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How Do You Cut a Watermelon
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There’s no better way to beat the summer heat than with juicy, refreshing watermelon. Best of all, cutting into one is way easier than you think. Plus, it’s so much better than what you find pre-sliced at the store!
So what’s the best way to cut a watermelon? The answer depends on how you want to serve it. This watermelon guide will teach you how to choose the perfect one and then slice it, dice it, and cut it in many different ways. Enjoy it on its own or add it to your favorite summer recipes for a fruity kick.
How to Tell When Watermelon is Ripe?
Picking the right watermelon is key for a sweet, crisp bite. Whether you buy them at farmers’ markets or in the grocery store, you should look for the same things across the board: color, texture, field spot, and weight.
- Color: Dark green watermelons with dull exteriors are usually sweeter than shiny, light green ones. Stay away from ones that are so light in color that they almost look white or pale yellow.
- Texture: Make sure there are no bruises, bumps, holes, dents, or imperfections of any kind. These indicate falls, impact, bugs, pests, and many other things. If you run your hand along the watermelon rind, it should be completely smooth all over.
- Field spots: Avoid watermelons with white field spots. A field spot is an area at the bottom of a watermelon that has a different tone from the rest of the fruit. Unripe watermelons tend to have white field spots, whereas yellow or orange-ish ones mean they’ve had a longer chance to ripen and are ready for slicing and eating.
- Weight: Pick 2-3 of the best watermelons you can find and weigh them using the scale at the supermarket or take a guess and select the heaviest one. The more it weighs, the juicier a watermelon is.
How to store watermelon (freeze or store)
Watermelon is best straight out of the fridge for a super refreshing bite. Depending on whether you’re planning to eat it right away or not, you can refrigerate or freeze the watermelon slices, cubes, sticks, or wedges for later.
- Fridge: Place it in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Keep it away from direct heat and sunlight when on the counter to prevent fermentation and spoilage.
- Freezer: Transfer it to a freezer bag in serving-size portions. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge or blend it frozen for icy drinks. The texture will change after thawed, so it’s best for processed (blended) recipes like slushies.
4 Best Ways to Cut Watermelon
Watermelon cutting is a great skill to have for the summer. You can cut it into cubes, sticks, slices, or triangles. They’re all super easy methods as long as you have a large, sharp knife, a damp kitchen towel, and a cutting board. Place the kitchen towel underneath the cutting board on the counter so that it doesn’t move around. This way you’ll have a firmer grip and extra clean cuts.
How to cut a watermelon into cubes
1. Create a flat surface: Use your knife to cut off ¼” from the top and bottom of the watermelon. You should be able to place it on your cutting board flatly, without it rolling around.
2. Remove the rind: Look at the watermelon from the top. Place the knife where the red interior meets the white part of the rind. Push the knife downward and along the entire edge of the watermelon to remove the rind. Repeat on all sides as many times as needed until removing the entire rind. You should only be left with a red piece of watermelon.
3. Dice it: Make 1” thick cuts from top to bottom to create large slices of watermelon. Set them on the cutting board. Slice them again to create 1” sticks. Turn them horizontally and slice into 1” squares. The whole thing should look like a grid pattern when you’re slicing the watermelon.
How to cut a watermelon into sticks
1. Create a flat top: Slice the watermelon in half. You should have two semi-circles.
2. Turn it into a square: Cut off ¼-½” of watermelon on 4 sides, but leave the rind on top. You aren’t meant to see any rind from the sides. The watermelon should look slightly square-ish.
3. Slice it: Use the knife to cut the watermelon into 1” slices. Rotate the cutting board and press the slices together gently. Cut again into 1” slices.
How to cut a watermelon into slices
1. Flatten it: Remove ¼” from the top and bottom of the watermelon. Place it on the cutting board.
2. Remove the rind: Use the knife to carefully slice between the red interior and rind along all sides. There should be no more green or white parts on the watermelon.
3. Slice it: Make 1” cuts of watermelon from top to bottom to create large slices.
How to cut a watermelon in triangles
1. Level it: Use the knife to cut ¼” off from the top of the watermelon. Flip it over so that you can rest the watermelon on the cutting board without it tipping over.
2. Make halves: Slice the watermelon in half length-wise (from top to bottom). Slice each half in half again. You should have 4 chunks of watermelon by now.
Slice the wedges: Place one of the red sides of each watermelon chunk facing the cutting board. Flip the cutting board or watermelon so that it’s horizontal to you. Make 1”-thick vertical cuts on each chunk to create watermelon wedges.
Cutting watermelon – FAQs
How to remove seeds from watermelon?
The easiest way to remove seeds from a watermelon is with tweezers or a small fork. Scoop them out gently once each watermelon slice is 1” thick. The smaller the pieces/cuts, the harder it is to remove them without mashing the watermelon.
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