This Simple Trick Makes It Easy to Carve a Watermelon
Updated: Jan. 20, 2023
Sure, you could just slice away with wild abandon. But learning how to carve a watermelon with this trick will save you some frustration—and maybe some fingers, too.
When it comes to carving a neat watermelon shark or fruit-filled watermelon basket, the most daunting step can be figuring out how to come at that big ol’ melon. It’s nearly impossible to hold the giant fruit in place with one hand while you slice with the other—unless you know the kitchen trick that makes carving a watermelon easy.
Put down the knife—and read on before you lose your rind!
So, what’s the trick?
It all comes down to creating a sturdy base. You chop off one end of the watermelon to create a flat base. (Don’t worry about ruining the melon—it can be a small cut!) From here, you can move on to these impressive displays of carving prowess—or just slice off the other end, stand the fruit on one flat side, cut down the middle to halve, then quarter, slice and serve.
While it’s most helpful for watermelons, this trick works with any smooth, round fruit. Next time you put our favorite summer melon recipes to the test, be sure to give it a try.
So please, for the love of all that is tasty, don’t cut your watermelon with a round side wobbling on your cutting board. For even more stability, place a kitchen towel beneath your cutting board to keep it from moving around on you.
Why is it useful?
Cutting yourself with a super-sharp knife is a common kitchen nightmare—and it can happen to the best of us. (The phrase “avocado hand” is actually slang now for slicing your palm while attempting to make avocado toast. Learn the best way to cut an avocado here.) This trick might even save you time in the kitchen, since you won’t need to worry about stabilizing 20 pounds of produce prone to rolling.
Now that you know the trick, you’re all set for watermelon season! Head to your local grocery store—or farmers market—to grab this classic summer fruit, and get ready to make some extra-refreshing watermelon recipes. Handy hacks like this are one in a melon!
Make one of these stunning fruit salads to fill your watermelon basket
Minted Fruit SaladFilled with the season’s best, freshest fruit, this salad shouts summer. The hint of mint adds a refreshing note to the colorful melon compote. —Edie DeSpain, Logan, Utah
Grilled Stone Fruit SaladYes, fruit salad recipes can be grilled! Summer is the time we enjoy grilling and adding fresh fruit to our menu, and this smoky-sweet salad is the best of both worlds! I like to marinate the fruits for extra flavor before I grill them. —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada
Fruit Cup with Citrus SauceThis fruit salad is so elegant that I serve it in my prettiest crystal bowls. With its dressed-up flavor, it's perfect for a special event, but easy enough for every day. —Edna Lee, Greeley, Colorado
Sparkling Fruit SaladPineapple chunks, mandarin oranges, strawberries and grapes are treated to a dressing of wine and sparkling club soda in this delightful salad. Serve in dessert dishes or set the whole bowl on the table for a fetching presentation. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
South-of-the-Border Citrus SaladOrange, grapefruit and jicama add color and texture to this out-of-the-ordinary fruit salad. Sometimes I'll toss in slices of mango and cucumber for extra fun. —Mary Fuller, SeaTac, Washington
Fruit Salad in a Pineapple BoatA sweet, summery treat that looks as good as it tastes! No one, young or old, will be able to resist this healthy fruit salad. You can take this pineapple serving idea and use it with all sorts of fruit salad recipes. —Amy Short, Lesage, West Virginia
Minty Pineapple Fruit SaladFresh mint adds bright flavor to this easy, quick and low-fat pineapple salad. Give it a berry twist by using blueberries and raspberries in place of the grapes, but don't forget the secret dressing ingredient—lemonade! —Janie Colle, Hutchinson, Kansas
Two-Berry Fluff SaladThis fluffy salad is a welcome treat on warm Texas afternoons. Because there's a blueberry orchard near our home, we often pick up berries to use in this recipe and others. When blueberries and strawberries aren't in season, you can substitute frozen berries with equally good results. We love this recipe because it's a nice side dish, but also works as an Easter dessert. —Karen Wenzel, Conroe, Texas
Glazed Fruit MedleyThe homemade orange dressing on this salad complements the fresh fruit flavors beautifully. It’s perfect for a spring or summer brunch. —Karen Bourne, Magrath, Alberta
Blueberry Cantaloupe SaladThe simple citrus and poppy seed dressing in this fruit medley really dresses up the refreshing mix of berries and melon. —R. Jean Rand, Edina, Minnesota
Sparkling OrangesWe were living in Texas when I found the recipe for this simple yet elegant salad. I was thrilled— we had a surplus of fresh oranges! All you do at the last minute is garnish and serve. —Janie Bush, Weskan, Kansas
Apple Pecan SaladI remember being excited right before Thanksgiving and Christmas, because that's when my family made this salad. There were five children and only the oldest helped peel the apples. It was fun when one of our boyfriends would come for the holiday for the first time. My dad would give him a huge bowl of grapes, hand him a sharp paring knife and tell him to start peeling. We all kept a straight face until he had the first grape peeled. —Debra Slone, Crossville, Tennessee
Brunch Fruit SaladThis appealing fruit salad is a lovely addition to breakfast, lunch or even supper. Light and refreshing, it's perfect alongside egg bakes, sausages and other hearty staples you find on breakfast buffets. —Millie Vickery, Lena, Illinois
Company Fruit SaladWe first tried a cream cheese fruit salad like this at a local deli. Since I couldn't get that recipe, I started mixing up different dressings until I hit on this one. Now I make this refreshing delightful salad for every picnic and get-to-gether. It can be a snack, side dish or dessert. —Connie Osterhout, Napoleon, Ohio
Layered Fresh Fruit SaladPeople always pass on compliments when I take this salad to covered-dish suppers. It's nice on a hot day...with a winter meal...or as a dessert! We live on a small farm where my garden gives me lots of possibilities for fresh food. —Page Alexander, Baldwin City, Kansas
Mojito Marinated FruitAll the flavors of the popular mojito cocktail are featured in this fantastic salad. After you eat the fruit, you’ll want to sip the luscious syrup! —Marcy Griffith, Excelsior, Minnesota
Cranberry Waldorf SaladCranberries grow in the coastal area about 50 miles from our home. When they become available, I always make this creamy salad. —Faye Huff, Longview, Washington
Originally Published: March 28, 2019
