How to Tell When Squash & Melons Are Ripe

Feel the texture and squeeze melons or squash. Fruits and vegetables soften yet still retain some firmness as they ripen. If the food is very soft, it has probably become so ripe that it has started to rot. The structure should have a firm texture with a slight give. If it's rock hard, then it still has ripening to do.

Check for bruises, cracks or any blemishes on squash and melons. Damage can cause fruits or vegetables to ripen early and begin rotting. However, sometimes the food is still good enough to eat if harvested soon after the damage occurs.

Look at the color of the squash. Spaghetti squash has a creamy white texture that becomes bright yellow as the food ripens. Butternut squash displays a light beige color and becomes deep tan when fully ripe. Acorn squash has a glossy green color with an yellow circular patch on the bottom, facing the ground. The yellow spot begins to turn orange as the vegetable ripens. Delicata squash varieties showcase a white background with green stripes. The background begins to change to orange blush or beige as it becomes ripe.

Look at the color of the melons. Watermelons become dark green with faded spots on top as they ripen. Bitter melon has a medium green texture with yellow stripes when it's ready to eat. Honeydew melons have a white appearance that changes to off white with hints of yellow as the fruit ripens. Cantaloupe is off white and becomes deeper in color with yellow accents as it matures.

Look at the shape of the melons or squash. Spaghetti squash and many other varieties develop into a round, oblong or pumpkinlike shape as it ripens. Winter squash has a round base with a slender extension that shoots out from the top. Sometimes the top portion of winter squash bends slightly. Bitter melon has a long, oblong shape that looks similar to a cucumber. Watermelon has an roundish, oblong shape and honeydew and other types of melons have a circular shape. Ripe cantaloupes have a round shape with a rough texture or grooves that look similar to a basketball, depending on the variety.