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How to Choose Ripe Fruit at the Store: A Fruit-by-Fruit Guide

Look, smell and touch tests for picking ripe melons, avocados, pineapples, berries and more.

By Claire Moreau, Registered Dietitian & Senior Food Researcher · Updated September 25, 2026 · 8 min read · Fact-checked

How to Choose Ripe Fruit at the Store: A Fruit-by-Fruit Guide

Color alone rarely tells the whole story. Combining sight, smell, weight and touch helps you take home fruit that's ready when you want it.

Melons

Choose melons that feel heavy for their size. Cantaloupes should smell sweet at the stem end. For watermelon, look for a creamy-yellow field spot where it rested on the ground.

Avocados

Ripe avocados yield to gentle palm pressure. Flick off the small stem cap: green underneath means ready; brown suggests overripe.

Pineapples

Pineapples don't get sweeter after harvest. Pick one with a fragrant base, firm shell and fresh green leaves.

Berries

Look for plump, dry, uniformly colored berries with no juice stains at the bottom of the container — a sign of crushed or moldy fruit.

Citrus

Heavy fruit means juicy fruit. Skin should be firm with fine pores; green patches on oranges don't necessarily mean unripe.

Frequently asked questions

Does pressing fruit damage it?

Use your palm, not fingertips, and press gently to avoid bruising.

This article is for general information only and isn't a substitute for professional medical advice. See our disclaimer.

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