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You can know if a watermelon is seedless by looking for a few telltale signs before you even cut it open.
Seedless watermelons are grown to have tiny, soft white seeds that are completely edible, so the fruit feels different and looks different from the seeded kind.
If you have ever wondered how to know if a watermelon is seedless, the answer often starts with the shape, the weight, and the little details on the rind.
In this post, we will walk through the easiest ways to tell if a watermelon is seedless, from picking it up at the store to thumping it at home.
Let’s get to it.
How to Know If a Watermelon Is Seedless: The Main Signs
How to know if a watermelon is seedless comes down to a mix of appearance, feel, and a few simple tests.
Here are the most reliable signs to check.
1. Look for a Uniform, Round Shape
Seedless watermelons tend to be more uniform and round compared to seeded ones.
Seeded watermelons often have a slightly more oblong or irregular shape because the seeds inside affect how the fruit grows.
A seedless watermelon usually looks symmetrical and evenly shaped all around.
If you see a watermelon that is perfectly round with no bulges or odd curves, there is a good chance it is seedless.
2. Check the Size and Weight
Seedless watermelons are often smaller than seeded varieties.
They also feel heavier than they look because they are packed with water and have less internal seed structure.
When you pick up a seedless watermelon, it should feel dense and solid for its size.
If it feels light or hollow, it might be overripe or just not a good seedless candidate.
3. Look for a Creamy Yellow Field Spot
The field spot is the patch on the bottom of the watermelon where it rested on the ground.
On a ripe seedless watermelon, this spot should be a creamy yellow or pale orange color.
If the spot is white or green, the watermelon was picked too early.
A good yellow field spot is one of the best ways to know if a watermelon is seedless and ripe at the same time.
4. Tap and Listen for a Deep Sound
Thumping a watermelon is an old trick, but it still works.
A ripe seedless watermelon will give a deep, hollow sound when you tap it.
A dull thud usually means it is overripe, while a sharp ping means it is underripe.
The sound alone won’t tell you if it is seedless, but combined with the other signs, it helps confirm you are holding a good one.
Why Seedless Watermelons Look and Feel Different
Seedless watermelons are not genetically modified in a lab.
They are created by crossing a diploid watermelon with a tetraploid one, which produces a triploid plant.
This triploid plant cannot produce mature seeds, so the seeds stay small, white, and soft.
Because the plant puts less energy into making hard seeds, the fruit often grows differently.
That is why seedless watermelons tend to be rounder, smaller, and sometimes sweeter.
The lack of hard seeds also means the flesh is more uniform and easier to eat.
1. The Seeds Are White and Soft
If you cut open a watermelon and see only white, soft seeds, it is seedless.
These white seeds are actually empty seed coats.
They are completely safe to eat and won’t crack your teeth.
If you see black, hard seeds, that watermelon was pollinated by a seeded variety and is not truly seedless.
2. The Flesh Is Crisp and Uniform
Seedless watermelons usually have a crisp, uniform texture all the way through.
Seeded ones can have small pockets of air or softer spots around the seeds.
When you slice a seedless watermelon, the flesh should look smooth and consistent without any dark seed cavities.
What to Look for at the Store
When you are at the grocery store or farmers market, you can use a few quick checks to know if a watermelon is seedless.
Look for a label or sticker that says “seedless” – many stores label them clearly.
Pick it up and feel the weight.
Check the field spot for that creamy yellow color.
Tap it and listen for a deep sound.
And if you can, compare it to the seeded watermelons nearby.
Seedless ones are often smaller and rounder, while seeded ones are larger and more oblong.
If you are still unsure, ask the produce worker.
They usually know which bins are seedless and which are not.
1. Avoid Watermelons with Dark Seeds Visible
If you see dark seeds through a cut or a crack, it is not seedless.
Sometimes seedless watermelons have a few dark seeds because of cross-pollination, but they should be rare.
If you see many dark seeds, it is a seeded watermelon.
2. Check the Shape and Size
As mentioned, seedless watermelons are usually rounder and smaller.
If you see a giant, oblong watermelon, it is more likely to be seeded.
That does not mean all small round watermelons are seedless, but it is a strong clue.
So, How to Know If a Watermelon Is Seedless?
You can know if a watermelon is seedless by checking its shape, weight, field spot, and sound.
Seedless watermelons are rounder, smaller, and heavier than they look.
They have a creamy yellow field spot and give a deep hollow sound when tapped.
And when you cut them open, the seeds are white and soft instead of black and hard.
So the next time you are picking out a watermelon, use these signs to know if a watermelon is seedless and enjoy a perfectly sweet, seed-free slice.