How can you tell if a cant elope is ripe? If it's not ripe - will it ripen on the countertop?

Sorry, I was having a goofy moment. :-)

When you press the stem end (where it attached to the vine), it should have a little give. If it's very soft, the fruit is already over-ripe. The stem end should also have a cantaloupe smell.

Sometimes with cantaloupe and other muskmelons, the best ones will have a stem end that is smooth and almost flush to the rest of the fruit, not rough or jagged. Basically, if the harvester had to clip the stem off rather than the melon coming away on its own, it was likely harvested too early. Melons harvested too early usually don't have as much sugar.

The melon should be heavy for its size (also I tend to go for the biggest ones even if they have some blemishes) have a slight amount of give if pushed in, and often times will have the characteristic heady melon scent. HOWEVER, if the place where the melons are kept is cold, you likely won't be able to smell anything, so don't rely on that.

If a can't elope is ripe, it will return the ring. Assuming it was properly raised.

Cantaloupe will continue to ripen if they are picked at maturity, but they only improve in texture and will become juicier. They don't become sweeter after being harvested which is why the sniff test is a good one. They also should be heavy for their size and less green skin and more yellowish brown is a good sign. Some people swear they can tell by thumping them.

I was always told to give any fruit a good sniff. A ripe fruit will have its fragrance.

Not sure if it will ripen on the countertop, sorry.

In my experience, they don't seem to ripen further. It can be hard to tell, but if it's rock hard and very dark green beneath the 'webbing' - not ripe (but shouldn't be mushy either.) I look for a little bit of give when pushed at the stem end, plus the scent of cantaloupe when sniffed close to that point. Usually a good indicator.