Watermelon

Watermelon facts

Watermelon, along with green and golden melons, is the fruit of the trailing vines of the cucumber and marrow family. More than 90% water, watermelon is perfect for quenching thirst.

Choose a melon that feels heavy for its size. To check for ripeness, press the stem end to see if it gives a little. Then tap the sides of the fruit - it should sound hollow.

If buying a ready-cut watermelon, remember the brighter the colour, the sweeter the flesh. The seeds should be black.

Protect a cut watermelon from drying out by covering it tightly with plastic wrap.

Two hundred grams of watermelon provide as much fluid as a glass of water and, being a high-GI food, will top up energy levels quickly. This makes it an ideal way to replenish energy and fluid levels on hot, active summer days.

Watermelon contains lycopene, which is an important nutrient and has been shown to play a role in reducing the risk of prostate cancer in men.

There should be a creamy yellow spot on the underside of the watermelon where it sat on the ground and ripened in the sun.

Smaller varieties of watermelon are becoming popular, such as sweet baby or yellow baby (also known as golden watermelon), which has a yellow flesh.