Ripe and Ready: Your No-Touch Guide to Fruit Selection

Pay close attention to the stem of the fruit, if present. A dried or browning stem on a melon, for example, can suggest that the fruit was harvested at its peak and is likely ripe. In contrast, a bright green, firmly attached stem might indicate that the fruit was picked prematurely. For fruits like grapes, a dry and woody stem often accompanies sweeter, more mature bunches. Observing the stem provides another subtle yet informative clue about the fruit's journey to ripeness.