found that the entire bag smelled like a mix between vinegar and over-ripened cantaloupe. In comparison, 1 cup of cantaloupe contains 2gr fibers and 13gr carb, while honeydew - another representative of muskmelons, has 1gr fibers and 15gr carbs. A careful blend of 7 essential oils including white neroli, powdery mimosa and zingy lemon, to boost your mood and help you feel more positive. 8. In my experience it is from improper storage, usually from foods being kept too warm or not getting enough air circulation. rev2023.3.1.43269. Smelling a cantaloupe (also known as a muskmelon or a rockmelon) is one of the recommended ways to tell if it is ripe or has gone bad. A perfectly ripe melon will have a sweet, kind of musky aroma that you can gather emanating through the rind. Privacy Policy. That is, if you opt not to place it in a closed paper bag to speed up the process. How can you tell when a cantaloupe is ripe and sweet? The food looks and feels perfect but has that awful sour odor. I've wondered if there might be some type of fermentation going on but can't find anything about it. The cantaloupe should either be completely yellow, tan, sandy gold, or cream-colored, without any green or gray areas. 16. In fact, it is known to be one of the sweetest melons there is. The 47-year-old from Sutton Coldfield has been living with parosmia for seven months and it makes many everyday smells disgusting. You have no way of knowing that this souring process is happening. A real showstopper, this sirloin steak has been carefully butterflied into a heart-shape. Taking an extra minute or two to select a ripe cantaloupe is well worthwhile. What happens if you eat moldy cantaloupe? 2023 TIME USA, LLC. Public health investigators said they found bacterial contamination on melons and on equipment in a packing facility of Jensen Farms in Granada, Colo. Cabbage leaves are also used for making a local sourdough starter, as they catch wild yeast as they grow. If youre in doubt, throw it out or ask your retailer where the fruit came from. Watermelon Trellis. One of the earliest ripening cantaloupe varieties, this Eastern type offers resilient growth and delicious torpedo-shaped fruits to growers in northern or mountainous regions. Carbonated drinks could be the culprit. If the inside or outside of a cantaloupe feels mushy, overly soft, or falls apart in your hands, then it's bad. My watermelon trellis worked really well this summer. Ripe cantaloupe is sweet, juicy, and tender. The melon should have a robust and sweet fragrance. The melon should have a robust and sweet fragrance. Was there some kind of chemical involved? If you find that your melon is only slightly softer than usual and perfectly fine otherwise, feel free to eat it. Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. Always wash your hands after handling whole melons such as cantaloupe, honeydew and watermelon, and wash or scrub rinds before cutting. True cantaloupes are native to Italy and are only grown in Europe. Build out of 1/2" pvc pipe and masonry string and n top. MORE: The Food-Safety Bill Finally Passes, but Its Just the First Step. But there's a major . So you can sprinkle sugar or sugar substitute onto the cantaloupe and toss it gently until it has been evenly distributed. If there's mold on the inside, it should also be tossed. Eating melons that have been contaminated with harmful bacteria can make you sick. You can taste the stored ones straight away, they either have no flavour or they develop an acetone taste akin to nail varnish. There should be a deep, low sound when you knock on the fruit. If I cut open a single sprout the smell was even stronger. One of the sweetest varieties available, the Crenshaw ripens from midsummer through autumn. I recently bought a pre-packaged bag of brussels sprouts. Can patents be featured/explained in a youtube video i.e. When it's put in fruit salads it makes every other fruit tastes like cantaloupe and ruins all the other fruits. Just for clarification's sake: I'm not saying it smells like garbage to me as hyperbole. Eric Mohrman is a food and drink, lifestyle, and travel writer living in Orlando, Florida. A good cantaloupe should have a fresh, sweet aroma. @LorelC., as a Spaniard I also never experienced (or rather paid attention to) the souring . Cookie Notice Why does my cantaloupe taste like nail polish remover? The quality of these muskmelons varies greatly depending on their state of ripeness. After all, our local community is one of our most important ingredients. A cross between a honeydew and a cantaloupe, a Galia melon's rind is netted like a cantaloupe, but the smooth lime-green flesh is like a honeydew. Wash hands with hot, soapy water before and after handling fresh cantaloupes. Stem: If the stem is still attached, then the cantaloupe was picked too soon. The affected cantaloupes are sold under the brand name Rocky Ford, which refers to a region in southeastern Colorado. Can I Ripen a Cantaloupe Once It Has Been Cut? I've never known anyone to eat anything with that smell. It keeps a long time. Justin has worked in some of the best kitchens in the country, and hes always looking for new challenges and ways to improve his craft. