What Is Cantaloupe and How Can I Use It?

Cantaloupe is easier to cook with than it looks. Here's how to choose, use, and store it, what to substitute, and 75 recipes to get you started.

What is cantaloupe?

Cantaloupe is the orange-fleshed melon with the tan, netted rind, a summer fruit that turns sweet and musky, almost floral, when it is ripe.

In most of North America the netted melon sold as cantaloupe is botanically a muskmelon, which is why you sometimes see both names on the same bin.

The flesh is soft, juicy, and deeply perfumed, with a hollow center full of seeds you scoop out before eating. It is mostly water, so a chilled wedge is one of the most refreshing things you can eat on a hot day.

A truly ripe cantaloupe is a different fruit from the hard, bland ones that show up out of season, and most of the skill is in picking the right one.

Ways to Use It

The classic move is the simplest: ripe cantaloupe with thin slices of salty cured ham. Wrap melon in prosciutto and the sweet-and-salty contrast is a whole appetizer in one bite.

It belongs in fruit salads, where its mellow sweetness rounds out sharper fruit. Mixed Fruit Salad with Citrus Mint Dressing and the Sacramento Fruit Bowl both put it to work, and a mint and lime dressing flatters it especially well.

Blended, cantaloupe turns into something special. It is the base of a Mexican agua fresca, just melon, water, a little sugar, and lime whizzed and strained into a pale orange cooler.

The same purée freezes into Cantaloupe Sorbet or churns into Ben & Jerry's Cantaloupe Ice Cream, and it thins into a chilled summer soup with a splash of cream.

Scoop it into balls for a fruit platter, tuck it into a savory salad with feta and cucumber, or freeze the cubes to drop into sangria and punch.

Pairing and a Common Mistake

Cantaloupe leans toward salty and bright partners. Salty cured ham and creamy cheeses like feta and goat cheese set off its sweetness, while mint, basil, lime, and ginger lift it. A crack of black pepper or a drizzle of honey takes it further still.

The big mistake is picking a bad melon, because a cantaloupe will not ripen sweeter after you cut it. It softens a little on the counter, but the sugar is locked in at harvest, so an underripe one stays watery and flat no matter how long you wait.

Judge ripeness by smell and feel, not color. Sniff the blossom end, the side opposite the stem: a ripe melon smells sweet and musky right through the rind, and it should give just slightly when you press there.

The stem end should be smooth and slightly sunken, a sign it slipped off the vine ripe rather than being yanked early.

Substitutes

The easiest swap is another orange or green melon. Honeydew is sweeter and milder, and Galia or Charentais melons are close cousins with the same perfumed flesh, so any of them slot into a fruit salad or agua fresca.

Watermelon works where you mainly want sweet, juicy, refreshing melon, though it is crisper and waterier and lacks the musky note.

When melon is out of season, ripe mango or papaya gives you a similar soft, sweet, tropical flesh for blending or a fruit cup, just with a more pronounced flavor of its own.

Buying and Storing

Pick up a few and choose the one that feels heavy for its size with a thick, raised, well-formed net over a creamy tan or golden background. A green-tinged background means it was picked too soon.

Smell the blossom end. A good cantaloupe announces itself with a sweet, musky aroma; if it smells like nothing, it will taste like nothing. Avoid melons with soft bruised patches or any mold, especially around the stem.

Keep a whole uncut melon at room temperature for a couple of days to let it soften and turn fragrant. Once it is ripe, or once cut, it goes in the fridge.

Cut cantaloupe should be wrapped or sealed in a container and eaten within three to four days; it picks up other smells in the fridge fast and its juices weep.

Because the netted rind can carry bacteria, scrub the whole melon under running water before you slice it, even though you are not eating the skin.

Nutrition

Quick facts

Where to find cantaloupe: Cantaloupe is usually found in the fruit section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group: Cantaloupe is a member of the Fruits and Fruit Juices US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

In Chinese

哈密​​瓜

British (UK) term

Cantaloupe

en français

cantaloup

en español

cantalupo

How much does cantaloupe weigh?

Related

Fruits and Fruit Juices

Recipes using cantaloupe

There are 75 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Peach Melon Conserve

Peach melon conserve with cantaloupe, crystallized ginger, and pecans. A glossy, slightly chunky preserve perfect for biscuits, cheese boards, and roast pork.

Cantaloupe Sorbet

Cantaloupe sorbet with honey-sweetened melon puree and brandied melon balls for garnish. A refreshing palate cleanser or summer dessert that captures peak melon flavor in a frozen scoop.

Cantaloupe Ice Cream

Cantaloupe ice cream blends ripe puréed cantaloupe with egg yolks, sugar, milk, lemon juice, and whipped cream. Pale orange, floral, and frozen without an ice cream maker for a refreshing summer dessert.

Mixed Fruit Salad with Citrus Mint Dressing

Mixed different kinds of melon together, use mint, fresh orange juice, fresh lime juice to make a fresh dressing, a good start of a day with these fresh fruits salad.

