How to Cut Watermelon

Learning How to Cut a Watermelon is easy with this simple, step-by-step guide. Find out the best way to peel a watermelon, then cut this sweet fruit into slices, wedges, and cubes. Enjoy this fruit as a snack or add it to your favorite Summer recipes!

I have a confession to make… My kitchen knife never touched the rind of a watermelon until just this summer!

To be honest, I was always one to grab the package of pre-cut watermelon instead of tackling this gargantuan fruit.

Are you intimidated by cutting a watermelon, too?

Let me tell you from one scared chica’ to the next – it’s actually SO incredibly easy to do!

And… there are 2 different ways you can cut into the sweet and juicy fruit to get sticks or cubes for recipes or into wedges to snack on.

Parts of a Watermelon

Watermelons grow on a vine-like flowering plant much like their cousins the tomato and pumpkin plants.

The interior, or the flesh, of the watermelon is full of a sweet and somewhat watery juice. It can be eaten on its own, added to a Watermelon Feta Salad, or even pureed into a Watermelon Frose.

The exterior, or rind, is made up of a bright and dark-green skin with a white portion directly underneath. While it is technically edible, the watermelon rind is a little tart and often discarded. (Don’t like waste? Use them up in this Watermelon Rind Pickles recipe.)

Watermelons come in all shapes, sizes, colors, and varieties. From the larger picnic to the personal-sized icebox, with seeds or seedless, the traditional color or even yellow and orange – there’s a type for everyone!

How to Cut a Watermelon: Cubes or Sticks

There are two different methods you can use to cut your watermelon. The following is a step-by-step guide for cutting it into sticks or cubes, like for fruit salad.

For both methods, you’ll want to use a large cutting board with a groove to catch any of the excess juices from running onto your kitchen floor. 

Cut off Both Ends

Use a sharp chef’s knife to cut off the top of the watermelon as well as the bottom. You want to cut at least ½-inch off and no more than 1 inch from both ends.

Trim the Skin

Place the watermelon with one of the ends cut-side down on the board. Insert your knife where the white part of the rind meets the pink flesh.

Cut at an angle away from the center of the fruit to remove the rind.  Follow the curvature of the melon until you reach the opposite end to cut the sides off. Repeat this process all of the ways around the watermelon until only a ball of watermelon flesh is left.

Remove the White

Remove any remaining white parts from the fruit by cutting it off with your knife.

Cut in Half

Place the watermelon flat-side down on the cutting board. Slice down the middle to cut it in half lengthwise. 

Make Vertical Cuts

Put one of the halves cut-side down on the cutting board and make vertical cuts approximately 1-inch apart. Turn the watermelon pieces and make perpendicular cuts 1-inch apart.

Cut into Cubes

Place all of the sticks together and cut the melon into 1-inch watermelon cubes. Place pieces into a bowl.

Cutting into Wedges

This alternative method is probably the most classic way to cut a watermelon. Kids love these all summer!

Cut in Half

Slice the watermelon in half lengthwise. Make sure you have a really sharp knife for this as the skin can be pretty difficult to cut through.

Cut into Quarters

Put the watermelon halves cut-side down on the cutting board and cut in half lengthwise again to get 4 quarters.

Slice into Wedges

With one of the quarters flat-side down, make cuts about ½-inch to 1-inch apart for watermelon wedges. (You can also cut from the flesh to the rind if this is easier for you.) Repeat this step with the remaining quarters.

You can even cut it like a pumpkin and make this cute Halloween fruit salad!

How to Pick a Good Watermelon

When you’re picking a watermelon to take home with you, there are a few key features you’ll want to look for to ensure the juiciest, most ripe, and flavorful melon is selected.

1. Symmetry is key. A round and pretty symmetrical watermelon is best since it means it was watered evenly throughout its growth process. Melons that have odd lumps or are bigger on one side versus the other may have experienced seasons of drought and/or times of overwatering.
2. Pick it up. As soon as you pick up the melon you want it to almost shock you by how heavy it is. This means the interior of the fruit is extremely dense with juice and extra flavorful.
3. Look for the ground spot. The watermelons with a big bright yellow ground spot (or belly spot) are the best and most ripe ones. This spot means they sat on the ground and were allowed to ripen naturally before being picked from the vine.
4. Give it a tap. Ripe watermelons will have a deep, hollow sound when tapped. If the melon is not yet ripe, it will sound a little flat and dull when tapped. (Like a zucchini or squash does.)

There are also a few more tips about how to pick a watermelon that you might want to know!

Meal Prep & Storage

There is a little more than 1 ½ cups of watermelon per pound of weight, so it’s unlikely you’ll finish it all in one sitting. 

• To Prep-Ahead: You can buy a watermelon and leave it uncut for up to 7-10 days on the counter or up to 2-3 weeks in the fridge.
• To Store: Store fresh watermelon sticks, cubes, or wedges in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. If storing a watermelon half or quarter, wrap it in plastic wrap before placing it in the refrigerator.
• To Freeze: Place cut fruit in a single layer on a baking sheet, cover with plastic wrap, and freeze for at least 4 or up to 24 hours. Place frozen watermelon pieces in a freezer-safe Ziploc bag and store in the freezer for up to a year.

FAQs

Expert Tips and Tricks

• Pick one with a yellow spot. This means it had time to ripen on the vine and will be sweeter. 
• Feel the weight. The heavier the watermelon, the juicier it will be.
• Use a sharp knife. Dull knives will make it very difficult to cut safely and evenly. 
• Cut just before serving. The longer the cut watermelon sits, the more juice it will release.
• Freeze it for later. Frozen watermelon is a great addition to smoothies!

Watermelon Recipes

While this delightful fruit makes a delicious snack or dessert on its own, here are a few ways you can use it in some healthy recipes:

• Watermelon Feta Salad with Mint
• Watermelon Tequila Fizz
• Watermelon Frosé
• Watermelon Sorbet
• Strawberry Watermelon Popsicles