Is it possible to eat pink watermelon and why is it like that?

Buying melons can be compared to a lottery, especially at the beginning of the sales season. The expected moment of cutting can be unpleasantly disappointing with a pale pink core. However, it is not always necessary to throw away the fruit: there are varieties that have exactly this coloring of the edible part. There are several ways to distinguish a nitrate watermelon from a breeding hybrid with pink flesh.

How did pink watermelons appear?

The selection of melons dates back more than two thousand years. Melon crops were grown in Ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome. In the wild, the plant has small fruits with whitish, light pink flesh and a herbaceous taste. In deserts it is an important source of water for animals and humans.

What kind is this

Pink color is the norm for the botanical species of watermelons. This color of the pulp is typical for wild and table species. The main difference between them is the saturation of the shade. Modern hybrids have a rich crimson color, while wild relatives are whitish. The former contain a higher percentage of sugars.

History of appearance

Breeding of European watermelon began in the 17th and 18th centuries. The first types of melons can be judged from the still lifes of artists of that time. In the paintings of Caravaggio (1571-1610) it is a fruit no larger than a melon, with a thick skin, large seeds and pale pink flesh.

Modern varieties have changed significantly since then. Selection is actively carried out in France, USA, Russia, Kazakhstan.

The USSR was actively involved in developing new varieties. Astrakhan watermelons are still grown. In 1982, Kamyshin breeders restored the pink variety Murashka. The first Russian hybrid with raspberry pulp was VNIIOB 2 F1, which for many years was the leader among early watermelons. In 2015, the Honey Barrel variety with a pinkish core was patented.

French breeders have achieved great success. In 2010, the pink hybrid Silvia F1 and the Charleston Gray variety with excellent taste were registered.

One of the areas of selection is obtaining fruits with pulp of different colors. Scientists are crossing table varieties with wild ones, producing watermelons that are pale pink and orange inside, but with a sweet taste.

What does it taste like

Watermelons with pink flesh, like similar varieties of tomatoes, contain less lycopene. At the same time, the amount of acids decreases and increases proportion of sugars. The pink pulp of the ripe berry has a sweeter taste than the red one.

What is the difference between a pink watermelon and a red one?

The color of the pulp is given by special substances - carotenoids., which are also present in other colored fruits: tomatoes, carrots, peppers, apples. The red and pink colors are provided by lycopene. It also protects the pulp from early oxidative processes and ultraviolet rays.

The pulp contains various natural pigments:

Like lycopene, other carotenoids perform important functions for plants:

• absorb part of the spectrum of sunlight that does not participate in the reaction with chlorophyll;
• resist oxidation;
• scatter excess sunlight.

All pigments color parts of the plant in shades of red of varying intensities.: from yellowish and orange to crimson. They also determine the color of watermelon seeds. Black seeds contain the maximum concentration of coloring matter.

Interesting. Spinach contains a large amount of carotenoids in the form of lutein - 12.06 mg per 100 g of product, which corresponds to three times the daily requirement for humans. However, its leaves remain dark green. This is due to the increased content of chlorophyll in the plant.

Characteristics, beneficial properties and composition of pink watermelon

Unripe fruit with a high content of nitrates has a detrimental effect on the body and can cause severe intoxication. And special varieties with pink flesh are safe and have qualities valuable for the human body.

The fruit contains vitamins and amino acids:

The fruit contains important minerals:

Watermelon contains small amounts iodine, selenium, fluorine and other trace elements.

Regular consumption of fruits in August-September has a beneficial effect on the human body. Useful properties of the product:

• B vitamins and carotenoids help improve vision;
• fiber cleanses the intestines of toxins;
• a large amount of water cleanses the body of toxins and prevents diseases of the urinary system, maintains water-salt balance in the heat;
• lycopene is a powerful antioxidant, blocks free radicals, protects cell DNA, reduces the risk of cancer;
• Potassium and magnesium strengthen the cardiovascular system.

Melons are included in diets for weight loss. 100 g contains only 0.15 g of fat - you can quickly fill up with watermelon without damaging your figure.

Harm and contraindications

Watermelon has contraindications due to the high content of carotenoids and water in the pulp.

Fruits are not recommended in the following cases:

• for diseases of the urinary system, edema, kidney stones;
• if you are allergic to carotene;
• in case of disruption of the gastrointestinal tract;
• children under one year old;
• lactating women until the child is 2-3 months old.

The fruit affects intestinal function – may cause diarrhea and bloating. A small child may experience colic.

Important! It is dangerous for pregnant women to overuse watermelon. If the fruits may contain an increased amount of nitrates, which will adversely affect the health of the unborn child. In the last stages, eating large quantities of fruits can lead to edema. During this period, the urinary system has difficulty coping with large volumes of fluid.

The main threat is nitrate fruits. When growing them, increased doses of nitrogen fertilizers are used - this is how producers reduce the ripening time. When nitrates enter the human body, they block the blood’s ability to carry oxygen, causing general intoxication.

Poisoning is accompanied by characteristic symptoms:

• nausea and vomiting;
• dizziness, general weakness;
• diarrhea.

Poisoning is especially dangerous for children, the elderly and pregnant women.

