Fruits : Standard groups
honeydew melon
Botanical name: Cucumis melo var. indorus
Melonen gehören zum Gemüse, da es sich um die Früchte einjähriger Pflanzen handelt. Bei uns werden sie jedoch als Obst verzehrt und oft auch als solches bezeichnet.
Die Honigmelone ist eine Varietät der Zuckermelone und wird manchmal auch als solche bezeichnet. Der Name Honigmelone ist eigentlich eine Typenbezeichnung des Handels.
Because they are the fruits of annual plants, melons belong to the vegetables. However, in Germany they are eaten as a fruit and frequently also referred to as such. The honeydew melon is a variety of the muskmelon or sugar melon and is sometimes called by these names. The name honeydew melon is actually a trade classification. The honeydew melon is grown today and exported chiefly by Spain, Israel, South Africa and Brazil.
Availability
Like the muskmelon, the honeydew grows all year, but it is sold here mainly between June and September.
Appearance, taste, characteristics
Honeydew melons have the shape of a football. They have a smooth, bright-yellow skin with shallow longitudinal furrows. The pulp varies between whitish and a tender green. As with the other types of sugar melons, the seeds are in a hollow in the middle of the fruit. As its name implies, the honeydew melon is very sweet and tasty.
Ingredients
100 g of the edible parts contain:
|
|
Honeydew melon, fresh |
|
Energy (kcal) |
54 |
|
Water (g) |
84 |
|
Protein (g) |
1 |
|
Fat (g) |
0 |
|
Carbohydrates (g) |
12.4 |
|
Fibre (g) |
0.7 |
|
Vitamin C (mg) |
32 |
|
Vitamin A (RE) (µg) |
784 |
|
Carotene (mg) |
4.7 |
|
Folic acid (µg) |
30 |
|
Potassium (mg) |
310 |
|
Sodium (mg) |
17 |
|
Calcium (mg) |
13 |
|
Magnesium (mg) |
13 |
|
Iron (mg) |
0.2 |
Quality criteria, optimal storage conditions
Melons continue to ripen after they have been harvested, but they do not increase in sweetness. The pulp becomes softer and the juiciness increases. Unfortunately, melons are often picked before they are ripe enough to eat in order that they can be transported better, and these melons are lacking in flavour. It is not always possible to tell from the outer appearance how a melon will taste, so the purchase of a melon is something of a game of chance.
The refrigerator is a good place to keep a melon. Ripe ones should be eaten as soon as possible.
Form of consumption, use, processing, practical tips for preparation
Well-chilled muskmelons taste excellent just as they are. They are pleasantly refreshing especially on a hot summer day, owing to their high water content. It looks nice when a melon is hollowed out and used to serve a fruit salad. Alternatively, melon balls can be formed using a special cutter. These are good as decoration or in a punch.
Melons are popular not only for dessert but also as a starter. Served with dried, smoked ham such as prosciutto or with poultry or shrimp salad they make a good first course. Melons can also be candied, preserved sweet-sour, prepared as ice cream, or cooked for jam.
The skin and the seeds are not edible.
Seasoning tip
Pepper and ginger go well with melon.
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