SAEDNEWS: Tired of guessing which fruit is ripe and which is bland? With these simple visual and scent-based tips, you can choose sweet, juicy fruit without squeezing a single one. Here's how to shop smart—from avocados to cherries.
According to SAEDNEWS, Choosing ripe fruit can feel like a gamble—but it doesn’t have to be. With a few simple visual and scent-based tips, you can confidently pick the sweetest, juiciest fruits without ever squeezing them. Here’s how to shop smarter, from avocados to cherries.
Avocados ripen fast and unpredictably. Look for darker, uniform skin. A ripe avocado yields slightly to gentle pressure—but if you're not touching, choose one that’s dark, slightly matte, and free of dents or deep blemishes. Firm, greener avocados will ripen at home in a few days.
🟢 Pro tip: Brown specks on the skin aren’t always bad—just avoid ones that feel mushy.
Bananas are easy: look for yellow skin with a faint green tint if you want them to last longer. If you're after instant sweetness, choose bananas with small brown speckles—they’re at their peak flavor.
🍌 Pro tip: Avoid bananas with large dark patches or overly soft spots.
Want that sweet, crunchy watermelon? Look for:
A matte skin (shiny = underripe)
A creamy yellow field spot (where it rested on the ground)
A hollow sound when tapped
A symmetrical shape with no dents
🍉 Also: For cantaloupe, smell it—it should have a sweet, musky aroma.
Peaches can be deceiving—beautiful outside, bland inside. Here’s what to check:
A deep, rich color, especially near the stem
A sweet aroma
Slight give to pressure (without touching: look for plumpness and softness around the stem)
🍑 Avoid: Wrinkled skin or bruises.
Citrus fruits like oranges and tangerines should feel heavy for their size—that’s juice! Their skin should be vibrant and thin, with no soft spots. If you're allowed to smell it, a sweet or sharp citrusy scent means ripeness.
🍊 Extra tip: Scratch the skin lightly—if it smells fragrant, it’s ready to eat.
The perfect apple is:
Firm and dense in the hand
Glossy, with a bright skin color
Free of bruises or wrinkles
Apples also give off a light, sweet aroma when ripe. A healthy stem and vibrant color are good signs of freshness.
🍏 Avoid: Dull skin, softness, or sour smell.
Look for cherries that are:
Glossy and plump
Deeply colored, depending on the variety
Firm to the touch (but again, judge by look and firmness of skin)
With a green, flexible stem
🍒 Avoid: Wrinkled or mushy cherries, or those with dried-out stems.
Buying ripe fruit doesn’t require guesswork or squishing every apple in the store. With a sharp eye, a good nose, and a few tricks, you can fill your basket with nature’s best—fresh, juicy, and just right.
