What Is a Crenshaw Melon—And What Does It Taste Like?

There is nothing worse than ordering a fruit salad only to receive flavorless blocks of honeydew or cantaloupe melon. No wonder I thought melon was bad for so long: Years of school cafeteria and airport fruit salads had me entirely disinterested in it. 

But, I am here to repair this fruit’s bad name by introducing you to my mom’s favorite fruit. Not only does it redeem melon once and for all, but it might even convince you that it is your favorite fruit. I am done gatekeeping the best fruit at the market—it’s just too good not to share. 

What Are Crenshaw Melons?

By this point, we all know Cotton Candy Grapes are the best grape variety. What if I told you that there was a type of melon that also outshines the rest? Because there is, and you don’t need to visit a farmers’ market to find it. 

The Crenshaw melon will be your new favorite fruit of the summer. A variety of cantaloupe melon, this fruit is extra sweet and juicy. It has more of a peachy color than normal cantaloupe and a green-yellow rind. 

They are so good that my family counts down the days until we see them in stores for the season. Simply put, Crenshaw melons are everything you dreamed cantaloupe melons were. Juicy like a fresh watermelon and packed with flavor, they put all other melons to shame.

How To Pick the Best Crenshaw Melons

They are only available from mid-summer to fall, so when you see them in the grocery store, jump on them. When I asked my mom how to pick a good Crenshaw melon, she told me that she has never purchased a bad one. All of them have been fresh and perfectly ripe, so don’t stress about grabbing the wrong one. In fact, they are such an exciting find, that she says she just takes whatever she can get. 

Unlike with watermelon, there is no need to be too picky with your Crenshaw melon. But if you do want to make extra sure you are picking the right one, Crenshaw melons should be slightly soft to the touch and heavier than a typical melon. 

What To Do with Crenshaw Melons

Once you have a Crenshaw melon, consider yourself lucky. To best eat it, I just recommend cutting it into cubes and eating as-is. It really needs nothing else. Once cut, it stays good in a sealed container in your fridge for two to three days. 

But, if you are looking for some ways to upgrade your melon or use up some Crenshaw that is about to go bad, we have some recommendations ready to go. Make a fun little beverage with your extra sweet melon if you are feeling fancy, or maybe a dessert if you’d rather satisfy your sweet tooth. Crenshaw melon would also be exceptional with some prosciutto or as the star of your fruit salad. 

No matter what you do with your Crenshaw melon, be warned–after one bite, you probably won’t want to share the rest. My family fights over the last pieces of Crenshaw melon every year, and for good reason—there really is nothing better. Just trust me.