Sorry for the redundancy in the title of the post.

Never saw one like that before.

Same here! The only close sort of explanation I found on Google was for darker fruit due to bruising. It doesn't look like yours though. Also more Brown and darker was obviously from mold and old. Maybe you've discovered some sort of sport!

I don't know but I did some looking and saw some reference to "chilling injury" due to exposure to too cold for too long. It may be fine to eat, but if you're uncomfortable, toss it. Better to be safe than sorry.

I will try to contact the local farm stand where I purchased the melon. I found only one reference on the web which said it was a bruise but nothing about whether it is fit for eating. I cut out the bad area and it sits in my fridge while I decide to serve it or not. I always worry about stuff like this.

I'm a coward. I want my cantaloupe to look like a cantaloupe ;) Have you taken a small taste to know if its acceptable.....

Uhhhhhh......looks like Chernobo----lope. 🤣

I just purchased 2 Rockyford Cantaloupe, a locally grown melon....$1.79ea. They were perfect! I've never seen one like that either....

I had a nectarine that looked like that yesterday. Outside just barely soft but when I cut into it the pit was soft and the fruit was an odd color.

There is no way I would ever eat that. It's probably from a fungus or disease, and you definitely need to notify the person you bought it from.

When in doubt, it's out.

^Definitely OUT!

If you have a bird table, the catbird may eat it. I would pass on consuming it.

Of course I wouldn't eat that clearly diseased or damaged area, but what about the rest of the fruit? Does it taste OK, or does it taste bad or weird?

A tiny taste shouldn't be harmful - and you don't have to swallow it.

It looks like the cantaloupe the queen would give Snow White.

Google pink melon fungus, the darkened exterior of the rind is similar to some online pics.

"Be not the first by whom the new is tried; nor yet the last".

That is wrong on so many levels. I would not eat it.

It almost looks like watermelon flesh, wonder if it's a cross? All that being said I couldn't eat it either.

Ya see/hear something new everyday. ISH. Pink discoloring when trying get starter going is bad. Pink in dairy is bad.

Thanks everyone for your responses. I decided that the discoloration must be pink mold. I sampled the part of the melon that was not affected and it tasted just fine. The texture was as to be expected. It has been several hours and I have had no adverse effects, but despite these positives, I decided not to serve it. I do not want to take a chance and decided to go with the consensus.

Serve it? You were thinking of giving it to other people? Oh eek. Sorry but I cant wrap around that. Not surely?

Hybrid, half cantaloupe/ half antelope. You should cook it first.

Probably won't hurt you but likely tastes disgusting. What does it smell like? If it doesn't smell mouldy or rotten I'd try a tsp. But then I hate to throw food out and will turn anything into a meal if I can, rather than chuck it.

btw watermelon and cantaloupe cannot cross. They're different species.

Very odd, indeed! Even the outer rind of that lope looks a bit suspect. Never seen that.

I would throw it out. It looks seriously diseased. I wouldn't feel badly about wasting food either as that wasn't edible in the first place.

But then I hate to throw food out and will turn anything into a meal if I can, rather than chuck it.

I think being careful and frugal is a positive attribute. I do my best to use everything I purchase. I will make several meals and freeze them rather than throw out leftover Thanksgiving turkey, for instance.

But the physical and financial tolls of possible illness from spoiled food make me throw out suspicious items without hesitation. To me, spending $2,000 in the ER after taking a chance on a $5 melon is not a good gamble.

The amount of food thrown for erroneously perceived threats in the USA is astronomical. Your logic is sound lucillle but I am guessing you apply it waaay to liberally. This is clearly turned fruit and should not be eaten. Here's a shopping hint: When the outside of the rind is black--don't buy it.

I did not intend to imply I would eat food which was potentially dangerous just to avoid throwing it away. That melon does look nasty, so I'd only try a tiny bit of the less weird flesh and only if my nose had not issued a warning.

I hate to waste food too and I was looking forward to having some cantaloupe but better safe than sorry.