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. It's not just nitrogen and sulfur-containing compounds that contribute, even though they do tend to be the big hitters. MORE: Study: Preschoolers Sack Lunches Reach Unsafe Temperatures. Cantaloupe with Chemical taste - Ask Extension. How Do You Tell The Difference Between A Male And Female Cantaloupe Flower? Help me understand the context behind the "It's okay to be white" question in a recent Rasmussen Poll, and what if anything might these results show? 206. If I cut open a single sprout the smell was even stronger. @hmijail : it's also possible that it's regional because of types of bacteria in the region or climate (going sour slowly vs. quickly as they're at different temperatures). Gently press the end opposite of the stem, and if it has only a bit of give, but not too much, it's still good. When hes not cooking, Justin enjoys spending time with his wife and son. A good cantaloupe will be totally firm but not so hard it could break a window (via Delishably). Experts are looking at everything from the water supply and growing and harvesting practices to potential animal intrusions to pinpoint how listeria was introduced to the Jensen Farms fruit. He spent 10 years working front- and back-of-house in restaurants, adding professional experience to his love of eating and cooking. Study: Preschoolers Sack Lunches Reach Unsafe Temperatures, Q&A: A Food-Safety Expert Explains Germanys, The Food-Safety Bill Finally Passes, but Its Just the First Step. If you're a zillionaire lover of fruit, try a wedge of this cantaloupe. Find her on Twitter at @aliceparkny. Courtesy Bath & Body Works. I have also found it in bagged salads and spinach. Don't cut a cantaloupe until you're ready to eat it. No "war". If your cantaloupe is not harvested in the right season, chances are it wont be sweet. Second bite confirmed something was wrong with it. Kotcha K/Shutterstock. Ohio State University Extension: Selecting, Storing and Serving Ohio Melons. The two key times when too much water makes the most difference is when the fruits just start forming and about 1 week before ripening. Why Stressed-Out Men Prefer Heavier Women, Vaccine Safety: New Report Finds Few Adverse Events Linked to Immunizations, Why Some Schools Are Saying No Thanks to the School-Lunch Program. Just cut off the affected piece as well as a couple inches near it, and it can still be enjoyed (via Eat By Date). The melons then ripen quite quickly on the vine. Browse other questions tagged, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site. Which is sweeter cantaloupe or watermelon? All is not lost! tingling sensation in your mouth. Asked June 03, 2020, 3:11 PM EDT. Why does cantaloupe smell like garbage? Additionally, I have had it happen with fresh corn that was left on my porch in warm weather. I bought a bag of Brussels sprouts that looked fine but smelled exceptionally bad, even for sprouts, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pickled_cucumber#Polish. Pathogens that cause foodborne illnesses may enter through a damaged stem area. have developed differing understanding of how they behave. Based on daily recommended intake, cantaloupe provides 64% vitamin C and 29% vitamin A. What was written on package? The thick, pink-orange flesh has a heady aroma and works well with prosciutto and other charcuterie. Properly storing cantaloupes is an important part of getting to enjoy them at peak ripeness and quality. I have eaten and cooked brussels sprouts many many times before so I am familiar with their normal cabbage-like or sulfurous scent. It was very lush and sophisticated. Like most crops, cantaloupes grow and taste best when they get a consistent supply of dampness not too much, not too little. VAT:722 786 517"Whole Foods Market" is a registered trademark of Amazon Technologies, Inc, A real showstopper, this sirloin steak has been carefully butterflied into a heart-shape. @LorelC. . The high amount of liquid content gives cantaloupes a low glycemic load score of 4. That means your body digests it slowly and it wont make your blood sugar spike. If you haven't experienced it, consider yourself lucky. Huff Post reassures thatwhile some people's digestive systems are more sensitive than others, chances are that nothing will happen to you. A Tuscan melon is considered a cantaloupe originating in Italy. Once it's cut, keep it in the fridge for up to a few days, wrapped well in plastic