Sacramento Fruit Bowl

This fruity delicious dish is made with pineapple, honeydew melon, cantalope and nectarines.

Ben & Jerry's Cantaloupe Ice Cream

This homemade cantaloupe ice cream will for sure make you keep coming back to scoop out more. This fruity and creamy ice cream is a winner at any occasion.

After School Fruit Cup

A special fruit treat for kids perfect for after school.

Fresh Pineapple with Rum Cream

Fresh pineapple with rum cream pairs ripe sliced pineapple with a silky rum-spiked sabayon-style sauce of egg yolks, butter, and whipped cream. An elegant New York chef-style fruit dessert.

Double Melon Soup

Chilled two-tone melon soup with cantaloupe and honeydew poured side by side for a striking orange-and-green presentation. A refreshing no-cook summer appetizer with sherry, citrus, and fresh mint.

Morning Fruit Salad

Morning fruit salad with cantaloupe, kiwi, strawberries, and raspberries, tossed with fresh mint and orange juice. Light, vibrant, no-cook breakfast or brunch side ready in 20 minutes.

Minted Peaches & Melons

Minted peaches and melons is a fresh summer fruit salad of ripe peaches and cantaloupe in a light orange-lemon dressing, finished with chopped mint and toasted almonds. No cooking, and easy to make ahead.

Mellow Melon Soup

Chilled melon soup made with pureed cantaloupe, honeydew, sweet white wine, and cardamom. A refreshing no-cook summer soup garnished with fresh mint.

Chunky Tomato Fruit Gazpacho

Chilled fruit gazpacho with tomatoes, honeydew, cantaloupe, mango, nectarines, and cucumber in fresh orange juice with basil, mint, and a jalapeño kick. A stunning summer starter.

Melon-Citrus Mingle

Big-batch melon and citrus fruit salad with honeydew, cantaloupe, oranges, grapefruit, pineapple, bananas, and cherries in fresh orange juice. Feeds 20 and keeps a week.

Chilled Fruit Soup with Spiked Nuts

Chilled fruit soup with spiked melon: champagne-sweetened fruit broth ladled over vodka-and-tequila-marinated melon, grapes, and plums. A grown-up summer starter built for heat waves.

Freddi's Fruit Cocktail Mix

Homemade frozen fruit cocktail mix with watermelon, cantaloupe, peaches, grapes, and blueberries in an orange-lemonade syrup. Freeze in pint containers for up to 8 months of fresh fruit cups.

Seafood Coctail Salad

Seafood cocktail salad with shrimp, avocado, honeydew, cantaloupe, orange, and strawberries on lettuce, dressed with a tangy cocktail-sauce-and-salad-dressing mix. A light summer main course.

Melon & Hearts of Palm Salad with Chutney Vinaigrette

Melon and hearts of palm salad with honeydew, cantaloupe, and artichoke hearts dressed in a mango chutney-lime vinaigrette. An elegant, refreshing summer salad.

Melon-Mango Sorbet

No-churn mango cantaloupe sorbet sweetened with maple syrup and brightened with lime juice. A low-fat, dairy-free frozen dessert made entirely in a blender and freezer.

Melon in Mint Sauce

Fresh melon salad with cantaloupe, honeydew, and watermelon tossed in a creamy mint and cardamom sauce. A chilled summer fruit dish with light sour cream dressing.

Minty Fresh Fruity Salad

Fresh fruit salad with cantaloupe, blueberries, and strawberries tossed in orange juice, honey, and strips of fresh mint. A light, refreshing side ready in 10 minutes.

Minted Cantaloupe & Blueberries

Cantaloupe balls and blueberries in a fresh mint sugar syrup served as a fruit salad or chilled dessert with whipped cream. A light, refreshing summer fruit dish.

Melon Soup

Chilled cantaloupe soup blended smooth with fresh orange juice, cream, and a pinch of ginger. A no-cook cold soup that's refreshing on hot summer days.

Melon Fresco

Melon fresco, a Latin American blender drink made from fresh cantaloupe, lime juice, and a whisper of sugar. Four-ingredient summer refresher that's halfway between juice and smoothie.

Lime Mold

Retro lime gelatin mold layered with orange sections, grapefruit, pineapple, maraschino cherries, and melon balls. A colorful vintage fruit salad.

Cold Melon Soup

Chilled melon soup with cantaloupe, honeydew, champagne, and a drizzle of honey, served in iced bowls with whipped cream and mint. A no-cook summer starter that feels like a celebration.

Stuffed Cantaloupe

Wine-marinated cantaloupe melon balls served in a carved melon shell with a creamy blue cheese and ricotta dip. A stunning no-cook appetizer for summer entertaining.

Melon, Palm, & Prosciutto Salad

Melon, hearts of palm, and prosciutto salad on mesclun greens with red-wine vinaigrette. An elegant Italian-inspired starter with sweet cantaloupe, salty prosciutto, and tender palm hearts.

