How To Pick The Perfect Summer Produce

In the heart of summer, nothing helps cool you down like a fresh, delicious slice of watermelon or a juicy, ripe peach. To help you grab the best summer produce on your next trip to the grocery store, I’ve put together my tips & tricks for picking the perfect fruit and veggies.

Cheers!
Chef Ethan

Watermelon

How to pick:

• It should have a nice “thump” sound when you knock on it. Get your ear up close and have a listen. Also, they should be heavy for their size.

Tips & tricks:

• Don’t be afraid of the ones with yellowish spots on one side. That is where it sat on the ground and let the sun make it juicy!
• Try cutting this bad boy open and sprinkling a touch of sea salt.
• Dice the watermelon up and use it in place of tomatoes for pico de gallo or salsa – the perfect toppings for some freshly grilled Mahi Mahi.

Let the seed spitting contest commence!

Tomatoes

How to pick:

• This is the time to celebrate tomatoes. Depending on the variety, the skin should be bright in color.
• Avoid the bruised ones – you don’t need that baggage.
• The tomato should be heavy and firm but a touch soft. Give it a soft squeeze – there should be a slight softness.

Tips & tricks:

• If you want to speed up the ripening process of a tomato, try putting it in a pierced paper bag with an apple! This combo will emit ethelyne gas, a ripening agent. 
  

Strawberries

How to pick:

• Summer is the peak of strawberry chow-down time.  They should entice you with their smell, so take a big whiff.
• Unlike some fruit, strawberries do not continue to ripen once they’re picked. Choosing strawberries that are plump, firm, and bright red in color is also important.

Tips & tricks:

• To prevent early mold, don’t wash them until you are ready to use them. Eat em’ straight away or hull them and use them in everything from salads to pies to salsa.

Peaches

How to pick:

• Like many fruits, peaches get sweeter and juicier as they ripen. Gently squeezing them will tell you what stage of ripening they’re in! Put some pressure on the area where the stem is – if it just starts to give, it’s ripe and ready to eat.

Tips & tricks:

• Try removing the pit and grilling these summer produce gems. Add a little Gorgonzola dolce and drizzle with honey. Then serve this treat with some crusty bread.

Want to skip the grocery store and still eat healthy? We’ve got you covered with dietitian-curated meal plans.