Main varieties and hybrids

As a result of selection, several pink varieties and hybrids of watermelon were developed. The main goal was not to obtain pink pulp, but to achieve commercially important qualities:

• sugar taste;
• keeping quality;
• ripening period;
• resistance to diseases and adverse weather conditions;
• safety during transportation.

Interesting fact. Recently, unusual varieties with yellow flesh have been developed. In Japan and China, square and rectangular fruits are grown - they are convenient for storage and transportation.

Early varieties

In central Russia, early hybrids are recommended for cultivation, which have time to ripen within 80 days. These include:

1. Prince of Denmark F1. The plant forms fruits within 70-80 days. It is easy to recognize by its appearance: watermelons have a spherical shape, dark green color and bright pink flesh. The stripes are faint and almost invisible. Sizes depend on growing conditions. Prince of Denmark can produce small fruits weighing 1.5 kg and giant fruits up to 18-19 kg.
2. VNIIOB 2 F1 (photo below). Fruits weighing up to 5 kg ripen in 55-60 days. The pulp is pink and has a high sugar content. The shape is round, slightly elongated.

Mid-season

Watermelons, which it takes 80-90 days for fetal formation:

1. Silvia F1. Large, round-shaped watermelons reach a weight of 12-15 kg. The pulp has a rich pink color. The hybrid has a thin crust and excellent taste.
2. Big Sugar. Watermelons weighing 10 kg ripen within 90 days. The pulp has a raspberry-pink color and a sugary taste. The shape of the fruit is round, slightly elongated.

Late

Varieties that ripen in 100-110 days have a strong and thick peel and are suitable for storage for 2-3 months. Late watermelons are grown in the southern regions; they are demanding on weather conditions. Due to the long ripening period, the fruits contain an increased amount of sugars.

The most common:

1. Icarus. Fruits weighing from 3 to 15 kg are slightly elongated. The crust is almost black, with dark green stripes. The pulp is raspberry with a strong aroma and excellent taste. The harvest ripens in 100 days and can be stored for 3-4 months.
2. Bush 334 (pictured below). The compact plant produces relatively small fruits up to 8 kg and is disease resistant. Watermelons are green in color, with whitish stripes. The flesh is bright pink, without veins. The fruits can be stored until January.

Zoned

Watermelon hybrids that can be grown in the middle zone and greenhouses:

1. Pink champagne F1 (photo below). Round fruits weighing up to 7 kg ripen in 70 days. The pulp is pinkish, with white veins and a sugary taste. Resistant to adverse weather conditions.
2. Kai F1. Breeders developed this hybrid specifically for cultivation in the northern regions. The plant tolerates cool weather and lack of light. In 70 days, elongated cylindrical fruits with bright pink flesh have time to form. The weight of watermelons depends on the method of cultivation: in open ground - 3-5 kg, in greenhouses - up to 10 kg.

The sweetest

Hybrids with a high sugar content require hot and sunny weather. They are grown in the southern regions. The sweetest varieties include:

1. Memory of Kholodov (photo below). The plant takes 110 days to form fruits. Watermelons are recognizable: the rind has no stripes and is colored light green. The pulp is bright pink, with a small amount of seeds and a honey taste.
2. Crimson Sweet. Large fruits reach 12 kg and have time to ripen in 70 days. The pink sugar pulp contains small amounts of seeds. The plant is demanding on weather conditions; it is grown in the south.

How to choose the right pink watermelon

When purchasing melons, check the signs confirming fetal maturity. A pink watermelon must have the following characteristics:

• dry ponytail;
• small yellow spot;
• average size for its variety.

A dry tail means that the fruit is fully ripe. Sometimes sellers remove it completely to hide a low-quality product.

What if an ordinary watermelon turned out not to be red, but pink with white streaks?

In modern melon growing, varieties with light pink flesh and rough light fibers classified as feed. Such fruits have a grassy taste and are not suitable for human consumption.

Unripe watermelons of table varieties have light pink flesh.. In such fruits, nitrogen compounds are not converted into sugars. Gardeners in the middle zone often receive light pink watermelons after a rainy and cool summer. The plants did not receive enough sunlight to produce ripe and high-quality fruits. An additional feature is white seeds.

Is it possible to eat watermelon if its flesh is pale pink?

Whitish pulp indicates the immaturity of the fruit. This watermelon will be tasteless and grassy. It is better to throw away such fruit or feed it to livestock.

If you saved the receipt, the unripe watermelon can be returned to the store. This right is based on Art. 18 of the Law “On Protection of Consumer Rights”, according to which the purchased product must be of proper quality.

For melons, this means that the fruit must match the botanical species description. A ripe watermelon should have rich pink or red flesh., formed seeds. A fruit with pale pink flesh does not meet these requirements.

How to distinguish a good watermelon from a nitrate one

Signs that indicate a low-quality product:

• purple hue of pulp;
• coarse yellow veins;
• yellowish-brown spots on the flesh;
• when cut, the pulp is not sugary, but glossy;
• herbaceous taste.

To check the quality, you can shake a small amount of pulp in a glass of water.. A low-quality product will turn the liquid pink.

Conclusion

Pink watermelon is suitable for consumption if its pulp has a bright, rich color and a sugary taste. This color is characteristic of several hybrids, which are not inferior in quality to bright red varieties. However, fruits with pale pink flesh and a watery taste should not be eaten. They are immature and contain increased amounts of nitrogen compounds.