Grilled Tenderloin Salad with Honey-Mustard Dressing

Grilled pork tenderloin salad with cantaloupe, fresh pineapple, Belgian endive, and toasted almonds tossed in a honey-mustard ginger dressing. A light, fruity summer main course salad.

Melon Grape Salad

Fresh melon and grape salad with cantaloupe, watermelon, and green grapes tossed in a honey-lime-Dijon dressing. A sweet-tangy summer fruit salad with a savory twist.

Party Creamy Fruit Salad

Party creamy fruit salad parfaits layer strawberries, cantaloupe, grapes, apple, pineapple and mandarin oranges with whipped topping and toasted coconut in sundae glasses. A no-cook summer dessert built for entertaining.

Cantaloupe Melba

Cantaloupe Melba with sliced melon, raspberry sherbet, and a fresh raspberry Melba sauce. An elegant no-cook dessert with optional orange liqueur.

Chilled Cantaloupe Soup

Chilled cantaloupe soup pureed with cinnamon, orange juice and lime, served ice-cold in frosted bowls with fresh mint. A no-cook summer starter that takes 15 minutes plus a chill in the fridge.

Chilled Puree of Carrot & Melon

Chilled carrot and cantaloupe soup pureed silky smooth with coriander and cumin, finished with a feathered yogurt garnish. An elegant cold soup for summer entertaining.

Fresh Fruit Frappe 2

Fresh fruit frappe blended with watermelon, cantaloupe, pineapple, mango, strawberries, and orange juice over crushed ice. A refreshing no-cook summer drink.

Chilled Minted Cantaloupe Soup

Chilled cantaloupe soup blended with fresh mint, white wine, and yogurt. A no-cook summer starter with just 5 ingredients that needs only a blender and a couple hours to chill.

Melons Stuffed with Fruits & Vegetables

Cantaloupe halves stuffed with sauteed carrots, green apple, raisins, rice, lemon zest, and topped with browned pine nuts. A sweet-savory baked melon dish with Middle Eastern flair.

Summer Fruit Bowl

Cool, refreshing big-batch fruit salad with watermelon, cantaloupe, plums, nectarines, and grapes tossed in chilled mint-lime simple syrup. A summer party showstopper.

Melon Salsa

Melon salsa with ripe cantaloupe, fresh ginger, jalapeno, cilantro, and lime. A sweet-spicy no-cook fruit salsa for grilled fish, chicken, or chips.

Cantaloupe Soup (Sopa De Melon Escribe)

Chilled Spanish-style cantaloupe soup blended with potato, half and half, and dry sherry. Silky, elegant, and ready in 15 minutes. Garnish with nutmeg or a slice of lime.

MacErated Melon

Cantaloupe macerated in dry sparkling wine with orange marmalade and fresh mint. A light, elegant fruit dessert that needs a few hours in the fridge and zero cooking.

Pineapple & Bananas with Coconut Syrup

Pineapple, banana and cantaloupe pooled in a coconut milk and brown rice syrup glaze, scented with rosewater. Light tropical fruit salad with a Southeast Asian twist.

Hawaiian Chicken Salad

Hawaiian chicken salad with curried sour cream, chutney, toasted coconut, and ginger, served in cantaloupe halves or over shredded lettuce.

Curried Fruit Compote

Curried fruit compote with peaches, apricots, fresh pineapple, and cantaloupe in a curry-spiced sugar syrup with lime slices. A canning recipe that yields four quarts.

Peach/Cantaloupe Soup with Blueberries

Peach cantaloupe soup blends ripe summer fruit with orange juice and a pinch of nutmeg into a chilled puree, topped with fresh blueberries. Light dairy-free starter or dessert.

Fruited Smoked Turkey Salad

Fruited smoked turkey salad with mostaccioli pasta, cantaloupe, strawberries, scallions, and toasted almonds. A bright summer pasta salad with smoky, sweet, and crunchy in every bite.

Salad of Chicken & Melon

Chicken and cantaloupe salad with black grapes, asparagus, capers, and Parmesan in a white wine-lemon dressing. A light, elegant main course salad with wine-poached chicken.

Hurricane Fruit Salad

Hurricane fruit salad with bananas, oranges, strawberries, pineapple, kiwi, cantaloupe, and dates tossed in plain yogurt and topped with shredded coconut. A tropical, diabetic-friendly fruit bowl.

Basil Jicama Fruit Salad

Bright fruit salad with jicama matchsticks, grapes, pineapple, nectarine, strawberries, and cantaloupe tossed in orange juice with fresh basil. A crunchy, refreshing no-cook side that's ready in 20 minutes.

Fresh Fruit Salad with Celery-Honey Dressing

Fresh fruit salad with pineapple, cantaloupe, strawberries, grapes, and blackberries in a homemade celery-honey dressing. A Southern Living-style summer salad with a blended vinaigrette.

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