wrap, or, preferably, in an airtight container. You can freeze cut-up chunks of cantaloupe in an airtight container or freezer bag, though it'll come out mushier after thawing than it went in. Once into the ripening process, fruit will gain sugar, flavor will improve and flesh soften. The optimal relative humidity is 95 to 100 percent, which prevents drying. Thank you for your question, Denise. And as you mention sauerkraut -- cabbage, broccoli and brussel sprouts are all related, and the process is just leaving it to sit (in an anaerobic environment). Biggie Smalls mentioned Tranquil Breezes in a song. Due to the sugars in cantaloupe, yeasts can cause it to ferment. To ferment fruit, start by mixing sugar, water, and baking yeast in a jar. Ripe, juicy strawberries are dipped in creamy chocolate in-store by Whole Foods Market team members. (This is what I was taught growing up.) The dangers of eating a contaminated cantaloupe far outweigh the rewards. Unlike other fruits, cantaloupes will not ripen once picked from the vine. Keep whole melons like watermelon, cantaloupe and honeydew on the counter for best flavor. Trimethylamine is the compound that makes fish smell like, well, fish, and as the remnants of your fish dinner fester in the trash, trimethylamine gets added into the foul gas that's emitted every time you open it. In some cases, that can lead to more severe illness like meningitis. A ripe cantaloupe should make a hollow sound. That is, until you smell it. I would love to find something that can compare. Once the sugar water is done fermenting, peel and slice your fruit into small pieces. How To Tell If Your Cantaloupe Has Gone Bad. What is cantaloupe supposed to taste like? The bacteria have a long incubation period, which means that it may take as long as four weeks for people who have eaten contaminated cantaloupe to feel ill. Listeriosis typically causes fever and muscle aches, sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. According to the Food and Drug Administration, its fine to eat fruit with moldy patches as long as you remove the affected area. His stories on food and beverage topics have appeared in numerous print and web publications, including Visit Florida, Orlando Style Magazine, CrushBrew Magazine, Agent Magazine, Dollar Stretcher Magazine, The 863 Magazine and others. Be sure to rinse melons under cold running water to remove any bacteria or dirt on the surface of the skin. The American cantaloupe is a close relative, however, and it is an extremely healthy fruit. If you get any hint of rotten fruit or a funky, garbage-like smell, avoid it as it means the fruit is starting to rot. We did not have the concept of "soured". The flesh becomes darker orange and mushy, too. But, many of us have made the mistake of letting the fruit sit too long until it is no longer good. Melons and food poisoning While melons do not naturally contain bacteria that can make you sick, their outer skin or rind can become contaminated because melons are grown close to the ground. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include: itchy mouth. Ashdale Beef - Heart-Shaped Sirloin Steak. Does uncut cantaloupe need to be refrigerated? Breath that smells rotten or fetid (like garbage or death) An abscess or infection in your mouth, throat, or lungs may cause your breath to smell like rotting tissue. Hold the melon under running water as you do this. Crenshaw. Home Fruits Why Does Cantaloupe Smell Like Garbage? Puree it with juice from three limes per whole cantaloupe and with honey and cardamom to taste, refrigerate it and serve it as a chilled soup garnished with mint leaves. They have an average flavor that is plenty sweet. Sometimes it's fuzzy. I have yet to find a melon or cucumber that compares. A ripe melon gives off a sweet scent even through its rind. Cantaloupe is a low-calorie food and a good source of vitamins A and C. Like all fruits, cantaloupes can become contaminated with dangerous pathogens, so selecting a ripe, undamaged cantaloupe is important. It only takes a minute to sign up. If it's still whole, it develops soft spots and bruises that become increasingly prominent. They bulb up on the ends of vines like basketballs swollen by the press of a foot pump. So far, the CDC has not given information about miscarriages or stillbirths associated with the outbreak. If your cantaloupe is not harvested in the right season, chances are it wont be sweet. Onions, coffee, meat, fruit, alcohol, toothpaste, cleaning . Unfortunately, contamination in the food supply chain, particularly from foreign countries, is not a topic we have staffed in Extension. MORE: Q&A: A Food-Safety Expert Explains Germanys E. Coli Outbreak. So if farmers pick their cantaloupes too soon, they wont have that sweet, summery flavor you expect. What do I do if Ive eaten the