Can I still eat this watermelon left out uncut for a week?!

I thought that it would just be a quick dip into the googleverse and I'd find the answer--boy was I wrong!.

Here's the answer from fruitandveggieguru!.com:

"Cut watermelon can be refrigerated up to 7 days but should be kept in an airtight container!. Uncut watermelon can last up to 21 days"

On the other hand, according to the North Carolina Watermelon Association (ncmelons!.com):

"Uncut watermelons keep at room temperature for up to two weeks!."

I'd also suggest that you make sure that there are no soft spots, bruises, cracks, or cuts on the surface of the watermelon!. You might also check for that hollow "thump" that you get from a ripe watermelon, and a smell test after you cut it open wouldn't hurt!.

Here's something else to worry about!. The optimal storage temperature for watermelon (from nationalwatermelonassociation!.com) is 10

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