honeydew melon

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honeydew melon

(© School Division, Houghton Mifflin Company)

n.
A kind of melon (Cucumis melo) having a smooth whitish rind and green flesh. Also called winter melon.

This sweet, succulent member of the muskmelon family was prized by ancient Egyptians thousands of years ago, and ages before that in Persia, where the muskmelon is thought to have originated. Luckily for American honeydew enthusiasts, the melons are now grown in California and parts of the Southwest. The slightly oval honeydew is distinguished by a smooth, creamy-yellow rind and pastel green flesh that's extraordinarily juicy and sweet. It ranges in weight from 4 to 8 pounds. Honeydews are available year-round, though the peak months are generally July through September. Perfectly ripe honeydews will have an almost indistinguishable wrinkling on the skin's surface, often detectable only by touch. Choose one that's very heavy for its size. Underripe melons can be ripened at room temperature. Wrap ripe melons in a plastic bag and refrigerate up to 5 days. Honeydew melons can be used in salads, desserts, as a garnish and in fruit soups. They are a good source of vitamin C. See also melon.

Quantity	Energy (calories)	Carbohydrates (grams)	Protein (grams)	Cholesterol (milligrams)	Weight (grams)	Fat (grams)	Saturated Fat (grams)
1/10 melon	45	12	1	0	129	0	0

Note: click on a word meaning below to see its connections and related words.

The noun has 2 meanings:

Meaning #1: any of a variety of muskmelon vines having fruit with a smooth white rind and white or greenish flesh that does not have a musky smell
  Synonyms: winter melon, Persian melon, winter melon vine, Cucumis melo inodorus

Meaning #2: the fruit of a variety of winter melon vine; a large smooth-skinned greenish-white melon with pale green flesh
  Synonym: honeydew

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