1) Look the watermelon over: You are looking for a firm, symmetrical melon that is free from bruises, cuts or dents.
2) Lift it up: The melon should be heavy for its size. Melons are 92 percent water.
3) Tun it over: The underside of the melon should have a creamy yellow spot from where it sat on the ground and ripened in the sun....

Thump on it..should sound hollow

OK. Now, does this work for all watermelons? Striped, speckled, ice-box and "personal" melons? What about the square Japanese watermelon? and don't you have to check the stem end in case it was picked too soon? Do the same criteria apply to yellow-meat and seedless?

Texican, it was more on the "personal" picking I was refering too!

Spurs, I agree with jessie: " thump on it", but it has to thump back before is is tastyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!

Best to take it out to dinner and a movie (with a few cocktails thrown in) before you start in on the thumping!!

I...am....so......fighting......the........urge.......to....make....a.....sexist
......comment.........but.....I.....fear........the....wrath.....of......momma

Screw it - It helps if her parents own a liquor store and she is a nymphomaniac who likes to smoke dope too!

wohaa! carbunkletrumpet, yo name just dropped wayyy down the dance card.