It started with one simple question: Watermelon: Salt or no salt?
What followed was one of our favorite comment sections of the summer. Nebraskans weighed in, defending family traditions, sharing unexpected topping ideas and, of course, insisting their way is the only correct way to eat a slice of watermelon.
Team Salt Takes the Win
The biggest surprise? Team Salt came out on top.
Here’s how the votes shook out:
- With salt: 96
No salt: 60
Both/Depends: 14
TajĂn: 10
Other answers: 14 (More on that in a sec.)
Many salt supporters said it isn’t about making watermelon salty—it’s about bringing out the fruit’s natural sweetness.
Others had a simple rule: good watermelon doesn’t need salt, but a bland melon definitely does.
Team No Salt Wasn’t Having It
The no-salt crowd came in just as passionately.
One commenter wrote:
“Why would you ruin the watermelon by putting salt on it? Just eat the dang watermelon.”
Another declared:
“No salt. Period.”
For many, perfectly ripe, ice-cold watermelon is already perfect.
Then Team TajĂn Entered the Chat
Several people skipped the salt debate altogether, saying TajĂn was the only acceptable answer.
Others suggested even more adventurous combinations, including hot honey, mustard and specialty seasoning blends.
But wait. There’s more?
Cantaloupe stole some of the spotlight. Dozens of commenters volunteered that while watermelon is up for debate, cantaloupe absolutely deserves salt. Several even doubled down with salt and pepper on cantaloupe.
Mustard is apparently a thing? More than one person admitted to putting yellow mustard on watermelon—or at least on cantaloupe. The reactions ranged from curious to horrified.
The experimental eaters showed up. Suggestions included:
- Hot honey
- Jane’s Krazy Salt
- Cinnamon
- Lemonade powder
- Liquid IV
Don’t throw away the rind. One commenter reminded everyone to save watermelon rinds for pickles—a tradition many people had forgotten about.
And then there was the campfire crowd. One reader skipped the seasoning entirely and recommended blending watermelon with rum, vodka and ice instead.
Some of Our Favorite Comments
- Most nostalgic: “Watermelon was never meant to be eaten in a house. Early in the morning in the patch. Eat the heart and go to the next one. Early morning cold is better than refrigerator cold. And then you need no salt.”
- Most passionate: “Watermelon without salt is just not right.”
- Most controversial: “A little squeeze of yellow mustard is also good!”
- Most unexpected: “Especially with Jane’s Krazy Salt and hot honey! Thank me later.”
One Thing Nearly Everyone Agreed On
Whether people preferred salt or not, many agreed on one thing:
The better the watermelon, the less it needs.
So now we’re curious…
What food debate should we tackle next? Some of you already nominated cantaloupe with salt (or even pepper), so that one may be coming soon.