How to Cut a Watermelon Quick and Easy Step by Step Guide

Learn how to cut a watermelon quick and easy with different methods. Step by step photos showing how to slice a watermelon into cubes, slices, sticks or wedges. Cubes or wedges work best for snacking. Slices are awesome to sit and eat next to the pool or at the beach. Watermelon cubes do not have the rind so it is best to cut it this way for using in salads. This delicious summer fruit is more than 90% water making it naturally low fat, packed with vitamins, minerals and nutrients. Cool watermelon is crisp, fresh and delicious.

It is a big fruit and can be a bit intimidating to have to chop up. When we have a watermelon cut into cubes in our fridge at home it is unreal how quick it disappears as a delicious, healthy snack! Having watermelon triangles with a rind is a nice way to cut it for eating next to the pool. We eat a lot of watermelons during summer in South Africa and I always used to be a bit lost when cutting one of these amazing fruits. The methods in this post are my my favorites and I show you step by step. For triangles cut the watermelon in half across the fruit, peel the watermelon, cut the flesh first into slices then into cubes as described here. For triangles cut the watermelon in half along its length, than cut the halves into quarters. Cut each quarter into wedges.

How to Cut a Watermelon in Cubes

Cutting a watermelon with this method will leave you with nice cubes no rind, perfect for snacking or to use in salads.

1. Wash the outside of the watermelon and dry with paper towels

2. Cut the watermelon in half. Slice the fruit in two pieces across, not in the length you will end up with two fat halves (not two elongated pieces).

3. Cut of the top ends (stems) of each half.

4. Peel by following the shape of the melon cutting from the top downwards, continue cutting until all the rind has been removed. Remove the rind and the white flesh, leaving only the pink watermelon.

You should be left with two big peeled pieces of watermelon.

5. Cut each into circular slices of about 1 inch (2cm), you should get about 3 big circular pieces of watermelon.

6. Cut each slice first into strips.

7. Cut the watermelon strips into cubes.

The watermelon slices are also nice for cutting watermelon patterns such as stars or hearts from. Cookie cutter shapes make this easy.

How to Cut a Watermelon in Wedges (triangles)

Cutting a watermelon this way will leave you with watermelon wedges with a rind, nice to hold on to and a great way to eat watermelon next to the pool or on a picnic!

1. Wash the outside of the watermelon and dry with paper towels.

2. Cut the watermelon in half. Slice the fruit in two pieces in the length, not across. You will end up with two elongated pieces.

3. Cut each half in half again yielding long watermelon quarters.

4. Slice each quarter across into multiple wedges, 1 inch thickness works well.

How to cut a Watermelon into Slices

Watermelon slices are also very nice to eat next to the pool, a big, fat, messy slice for each person.

1. Cut the watermelon in half, then in quarters along the length as shown above.
2. Slice the quarters in the length into slices.

How to Choose a Ripe Watermelon

• Watermelon season – summer time is watermelon time when the fruit is in season, this is the best time to find a sweet, ripe watermelon.
• Knock on it – you should knock on the melon and listen to what sound it makes. You want to hear a deep hollow sounds, this indicates more water and the fruit is likely riper. A more dense sound indicates a thick rind and that the fruit is not fully ripe.
• Find the field spot – the spot where the watermelon sat on the ground as it ripened is called the field spot and should be a creamy yellow colour.
• Check the shine – you want the skin to be matte, not shiny, as shiny watermelons are sometimes overgrown.

How Long does Watermelon Last in the Fridge?

Watermelons can be stored for the maximum time if it is not cut. Uncut watermelons can last 7-10 days at room temperature and 2-3 weeks in the fridge.

Refrigerate large pieces by wrapping in cling film and watermelon pieces such as cubes or wedges in an airtight storage container 2 to 4 days. Make sure the pieces have not gone bad after storage before eating. Check that the fruit doesn’t dry up, shows white moldy spots or mushy portions.