Watermelon is a healthy snack and a summer staple, so it is important that you know what to look for whether you are shopping at the local farmers market or at the grocery store.  Many people may make their selection based on seeded or seedless and size.  Ripeness requires that you look closely and hold the watermelon to determine the best one.  Here are some tips Texas A & M University Extension that will help you pick the best watermelon:

Tip 1:  Find the yellow belly, or the field spot - Other than cutting open a watermelon to see the inside, the field spot is perhaps the best indicator of the ripeness. This spot on a melon shows where it was laying on the ground while attached to the vine.  If the watermelon is ripe, the field spot should be a large, yellowish patch on one side of the melon. If it is ripe, the color should be a creamy, almost butter-like yellow. The bigger the yellow belly and the creamier the color means the more time the melon spent ripening on the vine. However, if the spot is smaller or looks more white than yellow, then the melon may not be as ripe.

Tip 2:  Tap the underbelly and listen for a deep sound - Lightly knock the outside with your knuckles. A ripe melon will have a deeper sound, as opposed to an over-ripe one that will have a more hollow or flat sound. A duller, more hollow sound can mean the flesh is starting to go soft and spoil.

Tip 3:  Look for a dull and heavy watermelon - Although it may not be the most photogenic nor the easiest to carry to your car, the best watermelons will be dull in appearance and heavier than the rest. A shiny melon indicates the insides are underripe.  The best melon will most likely be heavier than the rest.  On average, a watermelon is 92% water, which makes them so juicy. A heavier melon likely holds more water, which will make it juicier.