I hate almost all watermelon and other fruits in the squash family. Similar to cilantro and soap, there is a lesser known bitter chemical that I'm a supertaster of. I can taste if a slice of cucumber is dipped in a gallon of water. Love pickles, however, as cooking destroys the chemical. Those fake-ass refrigerated cucumbers in vinegar sold as premium pickles can suck my balls, especially when a restaurant puts them on a sandwich.

Yellow meat moon and star watermelons don't have this chemical, btw.

Anyhow, grew up farming. The thump test is the superior test for melons. There's a note they ring at that means a properly ripe and sugary melon, can't explain it. My wife has me pick out melons for her and the kids. Everything else is mostly superstition or unreliable like field spots. I can consistently pick a good melon or warn if I can't find a good one.

[–] TheRtRevKaiser@sh.itjust.works 16 points 1 month ago (2 children)

I'm pretty sure I have the same thing. People look at me like I'm crazy when I tell them cucumber has a strong, awful taste. I've had so many people tell me "cucumber just tastes like crunchy water" but it's SO strong to me.

[–] Machinist@lemmy.world 7 points 1 month ago

Yup. I can smell a cucumber being cut across the house. Finding out I can tell sushi places to leave out the cucumber has been amazing.

It's also in cantaloupe, honeydew, yellow squash, pumpkins to a greater or lesser degree, some acorn squash. Zucchini almost never has it and I love it lightly grilled. I've found it in homegrown zucchini before, but never in commercial.

I hate yellow squash even when well cooked but I think that has more to do with childhood, or maybe it has an additional something in it. I can strongly taste when other food has been cooked with squash. Can also smell that musty smell when it's being cut that is different from cucumber/watermelon.

[–] mwproductions@lemmy.world 3 points 1 month ago

There are dozens of us!

[–] Arkhive@lemmy.blahaj.zone 6 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I just want you to know I’ve saved this comment and may or may not return when in need of your melon selecting expertise.

[–] Machinist@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

I'll do my best, but it's basically thump it and listen for the right sound.