The rind has a tan or cream-colored background under the netting
The stem end gives slightly when pressed
The melon smells sweet and fragrant at the stem end
The blossom end feels slightly soft, not mushy
The cantaloupe feels heavy for its size
The skin under the netting is raised and well-defined
The stem slips off easily if it is a true ripe, vine-ripened cantaloupe
The melon is mostly uniform in shape
There are no green areas on the rind
The cantaloupe sounds dull rather than hollow when tapped