Homespun May 23, 2001

Homespun

May 23, 2001

Finding the Freshest and the Best!

Farmer's markets in our county and across the state will soon be overflowing with the very freshest of farm-fresh fruit and vegetables. To help ensure that you get the best of what's available, here are some tips on buying.

Cantaloupe: To test for ripeness, sniff the stem end for the characteristic aroma. Also look for pronounced netting and a skin color of yellow or tan; if the skin is green beneath the netting, the fruit is not ripe. Should the cantaloupe have a portion of the stem still attached, give it a slight tug; if it pulls off, the cantaloupe is ripe.
Corn: Puncture a kernel with your thumbnail; if an opaque, milky liquid spurts out, the ear is at its peak of quality. A clear, watery liquid means that the corn is immature; if thick and pasty, the ear is overripe and will taste starchy.
Cucumbers: Look for those 3- to 8-inches or less in diameter. Firmness also indicates good quality. A yellowish fluffy appearance is a sign of over-maturity.
Eggplant: The smaller they are, the less "seedy" they will be (because the seeds will be immature). If the skin of the eggplant is glossy, the fruit is fresh; a dull sheen means the eggplant is either overripe or old.
Greens: With all types of greens--turnip greens, spinach, kale, collards, and mustard--the young leaves are the most tender. Don't buy greens with wilted or yellowing leaves.
Honeydew Melons: To check for ripeness, sniff for the characteristic aroma. Also, the blossom end of the melon should be slightly soft but not mushy.
Limas or Butter beans: The large white or speckled types are at their peak of flavor when the beans are fully formed in the pods. The best test is simply to shell several you think are full; then choose pods with a similar feel. Baby limas or baby butter beans are immature or a small seeded selection, so don't expect these pods to feel full.
Okra: Pods are best when 3- to 4-inches long; longer ones may be tough and stringy. If possible, ask the seller to cut a pod so you can check the seeds; they should be glossy white.
Peaches: A good-quality peach is firm but not hard, with no visible bruises or brown spots. For fresh use or freezing, choose peaches with a definite yellowish blush; for canning, cling stone varieties that are a little less ripe are a good choice.
Peas: Pod color is the key to choosing flavorful peas. Purple-podded selections are best when the ends and almost half of the pod have turned from green to purple. If the pod is completely purple, the pea is too dry for maximum flavor. Other types of peas are best when the pods begin to show a color change. Green pods may be hard to shell, but the peas inside are at their peak of flavor. If the peas rattle inside the pods, they are much too dry to taste good. Peas that have been iced down should be carefully checked; if they feel mushy, don't buy them.
Peppers: Size is no indication of quality. Look for peppers with smooth, slick skin that has not shriveled.
Snap Beans: The younger bush beans that are 3- to 6-inches long are the best; larger ones may be tough and stringy. Pole beans are best when 4- to 6-inches long, and the seeds inside have not developed.
Summer squash: Size is the best sign of peak flavor. While large fruit is edible, it is generally seedy and less flavorful than smaller fruit. Yellow squash is best when 4- to 6-inches long and smooth-skinned; zucchini, 6- to 8-inches long and shiny-skinned; pattypan, 4- to 6-inches in diameter and a shiny-white color.
Tomatoes: Buy tomatoes that are brightly colored and firm. If soft, overcolored, or the skin is crinkly, they are overripe. Size is no indication of quality or flavor.
Watermelon: One of the best signs of ripeness is when the typically shiny surface becomes dull and the bottom of the melon turns from whitish to creamy yellow. The thump test (when a thump produces a muffled sound) is not accurate because overripe melons make the same sound. The only sure way is to cut the melon and see if most of the seeds are dark brown or black and the flesh is a bright color. Of course, you will have to purchase the whole melon to do this!

This page created by Margie Yarnell, Extension Secretary/Webmaster.
Continue to next week's article
Return to Homespun Homepage

Cantaloupe: To test for ripeness, sniff the stem end for the characteristic aroma. Also look for pronounced netting and a skin color of yellow or tan; if the skin is green beneath the netting, the fruit is not ripe. Should the cantaloupe have a portion of the stem still attached, give it a slight tug; if it pulls off, the cantaloupe is ripe.
Corn: Puncture a kernel with your thumbnail; if an opaque, milky liquid spurts out, the ear is at its peak of quality. A clear, watery liquid means that the corn is immature; if thick and pasty, the ear is overripe and will taste starchy.
Cucumbers: Look for those 3- to 8-inches or less in diameter. Firmness also indicates good quality. A yellowish fluffy appearance is a sign of over-maturity.
Eggplant: The smaller they are, the less "seedy" they will be (because the seeds will be immature). If the skin of the eggplant is glossy, the fruit is fresh; a dull sheen means the eggplant is either overripe or old.
Greens: With all types of greens--turnip greens, spinach, kale, collards, and mustard--the young leaves are the most tender. Don't buy greens with wilted or yellowing leaves.
Honeydew Melons: To check for ripeness, sniff for the characteristic aroma. Also, the blossom end of the melon should be slightly soft but not mushy.
Limas or Butter beans: The large white or speckled types are at their peak of flavor when the beans are fully formed in the pods. The best test is simply to shell several you think are full; then choose pods with a similar feel. Baby limas or baby butter beans are immature or a small seeded selection, so don't expect these pods to feel full.
	Okra: Pods are best when 3- to 4-inches long; longer ones may be tough and stringy. If possible, ask the seller to cut a pod so you can check the seeds; they should be glossy white.
Peaches: A good-quality peach is firm but not hard, with no visible bruises or brown spots. For fresh use or freezing, choose peaches with a definite yellowish blush; for canning, cling stone varieties that are a little less ripe are a good choice.
Peas: Pod color is the key to choosing flavorful peas. Purple-podded selections are best when the ends and almost half of the pod have turned from green to purple. If the pod is completely purple, the pea is too dry for maximum flavor. Other types of peas are best when the pods begin to show a color change. Green pods may be hard to shell, but the peas inside are at their peak of flavor. If the peas rattle inside the pods, they are much too dry to taste good. Peas that have been iced down should be carefully checked; if they feel mushy, don't buy them.
Peppers: Size is no indication of quality. Look for peppers with smooth, slick skin that has not shriveled.
Snap Beans: The younger bush beans that are 3- to 6-inches long are the best; larger ones may be tough and stringy. Pole beans are best when 4- to 6-inches long, and the seeds inside have not developed.
Summer squash: Size is the best sign of peak flavor. While large fruit is edible, it is generally seedy and less flavorful than smaller fruit. Yellow squash is best when 4- to 6-inches long and smooth-skinned; zucchini, 6- to 8-inches long and shiny-skinned; pattypan, 4- to 6-inches in diameter and a shiny-white color.
Tomatoes: Buy tomatoes that are brightly colored and firm. If soft, overcolored, or the skin is crinkly, they are overripe. Size is no indication of quality or flavor.
Watermelon: One of the best signs of ripeness is when the typically shiny surface becomes dull and the bottom of the melon turns from whitish to creamy yellow. The thump test (when a thump produces a muffled sound) is not accurate because overripe melons make the same sound. The only sure way is to cut the melon and see if most of the seeds are dark brown or black and the flesh is a bright color. Of course, you will have to purchase the whole melon to do this!