If Your Louisiana Watermelon is Doing This… Get Away Quickly

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Extreme heat like we've been experiencing lately isn't good for anything.  Seriously, I'm trying to think of something beneficial.... nope... I've got nothing. And on these hot, summer days there's not much better than an iced-cold watermelon... unless your watermelon is doing this.

If you notice foam coming from your watermelon it means that its fermenting.  And in fact, melons can even explode if enough gases build up inside due various forms of bacteria, including E. coli and salmonella.

Now, if your melon gets to the point of exploding, it doesn't mean it's going to blow out your windows or take out a wall.  But it definetly means you do not want to eat it. Melons that have been exposed to severe above average temperatures for an extended period of time are at risk of a little fermentation foamation.

So what should you do if you see foam emitting from your favorite hot, summer day delight?  If it's still in the store, don't buy that one.  But if it's one you already have at home, the first thing to know is, don't try to eat it.  This probably isn't the 'watermelon wine' Tom T. Hall was singing about.  The best thing to do with it at that point is add it to your compost pile, or throw it in the garden and make some possums or raccoons really happy.

We still have a few weeks left of enjoying a nice, cold piece of watermelon. To prevent this from happening, make sure to get your melon in the fridge as soon as you get it home.