# Honeydew or Cantaloupe Melon? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 31, 2017, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honeydew-or-cantaloupe-melon/778661 "2017-01-31T14:15:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honeydew-or-cantaloupe-melon/778661/21 "2017-01-31T19:16:49Z")
Of the two, I prefer cantaloupe, but really love any melon that is picked ripe. Along with the fresh peaches, it makes summers here really special. Last year’s melons were spectacular, probably because of the early blast of hot weather we got in the spring. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honeydew-or-cantaloupe-melon/778661/22 "2017-01-31T19:48:25Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > But finding one is basically impossible; supermarket honeydew are awful without exception. In order to get them to the store in a marketable time frame melons are always picked unripe, and they will not ripen off the vine. They will get softer, but they will never get sweeter. The only way to get a genuinely ripe honeydew is to grow your own or get one from a farmer’s market where they picked it ripe, yesterday or today. This is where the casaba melon comes in - with its thick rind it can be harvested when reasonably ripe and will last after shipping to stores and sitting in a bin. As long as it overwhelmingly yellow it should be ripe. And it has a flavor similar to a sweet honeydew( maybe just a hint of refreshing cucumber to it as well ). ---
**Author:** ![Chicken\_Fingers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Chicken\_Fingers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chicken_Fingers)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honeydew-or-cantaloupe-melon/778661/23 "2017-01-31T20:19:55Z")
Melons, melons, you’re all delicious, always with salt. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honeydew-or-cantaloupe-melon/778661/24 "2017-01-31T20:25:24Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > This is where the casaba melon comes in - with its thick rind it can be harvested when reasonably ripe and will last after shipping to stores and sitting in a bin. As long as it overwhelmingly yellow it should be ripe. And it has a flavor similar to a sweet honeydew( maybe just a hint of refreshing cucumber to it as well ). Last summer my wife brought home a lemon drop melon. It was like a tart honeydew, it was quite sweet, and it was fantastic! Hadn’t seen them before or since. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honeydew-or-cantaloupe-melon/778661/25 "2017-01-31T20:27:22Z")
I don’t really like either. They’re either cloyingly sweet or bland, but honeydew is slightly better. Cantaloupe has a slight taste of decay when ripe (and I’ve had durian, it’s pretty underwhelming at least when I had it). I do kind of like the yellow ones. Wikipedia is telling me they’re called canary melons, but I’ve never heard that name unless it’s some other cultivar. > [@puddleglum](#): > > Honeydew is the money melon. It’s the perfect melon for serving on homosexual party boats. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honeydew-or-cantaloupe-melon/778661/26 "2017-01-31T20:41:31Z")
For decades I thought I didn’t like cantaloupe or much any other melon except watermelon. Then I tasted a perfectly ripe one. Now I’ll scarf them all down with abandon…but only when exactly ripe. Any other time and I’d rather eat dirt. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honeydew-or-cantaloupe-melon/778661/27 "2017-01-31T20:44:19Z")
> [@Chicken\_Fingers](#): > > Melons, melons, you’re all delicious, always with salt. I’ve never actually tried 'em with salt! I’ll give that a shot. But, yeah, they’re all good! Canteloupe and Honeydew, and pretty much all the others. You’re asking me to choose between beef and chicken, or which of my sisters I love more. Can’t do it! ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honeydew-or-cantaloupe-melon/778661/28 "2017-01-31T20:46:55Z")
Salt on ANY melon is an abomination unto the gourd. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honeydew-or-cantaloupe-melon/778661/29 "2017-01-31T21:09:06Z")
Pretty sure I’ll go with cantaloupe. In my mind, I can think of the flavor difference, but I can’t think on how to describe it. But, not even considering sweetness, I think the cantaloupe has the more pleasing flavor. I can’t imagine even making it sweeter would make honeydew better. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honeydew-or-cantaloupe-melon/778661/30 "2017-01-31T21:22:36Z")
Neither. Both are equally vile, and watermelon kicks their asses. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honeydew-or-cantaloupe-melon/778661/31 "2017-01-31T21:28:13Z")
