Quick and easy steps on how to cut watermelon in little time. No peeling required. As an added bonus, you'll learn techniques, on picking a really good watermelon too.
It's watermelon season and what better time than now to learn how to cut watermelon. The method outlined below is simple and will always have you craving watermelon.
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Ingredient
- Whole watermelon (organic or non-organic)
Essentials
- Large cutting board
- Sharp chef's knife
- Large bowl
How to cut watermelon into cubes
- Wash the outer surface of the melon with a little dish soap and rinse thoroughly with water
- Using a sharp chef's knife, cut the watermelon in half
- Cut each of those halves in half lengthwise
- Slide the knife along the rind and the flesh from one end to the other end (of each quarter piece)
- Lift the flesh out of each rind
- Lay the flesh with the flat side down and make 2 or 3 large slices vertically
- Hold those slices together and using your knife make 1 horizontal cut (i.e. through the equator)
- Turn the watermelon with the flat side facing away from you and slice vertically from one end to the other end to form cubes
- Repeat for all quarters of the watermelon
In my opinion, watermelon cubes are perfect for having in the fridge as a grab and go snack or for serving at a casual gathering. They're really convenient, easy to eat, and will not make a mess.
If you have young children, they could just grab the bowl of watermelon from the fridge themselves and put into another bowl to enjoy as a refreshing and healthy snack.
In fact, I prefer the the cubes over the sticks, spears, or balls. When eating watermelon sticks or spears, the juice from the watermelon has a tendency of running down your arm causing the juice to get on your clothes or even the floor which makes for a sticky mess.
Also, watermelon balls are more time consuming than cutting watermelon into cubes. However, watermelon balls are great for making fruit skewers.
Obviously, there's no right or wrong way to cutting watermelon. It's about your preferred method. Either way, it's going to taste delicious if you've picked a really good melon.
If you're family loves watermelon as much as we do, it will probably only last for about a day and a half anyway.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you do not plan on cutting your watermelon on the day that you bring it home from the market, you can place it on the counter top or in a safe place, so it doesn't fall to the ground and burst. You can store it uncut for about 3 days.
After cutting/cubing your watermelon, store the watermelon cubes in a large air tight container or in a large bowl wrapped tightly with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Picking a watermelon is easier than you think. It just requires a little patience and concentration. Whether the watermelon is big or small, the same process applies which I'll outline below:
Aim for watermelon that is fairly symmetrical and deep green in color with a yellowish underbelly (these tend to be sweeter).
Take your hands as if you're about to type and run your fingers across the entire surface of the watermelon feeling for soft spots. If you feel any soft spots even one, move on to a different watermelon. Soft spots indicate that the flesh of the watermelon has a soft and mushy texture and not firm and crisp.
When you find one, that doesn't have any soft spots, pick it up and use the palm of one hand and gently slap around the watermelon. As you're doing this, concentrate on the sound that it makes, it should sound nice and hollow.
It should also feel really heavy this indicates a juicy watermelon.
Tips
- Use a sharp chef's knife.
- Follow the steps within the post for picking out a good watermelon or ask the person stocking the produce for help.
- If some parts of the flesh feel mushy or soft, just remove it with your knife and discard.
You may also like these summer side dishes
- Fresh Spring Mix Salad
- Vegan Roasted Beet Salad with Grilled Peaches
- Simple Arugula Salad With Nectarines
- Vegetable Salad with Lettuce
Be sure to follow me on Pinterest and Instagram for more 'How Tos' and other tasty recipe ideas.
📖 Recipe
How to Cut Watermelon
Equipment
- Chef's knife
- Cutting board
- Large bowl
Ingredients
- 1 watermelon
- 1 lime
Instructions
- Prep by washing the exterior of the watermelon with a little dish soap and water and rinse thoroughly.
- Using a chef's knife, cut the watermelon in half.
- Then, cut each of those halves also in half lengthwise (now you have 4 sections)
- Take one section of the watermelon and run the knife along the rind and the flesh from one end to the other end.
- Slide the flesh onto the cutting board with the flat side facing down then make 2 or 3 vertical slices.
- Hold the slices together with one hand and with the other hand make a horizontal cut.
- Turn the watermelon with the flat side facing away from you and slice vertically from one end to the other end to form cubes.
- Repeat these steps for each section of watermelon.
- When serving, place watermelon cubes inside of individual bowls and squeeze fresh lime juice over the top or not. Either way, it's still delicious.
Notes
- Use a sharp chef's knife.
- Follow the steps within the post for picking out a good watermelon or ask the person stocking the produce for help.
- If some parts of the flesh feel mushy or soft, just remove it with your knife and discard.
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