What Is A Yellow Watermelon?

There are few things more refreshing than biting into a watermelon wedge, letting the juice trickle down your arms, and seeing how far you can spit the seeds. When the dog days of summer set in and you are facing an afternoon filled with haze, humidity, and languid breezes (if there is even a breeze at all), the one thing that will coax you out onto the back porch is the promise of juicy, crisp watermelon, whether it's red, pink, orange, or yellow.

Yes, yellow. Traditional watermelon varieties all have red or pink flesh. But with over 1,200 varieties of watermelon on the market today, from seedless to pink to watermelons with a black rind, you shouldn't be surprised to find a yellow-fleshed watermelon. While this sunshine-colored fruit is similar to its red-fleshed counterpart, read on and see what makes it different.

What Makes Them Yellow

You can't judge a book by its cover, and you can't judge a watermelon by its rind, because a yellow watermelon has a green rind, just like every other watermelon. The main difference comes from the flesh inside.

Some fruits and vegetables, such as cherries, blueberries, grapes, and purple sweet potatoes, contain anthocyanins, a flavonoid that provides their rich color. Traditional watermelons get their pinkish-to-red hues from lycopene, the same powerful antioxidant that makes tomatoes red. Watermelon varieties that do not contain lycopene will often have yellow flesh. They occur naturally and are safe to eat.

What Does Yellow Watermelon Taste Like?

Aside from the obvious color difference, the fruit of the yellow watermelon is sweeter than its red-fleshed counterpart with subtle notes of honey and apricot. However, it can be used interchangeably with red-fleshed varieties in recipes. They have similar health benefits, too, including being a source of vitamins A and C.

Where Do Yellow Watermelons Come From?

Hundreds of watermelon varietals are cultivated all over the world, with multiple choices in shape, color, and size. However, all watermelons, including yellow cultivars, hail originally from Africa. Although there is some speculation as to exactly where, the earliest versions of watermelon grew wild in desert areas of southern Africa 5,000 years ago. Eventually, watermelon made its way to North Africa and Egypt, where it was domesticated and harvested. 

Over the millennia, watermelon spread across the world. By the 1600s, the fruit had made its way to farms and plantations across the American South. These days watermelon, including yellow varieties, is increasingly common in more temperate environments, like Florida, Georgia, and Texas. 

Where To Find Yellow Watermelon

Unless the produce is clearly labeled at the market, you will have to cut into a watermelon to determine if it is yellow or red. Like red watermelons, many yellow varieties differ slightly in size, shape, and flavor, both with seeds and seedless.

While unique cultivars of watermelon are increasingly prevalent at conventional grocery stores, it might still be tricky to find a yellow one. If you don't have luck at your neighborhood supermarket, try the local farmers' market in peak summer months or even Trader Joe's or specialty grocery stores.

Types of Yellow Watermelon

If you can't find yellow watermelon at the store, you might want to grow your own. Shop for seeds at your local farmers' market or check out available seed selections online. Here are a few varieties to look for:

• 'Yellow Flesh Black Diamond': Like its red-fleshed counterpart, the yellow-black diamond watermelon is oblong and large with a dark-green, almost black, rind. This variety isn't quite as sweet as other yellow watermelons.
• 'Desert King': This drought- and sunburn-resistant variety grows to around 20 pounds. It has a light green rind, yellow to orange flesh, and a tangy taste.
• 'Yellow Crimson': This variety looks similar to the red-fleshed crimson watermelon with a green-striped rind, but it is sweeter.
• 'Yellow Doll': This icebox watermelon variety matures early and only grows to around 10 pounds or less. Its flesh is sweet and dense.
• 'Buttercup': Considered the sweetest yellow watermelon, buttercups are seedless and range from 14 to 16 pounds.

How To Choose A Ripe Watermelon

A ripe watermelon has a patch of yellow rind on its underside. This is called the ground spot—or belly spot or field spot. It's the part of the watermelon that touched the ground and wasn't exposed to sunlight as it grew.

If you are unable to find the ground spot, it could mean the watermelon was harvested too soon and didn't have a chance to fully ripen. Or, if there is a ground spot but it's more white than yellow, that is also an indication that it may have been picked from the vine too early. 

If you are still unsure if your watermelon is ready, give it a tap with your knuckle. If it sounds hollow or dull, it's ripe.

Recipes To Try With Yellow Watermelon

The most popular way to eat watermelon is to just dive into a slice. (Cut watermelon only lasts about five days in the fridge; a whole, uncut watermelon will last about three weeks refrigerated.) However, they are also delicious when blended into cocktails, paired with tomatoes in salads, and even turned into a creamy, frozen pie. Although originally made with red watermelon, feel free to prepare these dishes with its tasty, ever-so-slightly sweeter yellow counterpart. Mix and match red and yellow watermelons in a recipe for added visual appeal.

Grilled Watermelon

Like grilled peaches, a quick kiss from the grill enhances the flavor of summer fruits, changing the texture and adding a little smoke to their natural sweetness. Set yourself up for success by cutting your watermelon into 1-inch triangle wedges or quarter slices before grilling. 

Spicy Watermelon Refresher

Next time you're fashioning up a porch cocktail or big-batch cookout drink, skip the Aperol spritz and try this watermelon refresher with tequila and Serrano peppers instead. Think of this recipe as a watermelon margarita, but fizzier and easier to keep flowing.

Watermelon, Cucumber, And Feta Salad

Cucumbers add a welcome crunch to this refreshing summer salad of cubed watermelon, fresh herbs, and crumbled feta cheese. You can replace the fresh mint with basil if you prefer, or use a combination of both herbs. A personal-sized seedless watermelon is just the right size for this salad, but you can also use a pre-cut watermelon or a portion of a larger watermelon. 

Pickled Watermelon Rind

Sweet and spicy, pickled watermelon rind is one of those summertime delicacies we Southerners hold dear, and this is the simplest pickled watermelon rind recipe to try. Add this to your summer relish tray, slide it next to a platter of deviled eggs at the cookout, or throw it on a crisp summer salad with crumbled, thick-cut bacon.

Watermelon Daquiri

Freezing watermelon cubes amps up the cool factor of this icy rum cocktail right out of the blender. This drink combines rum, lime juice, sugar, and cubes of frozen watermelon for a chill, balanced drink that helps beat the summer heat.

Watermelon Agua Fresca

Classic agua frescas can be made in many flavors, and, with watermelon, in many colors. This is a particularly thirst-quenching drink for the summer season, and while a yellow watermelon agua fresca wouldn't boast the same bright red color, it'll have the same fruity, refreshing notes. This recipe uses mint syrup for some extra flair.