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What is Orange Flesh Honeydew?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

The orange flesh honeydew melon is a varietal of honeydew melon which has been bred to be especially flavorful and juicy. These melons may look like cantaloupes at first glance when sliced, but they do not have the netted skin of the classical cantaloupe, and the flavor resembles that of a honeydew melon, not a cantaloupe. These melons are in season from May through October, and they can be found at farmers' markets and many grocery stores while in season. They can also be grown at home if you live in USDA Zone four or warmer.

This melon is a hybrid of the cantaloupe and honeydew melon varieties, retaining some of the characteristics of both. As you might imagine, the distinctive feature of the orange flesh honeydew is the creamy orange flesh. These melons are also very sweet and juicy with a creamy taste when they have been well selected, and they can be used in a variety of ways, ranging from fruit salads to melon sorbet.

Orange flesh honeydews are in season from May through October, and resemble the look of cantaloupes.
Orange flesh honeydews are in season from May through October, and resemble the look of cantaloupes.

When well ripened, an orange flesh honeydew has a thick pale yellow to orange rind which is extremely smooth, with a waxy texture. Around the stem end, the melon should be a little bit soft, and the melon should feel heavy for its size. A bad melon will have spots of discoloration or soft depressions in areas other the stem end, and it should be avoided, unless the discoloration is obviously from the spot where the melon rested on the ground during the ripening process.

Orange flesh honeydew can make a good addition to a fruit salad.
Orange flesh honeydew can make a good addition to a fruit salad.

When cut open, the rich orange color of the orange flesh honeydew melon should stand out, along with the heady aroma. Like many melons, it develops seeds in a cavity in the middle of the melon, making it very easy for consumers to scoop them out and discard them, although they can also be saved to cultivate melons in the garden.

You may also see the orange flesh honeydew labeled as a “temptation melon.” Many people feel that this melon variety is among the finest available, with a rich, complex flavor and crisp, juicy flesh. In addition to being eaten out of hand, this melon can also be grilled, wrapped in various substances as an appetizer, or used to garnish fruit tarts and other desserts. Remember to refrigerate the melon after it has been opened to keep it in good condition, and try to eat it within a few days.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a DelightedCooking researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a DelightedCooking researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

anon277717

I bought this melon thinking it was a cantaloupe. I bought it because my husband likes cantaloupe, but I don't. I sliced it in quarters, filled it with cottage cheese and then sprinkled it with cinnamon. Imagine my happiness when it didn't taste like cantaloupe! So good and juicy, cooled with the cottage cheese. Yummy! I would definitely buy this again.

manykitties2

Orange flesh honeydew melons are amazingly healthy and are great if you are looking for a quick breakfast or a simple snack to take with you to work. An entire medium melon only has about 50 calories in it so you don't have to worry about binging on one even if it is really sweet.

As far as vitamins go, orange flesh honeydew melons meet 80% of most people's vitamin A needs and 80% of their vitamin C needs. This fruit is also considered to be low-carbohydrate, so if you are on a specialized diet you can finally catch a sweet break.

letshearit

Orange flesh honeydews actually make a great addition to frozen treats. If you are up to making your own healthy ice pops all you need is to find a juice that you like the compliments the orange flesh honeydew and add both to a mold and freeze them together.

I find that the honeydew melon has a great texture when frozen and maintains it juicy taste. For myself I like to use very watered-down juices so I don't overwhelm the taste of the orange flesh honeydew. In my opinion, general berry fruit punches taste amazing when frozen into ice pop form with orange flesh honeydew.

DentalFloss

@Denha- I feel the same way. For me I think it is because I do not actually like cantaloupe very much, so anything that reminds me of it in color or taste is not my favorite.

Denha

I really like melon, and honeydew is a favorite of mine, but I have to say I like the green types of honeydew better. I can't say why, except it is the kind we always got when I was a kid, so when I think of honeydew, that's what I think of every time.

Perdido

Orange flesh honeydew is nature’s most perfect food, in my opinion. The taste sends my mind into a reverie of what heaven must be like. The juice is so refreshing and pure, and even though the melon has so much water content, it has such a great flavor as well!

I like to eat orange honeydew along with cantaloupe and strawberries. I try to guess which chunk is honeydew and which is cantaloupe before biting into it. I will eat a strawberry between bites of melon to cleanse my palate. Knowing that I’m getting lots of vitamins in each bite of paradise adds to my enjoyment.

orangey03

Orange flesh honeydew is wonderful in a smoothie. I like to add chunks of this fruit, a scoop of melon sorbet, and half a cup of milk to a blender. I eat this mixture for breakfast sometimes, and it gives me enough energy to make it until lunch.

For an extra punch of flavor, I will sometimes add fresh kiwi to the mix. It complements the honeydew perfectly, plus it adds to the nutritious value of the smoothie.

This breakfast smoothie is best consumed with a side of fresh strawberries and a few chunks of orange honeydew. If you eat the food in solid form as well as drinking it, you feel like you have had something substantial.

ZsaZsa56

The first time I saw this strange fruit I thought for sure it was a cantaloupe. Imagine my surprise when I took a big bite and had the taste of honey dew in my mouth. I honestly thought that someone was playing a trick on me.

My confusion was understandable. I had never seen this kind of fruit before and for whatever reason it seems to still be pretty rare in my part of the country. I have seen it in specialty stores but never in my major supermarket. I wish that it would show up on the shelves so that I could start to enjoy it every day.

Ivan83

Orange flesh honeydew melons are some of my favorite pieces of fruit and definitely my favorite kind of melon. I just love to eat these for breakfast when they are in season and they make a great addition to fruit salad. It is really the best of both worlds. You get that crisp fresh honeydew taste and also the beautiful bright orange color of the cantaloupe.

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    • Orange flesh honeydews are in season from May through October, and resemble the look of cantaloupes.
      By: thomaszobl
      Orange flesh honeydews are in season from May through October, and resemble the look of cantaloupes.
    • Orange flesh honeydew can make a good addition to a fruit salad.
      By: berc
      Orange flesh honeydew can make a good addition to a fruit salad.