Do You Need to Wash Your Melons? We Asked Experts

13.07.2024 - 12:37 / bhg.com / Claire Hoppe

Andy Lyons

We all know that we should wash our produce before eating it. For some people it’s even an unconscious habit to quickly wash containers of berries before putting them away in the fridge after a grocery run. But when washing produce becomes a hassle due to the fruit’s size (hello, watermelons and cantaloupes!), are you prone to digging in without giving your fruit a rinse? That habit might not be as safe as you think: According to our food experts, you should never skip washing your melons before eating them.

Even though washing large melons—think watermelons, honeydews, cantaloupes, and muskmelons—might be trickier than washing a small container of berries, washing your melons is still a necessary step you should never skip. According to Sarah Brekke, the Better Homes & Gardens Test Kitchen brand manager, washing your melons ensures that bacteria on the surface won’t get pushed into the melon’s edible flesh when you cut into it.

According to Lynn Blanchard, Better Homes & Gardens Test Kitchen manager, washing fruit in the sink with tap water does the trick. Most melons purchased at local markets should fit in the sink, Blanchard says, so all you need to do to clean them is rinse with cool water and rub the melon rind with your hands. Dry the melon off, and it’s ready to be sliced and served.

Brekke says lingering moisture from washing melons can cause bacterial growth, so it’s best to wash your fruit right before you serve it, rather than washing it as soon as you bring it home and then letting it sit for a while.

Peter Ardito

Before washing fruit, make sure to wash your hands with soap and dry them with a clean towel. Then, either place your fruit in a colander under cool tap water or hold your fruit under the