I wasn’t looking to stumble upon anything alarming—I was just casually scrolling Reddit while waiting for my leftover noodles to heat up, like I do most evenings, when I came across an image that instantly ruined my peace. It was a watermelon, but not just any watermelon. This one was leaking foamy white stuff, and it looked like someone had injected it with shaving cream. At first, I thought it had to be some kind of prank or Photoshop joke.

But it wasn’t. It was very real, and very gross. I showed it to my husband, and he was just as baffled as I was. Neither of us had any clue what could cause a watermelon to look like that. The caption explained that someone had left their Costco watermelon out on the counter, and it started foaming. A quick Google search warned them it might explode, so they threw it into a garbage bag and tossed it in the outdoor trash bin. The next morning, it exploded. And to top it all off—there were maggots. Naturally, after reading that, I turned to look at the watermelon sitting on my own counter like it was a live grenade just waiting to blow. I had no idea this could happen. But apparently, it can. I learned that watermelons can actually ferment inside themselves.

That’s something I never expected to learn while reheating noodles. If a watermelon gets warm, bruised, or sits around too long, bacteria can find their way inside and start feasting on the sugars. They break those sugars down and produce gas, and as that gas builds up inside the melon, it becomes a ticking time bomb. Pressure increases, and eventually—kaboom. You’ve got a fruit explosion on your hands. And if the pressure doesn’t blow it apart, you might still see foam seeping out as a warning sign. So now I know: if your watermelon starts foaming, that’s not normal. It’s not quirky. It’s not something you can just slice around. It’s a red flag. Do not taste it. Do not try to salvage it. It’s done. It’s gone rogue. Treat it like hazardous waste.

Get a thick bag—none of that thin grocery store plastic—and bag it carefully. You don’t want it bursting mid-transport. Put it outside in the trash, away from your house, and detach emotionally. Let it go. After seeing that post, I’ve become a paranoid fruit shopper. I found myself at the store yesterday inspecting every watermelon like I was considering adopting it. I tapped. I sniffed. I checked the bottom. I stared at one so long that another shopper asked if I needed help. My new rules are simple: no soft spots. If it feels like a stress ball, I’m not touching it. No odd discoloration or bruising—if it looks suspicious, I’m walking away. Once I bring it home, it goes straight into the fridge. No more letting it sit out because it looks cute on the kitchen counter.

That’s where trouble starts. I also cut into it much sooner than I used to. I used to wait several days before slicing it open, but not anymore. As soon as it’s cold, it’s go time. And here’s another fun little tip I picked up—dropping a watermelon, even just a little bump, can cause internal bruising that you can’t see. That damage can make it easier for bacteria to grow, which increases the risk of fermentation. So now I carry watermelons like they’re fragile glass balls filled with regret. After that Reddit scare, I checked the one I had in my fridge. I opened the door like I was about to face something straight out of a horror movie. Gave it a gentle pat. It was cold. It didn’t smell weird. No cracks. No foam. But I couldn’t shake the image of it suddenly popping in the middle of the night and waking up to find my cat covered in sticky pink pulp. So yes, now I am a person who has a genuine fear of watermelons. This is who I am now. All because of one terrifying Reddit post. If there’s anything to take away from this, it’s that fruit is not supposed to explode. But apparently, in this strange timeline we’re living in, even fruit can’t be trusted. Keep an eye on your produce and maybe don’t leave your watermelon sitting out too long. Because if it starts foaming, it’s already too late.