When Americans speak of the honeydew melon, they’re generally referring to the White Antibes melon, a type of muskmelon, grown in France and throughout the United States. Several different types of melon can be classed as honeydews. These include the casaba, Persian, and Crenshaw. The White Antibes version, known scientifically as Cucumis melo, is certainly most recognizable to American consumers. In the US, you’ll find fresh honeydews, grown in California, Arizona and Texas, from about the end of May to early October.
The melon should be almost perfectly round with a smooth, waxy white skin. The white can be slightly tinged with green, but should not be completely green. The rind should never be fuzzy, and you should avoid melons that have brown spots. When you pick up a honeydew melon it should feel heavy, representing the density of the melon’s inner flesh. It shouldn’t feel completely hard on the outside, but the exterior should only barely yield to pressure from the hands. Look for an average sized melon that weighs about 5 pounds (2.27kg).
The inside view of the honeydew melon is undoubtedly attractive. When you cut it in half, you’ll note its light green flesh, and a layer of seeds. These are easily scooped out with a spoon. You can merely eat the honeydew in slices, since it has a sweet and mild, melon flavor, or it can be cut into cubes to add to salads. Since there are few truly green fruits, the aesthetic quality of honeydew shouldn’t be underestimated. It tastes good or better than it looks, slightly reminiscent of cucumbers but much sweeter.
Honeydew melon has some nutritional value, especially in its Vitamin C content. A cup (7.28kg) offers 400% of the US recommended daily allowance (RDA) of Vitamin C and is a fair source of protein. To boost the nutritional offering, pair honeydew melon with cantaloupe, an orange-fleshed melon that has high levels of Vitamin A. Actually you’ll frequently see honeydew and cantaloupe combined since the orange and green together are such a pretty combination.
If you’re desperate for a honeydew when they are out of season, you’ve got a couple of choices. The melons are frequently grown in Mexico and imported to the US. Use the suggestions above for determining quality. You can also purchase canned honeydew, usually in tropical fruit mixes, which may tide you over to the next season.