Most people do—but you really shouldn't

Summer is peak melon season, which means it’s also prime time for watermelon slices at picnics, cantaloupe wedges at cookouts, and cubes of honeydew on fruit platters everywhere. But before you slice up those thick-skinned beauties, there’s one crucial step you should never skip: washing your melons. Here’s why giving them a good scrub matters.

Why You Should Always Wash Your Melons

The tough rind on your sweet honeydew or juicy watermelon may look protective, but it can carry harmful bacteria that can transfer straight to the flesh inside when you slice it. Washing them before you dig in can make a big difference—and help keep foodborne illness off your summer bingo card. It’s an easy step that food scientist and recipe developer Jessica Gavin really wishes more people wouldn’t skip (it’s actually one of her biggest pet peeves).

Because melons are often grown on the ground, dirt and debris naturally clings onto their surfaces that you need to remove. “That's easy to see on things like watermelons, but cantaloupes have a webbing bacteria [that] likes to hide within,” Gavin says.

How to Wash Your Melons Properly

When it comes to ensuring your watermelon salad stays bacteria-free, Gavin recommends three steps—what she refers to as the “three Cs.” The process can also be applied to washing other fruits and veggies, too, particularly if you plan to eat them raw.

Clean your hands. Wash your hands with warm and soapy water for at least 20 seconds.
Clean your tools. Make sure your knives; rinse them off between cuttings if needed, like in between cuttings. “Make sure your cutting boards are clean, too, because a lot of times there might be bacteria on the surface that could then contaminate your food.
Clean your produce. Rinse your melon with cool running water and scrub the exterior gently if needed, then dry it off with a clean paper towel. “Use a clean scrub brush to remove dirt, dry it off well, and then start cutting,” she says.