Weight

• A ripe honeydew that is ready to eat will feel heavy in your hand. The heaviness may often seem greater in comparison to its size and is a sign that it is ripe. Test the weight of the melon by lifting and holding it in your hand. Do the same for several different honeydews for comparison and to help you judge what is and is not considered heavy for this type of fruit.
  
  

Surface Texture

• Ripe honeydew melons will have a certain feel that indicates that they are ready to eat. These indicators will also give you an idea of the sweetness of the fruit before cutting into it. Running your hand along the surface of the melon, for example, may reveal small freckles to the touch. These freckles are a sign of the sweetness of the plant. Despite the freckles, a ripe melon will have a soft, almost velvet feel to it with minute wrinkles.
  
  

Smell and Softness

• The end of ripe honeydew melons will have a certain amount of give when pressed. Use your fingers or thumb to gently press the blossom end of the melon. If it is ready to eat there will be a slight softness as you push. If it is hard and does not have a springy feel, it is not yet ready to be eaten. Although honeydew melons are not overly fragrant, they often will have a sweet smell. Hold the melon up to your nose so that you can sniff the vine end of it. Look for a slight perfume smell that, combined with the springy softness at the other end, is an indication of its readiness.
  
  

Appearance and Sound

• Look the honeydew over. Observe its color. If the rind is green, it is not ripe or ready to be eaten. If it has a pale cream or yellow color, it is considered ripe. Check the way that it sounds by again holding it in your hand. Rasp your knuckles gently against the fruit. If there is a dull sound to your thumping, the melon is ready and edible.