SmartShopIt Blog

Muscato Melon Balls with Marscapone Cream Recipe Included

When I was a novice shopper, I always felt like buying a melon was a grab-bag affair. You know those intriguing bags that used to be very popular where the merchant would entice you to take a chance and buy a bag with a surprise inside. And there was always a promise by the merchant that you might get lucky and actually find something really valuable in your bag. The merchandising was always enough to tantalize you to give up good money for a product, sight unseen.

There was a recent post on the SmartShopIt Fan page as well as a SmartShopIt Tweet for a great price on cantaloupe melons (a.k.a. cantaloup or muskmelon). I got a call on the day of that post from a friend who was at the store trying to take advantage of the great price that was posted. She asked me for suggestions on how to select a good melon without being able to see or taste the actual product inside. I told her you have to apply a little of the grab-bag expertise to that process.

First, position in the bin matters. You may not want to pick the ones at the bottom as they may have been crushed or damaged by the packages stacked on top of it.

While with a grab-bag you may be fooled by pretty packaging making you think there’s something good inside, the melon skin tells you a lot about what treasure it holds. The North American cantaloupe (common in the U.S. and Canada) should have a well defined web. In other parts of the world the outer rind may look different. For example, in Australia and New Zealand it is known as the rockmelon due to the rock like appearance of the fruit’s skin.

While a tear in the grab-bag’s package may be an advantage so you could peek inside, for the cantaloupe it is a means for where moisture can escape from the fruit and dry it out. It could also be an entrance for dirt or a hungry insect. So make sure there are no tears, bruises, scars or blemishes on the skin.

Look also for the “field spot” or “butter spot”. This is the yellowish oval area formed where the melon was resting on the ground. This is one way the farmers tell when the melon is ripe. The spot, especially on green-skinned melons and watermelons, should be yellowish. Then inspect the spot where the stem was attached. Most melons detach from the stem naturally when ripe. If the stem was cut, it can mean the melon was harvested before it was ripe.

Like a Christmas present pick up the package, then squeeze and gently shake it. It should be firm and feel heavy for its size. When shaking a rattling sound means the inside may be dried out and the seeds are knocking around. A sloshy sound may mean it’s over-ripe and the inside product is too soft. Don’t buy if the melon has these characteristics. Gently knock on the melon. It should sound slightly hollow.

Smell the package. Hey, you want to know if the grab-bag has something yummy inside. For the cantaloupe, this is exactly what we want. It should have a slight (but not overpowering) musky, sweet fragrance. Just like you would smell the grab-bag near the opening to get the best chance to catch a whiff of what’s inside, smell the melon near where the stem (penduncle) used to be.

Now I also realize choosing a ripe melon depends on the preferences of the individual. I prefer a sweeter, crisper melon so the suggestions above fit that profile. For a heavy musk flavor and softer flesh look for strong yellow color, no stem (peduncle) attached, more give to the squeeze and a strong musk odor. For a very sweet melon with little or no musk flavor, choose a fruit that has the stem still on the fruit and no aroma.

Hopefully with these tips, it will help you to select the right cantaloupe. Once you get it home, storage is also important. You can continue to ripen the melon on the counter if needed. You can speed up this process by putting the melon in a brown bag. Once it’s fully ripe, move immediately to the refrigerator. It can be stored there for up to four to five days.

Because the surface of a cantaloupe can contain harmful bacteria —in particular, salmonella— it is always a good idea to wash a melon thoroughly before cutting and consumption. Once cut the melon begins drying out so I suggest cutting only when read to eat. Only cut the amount you need. Also don’t scrape the seeds from the uncut portion as the seeds help keep the melon from drying out. Wrap the unused portion tightly in plastic wrap.

Looking for a great dish to make with the cantaloupe? When I was the chef/innkeeper at a bed & breakfast, one of the items on my menu was:

Muscato Melon Balls with Mascarpone Cream (serves 6)

Ingredients

6 cups of fresh melon such as cantaloupe, honeydew or casaba (or a mix)
2 tablespoons fresh tarragon, chopped
1 ½ cups, chilled Muscato

Preparation

Cut melon in half and seed, scooped out with a melon baller (6 cups)
Mix melon balls and tarragon in a bowl
Add Muscato and macerate for a minimum of 30 minutes and up to 12 hours in the refrigerator.
Divide melon balls among 6 dessert cups or balloon wine glasses, reserving liquid
Just before serving, pour 1/4 cup reserved liquid over each cup and top with the mascarpone cream (recipe beow)

Mascarpone Cream

Ingredients

8 ounces mascarpone cheese, cold
1/4 cup whipping/heavy cream
4 tbsp powdered sugar, or to taste

Preparation

Beat all ingredients together with a whisk or hand mixer until soft peaks form. If you want to make the filling sweeter, then add a bit more sugar. You might have to add a little more cream to keep the cream from getting too stiff.

Cantaloupe melons are an excellent source of vitamin A and beta carotene. One serving of cantaloupe melons will also provide the recommended amount of vitamin C for a whole day. Click here to see more nutrition information for the cantaloupe.

SmartShopit Price Guide – Cantaloupe Fresh/Raw (indivual)

Smart Buy Range – $0.77 – $1.50 ea.
Average Price – $3.20 ea.
High Price – $4.00 ea

SmartShopit Price Guide – Cantaloupe Fresh/Raw (by weight)

Smart Buy Range – $0.39 – $.70 lb.
Average Price – $1.05 lb.
High Price – $1.40 lb.

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Filed under: Fruits & Vegetables