How to Cut a Watermelon (The Best Way)

Watermelons are some of the most popular and delicious fruits in the summer season, but they’re not easy to cut. Which is why I’ve put together this simple guide: How to Cut a Watermelon — The Best Way!

A watermelon’s bright, red flesh and juicy bite make it a cooling and tasty option during the hottest summer days. Watermelons offer great taste and are a great snack choice when available. But they also come with a flaw: They are large and have tough skin protecting the fruit inside.

There are many ways people go about cutting watermelon, all successful to some degree. In this article, we share the BEST way to cut a watermelon. This cutting method will reduce waste on the edible fruit, make it easy to cut, and also will leave you with easy-to-eat pieces of watermelon for whenever you want them. 

Why This Method Is The Best

Below we will share how to remove the rind of the watermelon and cube it so you can easily eat it. This is the best way for a variety of reasons:

Easy To Eat:

With watermelons being so large, eating this fruit can be a pain if not cut properly. While wedges are great, they leave you with a large piece of rind to throw away and a ton of fruit to eat at once. Cubes are a much easier way to eat the fruit.

Easy To Store: 

The watermelon cubes you will learn to cut can be stored in almost any container. The uniform shape and small size mean you can pack them into containers relatively easily. Compare this to a whole wedge of watermelon, and you will see how much more efficient a cubed piece of watermelon is. 

Simple Yet Efficient Cut:

The cut you will learn is very simple. Furthermore, it equally divides the watermelon into many small cubes so that you can easily portion out and serve them. This cut guides itself, basically by following the rind. Beyond that, creating cubes is a breeze due to the flat sections that are then cut across to deliver the final product. 

Step-By-Step Guide

What You Will Need

• A cutting board that fits the watermelon
• A sharp chef’s knife.
• A container for waste.
• A towel should also be handy to help keep the station clean in case of an extra juicy melon. 

Step 1: Slice the Ends

Slicing the ends of the watermelon will be your first step. To do this, start with the watermelon on the cutting board. Slice off a thin part of each end. Try not to cut too deep into the red flesh, as this is the product you will eat. Once you have both ends sliced, stand the watermelon up on one end. 

Do be aware that really ripe watermelons may contain a lot of juice. Be sure to have a towel on hand in order to collect the juice and keep your station clean. A messy station may cause your cutting board to slide and an unsafe environment to perform this cut. Keeping a dry and clean cutting board while cutting further is ideal. 

Step 2: Cut Along The Rind

This is the step that will determine how much of the watermelon you keep intact and that you can eat. Start by cutting from the top of the melon to the bottom, trying to keep your knife just on the white part and not cutting into the red flesh. As you cut, you will follow the natural curve of the rind to the bottom. 

After your initial cut, things get easier. You can now see where the rind ends, and the flesh begins with the watermelon.

Using the front of your knife, start shaving off the rind from top to bottom. Keep your knife just outside of the white rind, following the curve and avoiding as much of the red flesh as possible. 

Take your time with this step, as it is important not to gouge the red part, so you have more melon to eat. Shave off the rind until all of it is gone, and you are left with the big, red ball of melon to cut down into cubes.,

Step 3: Trim and Cube

The last part of this process is trimming and cubing the watermelon. To start, cut the watermelon into thick slices, ½-1 inch, depending on your preference. After that, trim the edges to square the slices off. I use the trim to blend into smoothies or to just snack on at the moment. 

Once you have the slices, cut them vertically into large, rectangular pieces. Once you are done with that, turn the sheet of melon and cut vertically again to create uniform squares. Store these in an airtight container in the fridge and enjoy. 

The Best Way To Cut Watermelon

This three-step method is simple because you utilize the natural rind of the watermelon to make your cuts. Also, it saves you a lot of usable melon, which in turn gives you more to eat from when buying a watermelon.

This cut is used by many due to its easy approach and the enjoyable shapes you get when you are finished. It also allows you to cut a watermelon with ease, no matter the size. That is what makes this the best way to cut a watermelon.

Watermelon FAQ’s

How Can You Tell A Watermelon Is Ripe?

Ripe watermelons will have a deep, hollow sound when you tap on them. Also, the field spot (the spot where the watermelon made contact with the ground while growing) will be yellow. Finally, a strong watermelon smell coming through the rind and heavy weight are also great indicators to a sweet and ripe watermelon.

How Long Is Cut Watermelon Good For?

Cut watermelon stored in the fridge should be consumed within five days. After this, it is most likely starting to spoil. The sooner you eat, the better for taste, but after five days, the cut product should not be consumed.

Can You Freeze Cut Watermelon?

You can freeze watermelon, but if so, it should be used in its frozen state. If you thaw it out again, it will lose its structure and become mushy. Use frozen watermelon in smoothies, slushies, and other cold and blended applications.