Cracks Inside a Watermelon: Should You Stop Eating It?
Not necessarily. If you cut open a watermelon and find cracks running through the flesh, this is often a natural condition called “hollow heart.” It can develop because of growing conditions and does not mean the watermelon contains dangerous chemicals or is contaminated. The Watermelon Board specifically notes that these melons are safe to eat.
What the cracks mean
Hollow heart can produce:
- Cracks or gaps in the red flesh
- A somewhat unusual internal appearance
- Sometimes a sweeter taste around the cracks because sugars can become concentrated there
⚠️ But don’t confuse internal cracks with a damaged rind
If the outside rind is cracked, split, leaking, or damaged, that’s different. Damage to the rind can allow microorganisms to enter and accelerate spoilage.
Also discard a watermelon if the flesh is slimy, moldy, unusually soft, bubbling/foaming, or has a sour or fermented smell. Foaming is a particularly strong warning that the fruit has spoiled.
