Here are Tips for Choosing Good and Fresh Fruit, So Easy!

Some Fruits (Source: freepik.com)

How often do you get it wrong when buying fruit? Admittedly, choosing sweet and fresh fruit is easy. Especially, if you have to choose it yourself at the supermarket. 

It's nice to buy from your local fruit vendor, just ask them to pick the best and freshest one. Even so, you still need to know how to choose sweet fruit so you don't get it wrong all the time. 

Instead of being confused, here are tips on how to choose good and fresh fruit. Check it out!

1. Avocado

Avocado is a fruit that is often "tricky". Once you choose the wrong unripe avocado, the bitter taste and hard texture make it impossible to enjoy. 

The characteristics of good and fresh fruit on avocados can be seen from:

• The skin of the avocado is dark green and easy to peel off
• The part near the stem of a ripe avocado feels soft when pressed, but still solid and not mushy
• The sound of the seed being released when the avocado is shaken
• The color of the stem of a ripe avocado looks yellowish green.

2. Mango

Mango season is one of the most awaited fruit seasons. Can you imagine the sweet and fragrant mango fruit with a tempting yellowish color? However, choosing a ripe and sweet fruit amidst the mountains of mangoes can be a bit tricky. 

Instead of making the wrong choice, check the following characteristics of ripe mangoes first.

• Even skin color looks slippery
• Look for mangoes with flesh that is not so soft by pressing a little on the mango body without leaving a mark
• The aroma of the mango is fragrant and sweet
• Check the skin around the stem piece, ripe mangoes usually have traces of dried sap and brownish stalk residue.

3. Dragon Fruit

The deep magenta color of dragon fruit always looks tantalizing. Containing plenty of water, rich in vitamins and fiber, this fruit is a favorite of all ages. 

Harvested throughout the year, choosing a sweet dragon fruit can be challenging. Even though the color is red, sometimes the taste is bland or not sweet. 

So, what are the characteristics of a sweet dragon fruit?

• The Magenta color appears evenly distributed on the skin
• Scales or petals on the skin of dragon fruit tend to be short
• The distance between the scales is wide 
• The color of the scales is bright, not brownish
• When pressed on the skin near the stem, the fruit feels soft.

4. Oranges

Who doesn't love oranges? The flavor of oranges gives a fresh sensation that makes your eyes pop when you bite into it. 

There are many varieties of oranges in the market or fruit shops. Although all citrus fruits look the same from the outside, you can't just pick one randomly. 

Here are tips for choosing good and fresh fruit for oranges. 

• Look for shiny and smooth skin because if the skin is rough, it means it is not fresh and contains little water.
• Choose thin-skinned oranges that contain a lot of water
• Take dark orange colored oranges for Mandarin oranges
• Check the bottom of the orange, if the fruit is sweet then the bottom is slightly concave.

Illustration of Fruit (Source: freepik.com)

5. Papaya

What fruit is sweet, fresh, cheap, and easy to get? Papaya is the answer. You can buy this favorite fruit at your local greengrocer, fruit shop, and even big supermarkets. 

It's quite easy to recognize the characteristics of ripe papaya. Take a look at how to choose this sweet fruit below.

• Check the color of the ripe papaya skin, generally yellow to reddish-orange.
• If there are still some green spots, it's okay to pick them up, especially if you plan to eat them in the afternoon or the next day.
• Press the papaya gently, if it is ripe the fruit feels soft
• Avoid buying papaya that has mold on the part where the stem is attached
• Smell the papaya near the stem, ripe papaya will have a soft sweet aroma.

6. Watermelon

Just like papaya, watermelon is also one of the easiest fruits to obtain. Eating it just like that is delicious, especially when the weather is scorching hot. Watermelon contains a lot of water that can refresh thirst with natural sweetness. 

Instead of buying watermelon in pieces, buying a whole watermelon is quite challenging. It's not uncommon to be disappointed when you choose the wrong watermelon. 

What are the characteristics of a sweet and red watermelon?

• The shape tends to be round and friable
• When the skin is tapped, there is a heavy sound that indicates the fruit is ripe
• There are yellow spots (fields) on the watermelon skin
• The lines on the watermelon skin look sharp and dark
• There are brownish webs like cobwebs on the watermelon rind
• The stem cut appears dry, not green
• The watermelon rind looks firm, and thick, and does not break easily when pressed.

7. Melon 

Melon's mildly sweet flavor makes it easy to love. The flesh is juicy and not so hard, making it even better when eaten cold. 

However, buying a whole melon has its special tricks. To avoid buying the wrong melon, here are some tips on how to choose fresh and good fruit. 

• Check the color of the melon, choose a slightly dull-colored melon, usually pale green or pale yellow.
• Avoid taking melons with cracks on the skin
• Observe the texture of the netting on the melon skin, the thicker and more yellowish, the sweeter it is
• Smell the aroma of the melon across the base of the fruit, ripe melons have a sweet, floral aroma
• When lifted and patted, the melon feels firm, not hard, and full. 

Fruit Illustration (Source: freepik.com)

8. Pineapple

Not only is pineapple delicious eaten straight, but it's also delicious when processed. For example, salad filling, juice, pickles, or salad. 

Making sure pineapple has the right sweetness and sourness doesn't require a lot of experience. You just need to research the following characteristics of ripe pineapple.

• The crown of the pineapple stem is bright green and upright or not withered.
• The skin color of ripe pineapple is yellowish and looks shiny and slippery when exposed to light
• Ripe pineapple is rather soft when you press the surface of the skin
• The pineapple skin pattern looks large and wide
• Pineapple has a fragrant aroma, especially at the end of the stalk.

9. Mangosteen

Mangosteen is also easily found in fruit shops and markets. The flesh of the fruit is white, contrasting with its dark purple or dark red skin. 

When mangosteen season arrives, it's easy to pick out the sweet fruit. On the other hand, if you want mangosteens when they're not in season, it can be a little tricky to pick the sweet ones with lots of flesh.

However, you can tell which mangosteens are sweet without tasting them in the following ways.

• Choose small or medium-sized mangosteens 
• Look for mangosteens that are reddish-purple, quite intense but not blackish
• Take mangosteens with skin that is not smooth
• Gently press the skin of the mangosteen to see if it feels soft or not
• Check the bottom or the number of "petals" which represents how much is inside the mangosteen. 

10. Apple

One apple a day, keeps the doctor away. This slogan has led to apples being chosen by many people as their daily intake of fruits. 

To get the most out of every apple you eat, it's important to choose fresh and ripe apples. How to do this?

• Choose apples that are still firm as a sign of the crispness of the flesh
• Tap the fruit with your finger, if you hear a loud sound, the apple contains a lot of water and is still crunchy
• Avoid apples that appear bruised
• Look for apples with smooth skin
• Smell the aroma of ripe apples that have a distinctive fragrance. 

Now you know how to choose a good and fresh fruit. Make sure you stock up on fruit as needed so you can always eat fresh fruit at any time. Have you eaten any fruit today?