Muskmelon/canteloupe

[mlynn]

Perhaps some of you could answer my question. I grew up in Ohio and always bought fresh muskmelon from a road side stand. Now that I live in Colorado, I've noticed that what I call a muskmelon is labeled "canteloupe." Are they really the same thing? Or, is this something similar to the yam/sweet potato dilemma that comes up every Thanksgiving.

Oh, and another thing... does anyone eat their muskmelon/canteloupe like I do...sliced with a sprinkle of salt on top? The first time I did this in front of a friend she looked at me like I'd just eaten my soup through a straw.:D

[JHolcomb]

OK, I've been told that what we here in the South call Cantaloupe is really muskmelon. I think they are very,very closely related, but I don't know the difference. Everyone I know eats their cantaloupe with salt on it-watermelon too, but I think it's horrible that way. But I thought I hated corn until I tried it plain, no salt or butter. Go figure.

[Grace]

They are related, but I think muskmelons are, well, muskier! Really, I think they have more flavor than your average grocery store cantelope, but maybe that's because I've only eaten home grown muskmelons. They look a little different too - they're kind of "ridged" like a pumpkin is, not completely smooth like grocery store cantelopes. They're typically bigger, too.

[Angela]

Interesting...I've never heard of muskmelon. I grew up in PA and now live in MD, apparently muskmelon's are not something that is in this area.

As for salting cantaloupe, you are not the only one, mlynn, I've seen it done before. Also watermelon.

[donleyk]

I believe muskmelon also is marketed as Indiana melon here in the mid-west.