How to Cut a Watermelon OR

How to Cut a Watermelon

This is a great traditional cooking method from Nepal. Here is how to do exactly what is asks. It is perfect for every watermelon out there and even adds a little bit of personality to your dinner tables.

Cut

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Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) comes from the Cucurbitacaeae family, also known as pepo. This melon is prized for its sweet ruby flesh hiding inside. Its peak season is in the summer, making it the perfect fruit to bring to a barbecue or picnic during those warm days. Watermelon is delicious on its own or as part of a side dish. Here are a few key tips for cutting one open. The watermelon rind is very thick. It starts from the thin green-colored outer skin and then becomes white until it hits the flesh. Although the white part is edible, it doesn’t have much flavor or sweetness. Remove this layer when making cubes, sticks, or other cut-out shapes if using a cookie cutter.

Cut the melon in half lengthwise, then into quarters. Working one piece at a time, cut horizontal and vertical slices into the flesh about 1 to 1 1/2-inch apart. Turn the melon and make perpendicular slices down to create a crosshatch pattern. Run the knife between the flesh and the rind to remove the cubes. Markets may offer watermelon year-round due to different growing regions. However, the peak season is from May to September, when top growing locations like California, Georgia, Texas, and Florida have ramped up harvesting and production. To pick a ripe melon, do a visual check to see if it’s symmetrical and free from cuts or bruises. (Source: www.jessicagavin.com)

Use

Put the watermelon on your cutting board and cut it in half through the middle. If you watermelon is oval in shape, make two cuts to halve it, leaving a thick slice in the middle – otherwise your sticks might be too long. You can use the middle slice for cutting into long thin wedges – imagine a wagon wheel as you are cutting them. Or you could use the slices for a recipe like our watermelon ‘pizza’.

Optional: Use a small, sharp knife to make a zig zag cut. Scoop out the flesh and set aside. Turn each half over and slice off a bit off the bottom to make a flat surface so the bowl can stand up. Be sure not to cut off too much or you'll cut into the hollow of the bowl. Now you can use it to serve watermelon salad or watermelon soup. (Source: www.allrecipes.com)