For I have dined on Honeydew, and found that I preferred the cantaloupe. And, or course, I put salt on it. ---
**Author:** ![stillownedbysetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honeydew-or-cantaloupe-melon/778661/32 "2017-01-31T21:36:15Z")
Personal favorite is the Crenshaw melon, but since that isn’t an option, I would take a perfectly ripe Muscatine melon (canteloupe) fresh from the field (still warm from the sun) and unsalted over any of the canteloupe or honeydew varieties, but if that is not available, I would opt for the honeydew, icy cold, with the tiniest touch of salt. ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honeydew-or-cantaloupe-melon/778661/33 "2017-01-31T21:40:22Z")
I like both, but of the two, I prefer honeydew. I like the [canary melon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canary_melon) that **thelurkinghorror** mentions even better, I think, but I don’t see ripe ones very often around here. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honeydew-or-cantaloupe-melon/778661/34 "2017-01-31T22:53:42Z")
The honeydew at its peak is the cream de la creme. But hard to find. Would appreciate any tips on selecting a ripe melon. I use the nose test. If it smells like a cantaloupe, I go for it. Any other tips? ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2017, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honeydew-or-cantaloupe-melon/778661/35 "2017-01-31T23:09:41Z")
The honeydew at it’s peak is pretty good, but it’s often flavorless and even more often has a funny flavor (similar to melon scent in hair products) that I don’t care for. I usually enjoy cantaloupe. Perfectly ripe it’s fabulous, but even under-ripe it’s pleasant to eat. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2017, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honeydew-or-cantaloupe-melon/778661/36 "2017-02-01T00:27:57Z")
> [@harmonicamoon](#): > > Would appreciate any tips on selecting a ripe melon. > > I use the nose test. If it smells like a cantaloupe, I go for it. > > Any other tips? “Heavy for its size,” “flesh has a slight give but not mushy,” and “strong aroma” are good general tips for pretty much all fruit and fruit-like vegetables. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2017, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honeydew-or-cantaloupe-melon/778661/37 "2017-02-01T00:37:25Z")
It’s all good. Not sure I could pick a favorite, but I think I’ll give cantaloupe a slight edge. Never heard any of this salt business, though. I’ll try it next time, but I’m not sure it’s needed. ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2017, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honeydew-or-cantaloupe-melon/778661/38 "2017-02-01T00:48:28Z")
Salt is okay. But, cut one in half, take out the seeds and fill it with french vanilla ice cream! And dig in with a spoon. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2017, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honeydew-or-cantaloupe-melon/778661/39 "2017-02-01T02:20:40Z")
I’m a salt devotee, but I don’t think it would appeal to me. May give it a try to claim open-mindedness. For me, cantaloupe hands down. I feel sure I’ve never had a properly ripe honeydew, but as of now and for many years, I adore cantaloupe. Maybe because I once suffered a terrible case of food poisoning. It lasted almost 4 days and I won’t share just how dreadful it was. Suffice it to say I had basically nothing left in me that resembled nutrition when the misery finally loosed its grip. Weak and craving sustenance, I fossicked around in my refrigerator for something easy to eat. There was a perfectly ripe cantaloupe I’d forgotten about. Cut that thing in half, cleaned out the seeds and I’ve never tasted anything so ambrosial! Ate the entire half in one go. Then I ate the other half. I could practically feel strength returning to my body from the infusion of vitamins, minerals and juice. To this day, it remains one of my most memorable and cherished meals. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2017, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honeydew-or-cantaloupe-melon/778661/40 "2017-02-01T13:22:10Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > There was a perfectly ripe cantaloupe I’d forgotten about. Cut that thing in half, cleaned out the seeds and I’ve never tasted anything so ambrosial! Bacteria grows in the refrigerator at a reduced rate. :dubious: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honeydew-or-cantaloupe-melon/778661.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/honeydew-or-cantaloupe-melon/778661.md?page=3)