How to Cut a Watermelon in 4 Simple Steps

Watermelon is a type of summer fruit that grows on a vine. Watermelon rind is hard and green, and the interior fruit, which can range from red to pink and yellow, is juicy and sweet. Some watermelon varieties have black seeds, and others are seedless. Watermelons also come in various sizes, from giant 16-inch-diameter melons to small melons the size of cantaloupes.

Watermelon is delicious by itself or as part of a fruit salad. Use it to make watermelon feta salad, or purée watermelon to make a smoothie or an alcoholic cocktail, like a margarita. Watermelon is more than 90 percent water and is a refreshing snack on a hot day. Watermelon contains potassium, Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and calcium.

Unlike other fruits, you cannot tell how ripe watermelon is by how soft the outside is. Follow these tips to pick the best watermelon at the grocery store:

• Feel the weight. The heavier the watermelon, the riper it is. A heavy watermelon is filled with flavorful juice. Pick up a few watermelons and see which one is heaviest.
• Tap the watermelon. Pick up the entire watermelon and give it a tap. A ripe watermelon will make a hollow sound, while an unripe watermelon will produce a flat “smack” sound.
• Check the color. A shiny watermelon is unripe, while a good watermelon is dark and matte in color.
• Look for a yellow . Do not pick an unblemished, green melon. Instead, look for a bright yellow mark—the “field spot”—at the bottom of the watermelon. The larger and more yellow the field spot, the riper and more flavorful the watermelon will be.

Watermelon slices are a refreshing summer treat. Follow these steps to cut a whole watermelon into slices:

• Cut off the ends of the watermelon. Place the watermelon on the cutting board. Using a sharp knife, cut off both ends.
• Halve the watermelon. Cut the watermelon in half lengthwise.
• Quarter the watermelon. Place the two watermelon halves on the cutting board, rind-side up, and cut each piece lengthwise. The watermelon is now cut into quarters.
• Slice the watermelon. Cut the watermelon quarters into one-inch slices. The watermelon pieces should now be triangular, with two sides exposed and one side covered in the rind. Alternatively, once you have the watermelon cut into quarters, you can use a melon baller to scoop out the watermelon into spheres.

Follow these steps to cut individual watermelon pieces for picnics and gatherings:

• Cut off the ends of the watermelon. Place the watermelon on the cutting board. Using a sharp knife, cut off both ends.
• Slice off the watermelon rind. Stand the melon on one end and cut down the side of the watermelon, slicing off the rind. Remove any remaining white parts with the knife.
• Halve the watermelon. Next, cut the watermelon in half lengthwise.
• Make watermelon sticks. Make vertical cuts one inch apart along the watermelon length, then turn the melon and make perpendicular cuts one inch apart. To make watermelon cubes, cut the watermelon sticks into one-inch squares.

Refrigerate cut watermelon in an airtight container for up to four days. You can also store the sliced watermelon in a storage container in the freezer for up to three months.

Become a better chef with the MasterClass Annual Membership. Gain access to exclusive video lessons taught by the world’s best, including Alice Waters, Gabriela Cámara, Niki Nakayama, Chef Thomas Keller, Gordon Ramsay, Yotam Ottolenghi, Dominique Ansel, and more.