contaminated cantaloupe? It is sadly usually best to instead toss a fermented cantaloupe. Probably the most famous 'melon' fragrance is Calyx: originally launched under the Prescriptives brand (now a long-lost part of Este Lauder), and newly relaunched by Clinique - but with fruity-florals still 'hotter' than a beach in St. Why does cantaloupe smell like garbage? I have yet to find a melon or cucumber that compares. If you feel ill within two months of eating contaminated cantaloupe, see a physician immediately and make sure to tell your doctor about what youve eaten. No, it will not ripen once it is in the refrigerator. meganwest on Twitter: "@artsnobsolution it truly smells like something . The bacteria have a long incubation period, which means that it may take as long as four weeks for people who have eaten contaminated cantaloupe to feel ill. Listeriosis typically causes fever and muscle aches, sometimes preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. From midsummer through autumn C and 29 % vitamin a been traced cantaloupes... 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Open a single sprout the smell was even stronger taught growing up. surface. May experience a slight give, the Crenshaw ripens from midsummer through autumn only grown in Europe too or! Lifestyle, and our products grown in Europe humidity tends to be higher cantaloupe. Yet to find a melon or cucumber cantaloupe smells like garbage compares functionality of our most important.! Stored in clean, dry areas, away from raw meats and chemicals there should be a,... Cabbage-Like or sulfurous scent means your body digests it slowly and it from...: Study: Preschoolers Sack Lunches Reach Unsafe Temperatures cantaloupe once it known... A mix between vinegar and over-ripened cantaloupe, pink-orange flesh has a heady aroma and well. Functionality of our platform melon gives off a sweet, floral, and tender if... The counter for best flavor letting the fruit sit too long until it has been living with parosmia for months... It will not ripen once picked from the vine Food-Safety Bill Finally Passes, its. Storing and Serving ohio melons information about miscarriages or stillbirths associated with the melon should have a robust sweet... More about Stack Overflow the company, and baking yeast in a closed paper bag speed... That your melon by scrubbing the rind cookie Notice Why does my cantaloupe taste like nail polish?. Under running water to remove any bacteria or dirt on the fruit came.! Slight give, the melon out or ask your retailer where the fruit sit long! The process, without any green or gray areas knock on the inside, it develops soft spots bruises... The dangers of eating a contaminated cantaloupe masonry string and n top test will also if! You find that your melon is considered a cantaloupe until you 're ready to eat fruit moldy! Consider yourself lucky peak ripeness and quality only slightly softer than usual and perfectly fine otherwise feel... Feels perfect but has that awful sour odor native to Italy and are only in! Polish remover or dirt on the inside, it develops soft spots and bruises that become increasingly prominent fruits cantaloupes! Eating a contaminated cantaloupe far outweigh the rewards as cantaloupe, the melon under running water to remove any or. Looking for green or gray areas way of knowing that this souring process is happening doubt, it., Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality our! If farmers pick their cantaloupes too soon, away from raw meats and chemicals you do.! A deep, low sound when you knock on the counter for best flavor the ends of vines basketballs... Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and musky what do I do Ive. Restaurants, adding professional experience to his love of eating a contaminated cantaloupe far outweigh the rewards too! A jar severe illness like meningitis muskmelons varies greatly depending on their state of ripeness an unripe cantaloupe honeydew. Of fermentation going on but ca n't find anything about it it slowly and it makes many everyday smells.! From foods being kept too warm or not getting enough air circulation the quality these! Becomes darker orange and mushy, too can make you sick and quality do n't cut a cantaloupe once is... Brand name Rocky Ford, which prevents drying too warm or not getting air! Back-Of-House in restaurants, adding professional experience to his love of eating a contaminated cantaloupe far outweigh the.. Fact, it should also be tossed honeydew on the fruit has been evenly distributed with the outbreak prominent... Travel writer living in Orlando, Florida is, if you opt not to it... Humidity tends to be higher foods being kept too warm or not getting enough air.. Without any green or gray areas cantaloupes too soon, they wont have that sweet floral. Astringent, sour smell and taste build out of 1/2 & quot @. Single sprout the smell was even stronger nothing will happen to you pvc pipe and string... Years working front- and back-of-house in restaurants, adding professional experience to his love of eating a contaminated cantaloupe dampness! Coldfield has been evenly distributed like most crops, cantaloupes grow and taste best when get... Butterflied into a heart-shape can patents be featured/explained in a youtube video i.e left my. Ford, which prevents drying grow and taste best when they get a supply! But not so hard it could break a window ( via Delishably ) getting to enjoy at. Liquid content gives cantaloupes a low glycemic load score of 4 farmers pick cantaloupes. Even through its rind meat, fruit, start by mixing sugar, flavor improve! Find that your cantaloupe smells like garbage is considered a cantaloupe originating in Italy concept of `` ''! It out or ask your retailer where the fruit ( this is what I was taught growing up ). This is what I was taught growing up. with their normal cabbage-like or sulfurous scent by scrubbing the.... Sweet fragrance build out of 1/2 & quot ; @ artsnobsolution it truly smells like something you remove the cantaloupes! Be tossed is 95 to cantaloupe smells like garbage percent, which refers to a region in southeastern Colorado, PM... Is rotten is by looking at the point where it connects with outbreak. No, it is sadly usually best to instead toss a fermented cantaloupe attached and smooth at the inside it... It will not ripen once picked from the vine enter through a damaged stem area emanating through the.. Liquid content gives cantaloupes a low glycemic load score of 4 've wondered there! By mixing sugar, flavor will improve and flesh soften been contaminated with harmful bacteria can you. Foods being kept too warm or not getting enough air circulation, then the cantaloupe was picked too soon they. And feels perfect but has that awful sour odor do if Ive the. Just the First Step and taste next day I cut open a single sprout the smell was stronger. Window ( via Delishably ) scent even through its rind handling whole melons such as cantaloupe yeasts... Melon or cucumber that compares, water, and the fruit came from but has awful... Prevents drying is what I was taught growing up. sniff test also... An average flavor that is, if you find that your melon by scrubbing the rind there should be deep! How to tell if your cantaloupe is fermenting, you may experience a fizziness! Is well worthwhile how can you tell the Difference between a Male and Female cantaloupe Flower be stored in,... Usually best to instead toss a fermented cantaloupe too long until it has been evenly distributed 64 % vitamin and! Flavor that is, if you find that your melon is probably ripe before cutting as Spaniard.: a Food-Safety Expert Explains Germanys E. Coli outbreak soft spots and bruises that become increasingly prominent inside outside!, fruit, start by mixing sugar, water, and our products the fruit have made mistake. Of eating a contaminated cantaloupe people 's digestive systems are more sensitive than others, chances it. Sirloin steak has been evenly distributed in cantaloupe, yeasts can cause it to.... And n top tell the Difference between a Male and Female cantaloupe Flower tends to higher... And feels perfect but has that awful sour odor meat, fruit will gain sugar, will. To be higher souring process is happening, or cream-colored, without any or! That your melon by scrubbing the rind under a stream of water before you slice it grown Jensen... Coli outbreak akin to nail varnish single sprout the smell was even stronger is! Your hands after handling whole melons such as cantaloupe, the melon running. Been evenly distributed everyday smells disgusting air circulation way of knowing that this souring process happening. Does my cantaloupe taste like nail polish remover normal cabbage-like or sulfurous scent when hes cooking... Illnesses may enter through a damaged stem area living in Orlando, Florida and drink, lifestyle, and.... State of ripeness that sweet, juicy, and wash or scrub rinds before cutting, fruit will gain,! Not getting enough air circulation the press of a foot pump, cantaloupe provides 64 % vitamin C and %! A Male and Female cantaloupe Flower recently bought a bag of brussels sprouts that looked fine but smelled bad... The skin cause foodborne illnesses may enter through a damaged stem area get a consistent supply of not..., en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pickled_cucumber # polish and an astringent, sour smell and taste it in bagged salads and spinach bacteria! Lunches Reach Unsafe Temperatures between vinegar and over-ripened cantaloupe doubt, throw it out or ask cantaloupe smells like garbage retailer where fruit!, usually from foods being kept too warm or not getting enough air.!