How to Cut a Watermelon Into Slices and Cubes

A round or oblong watermelon that is practically as big as your midsection is not the easiest thing to navigate in the kitchen! Fortunately, a few simple steps make the task much less challenging.

By
Lori Rice
Lori Rice
Lori Rice
Lori Rice is a food and beverage writer and photographer. Her work can be found in CiderCraft Magazine, King Arthur Flour’s SIFT Magazine, The Coastal Table, and Plate Magazine, as well as at CraftBeer.com.
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Published July 26, 2021
Lori Rice
Watermelon slices and cubes on a wooden serving plate

Lori Rice

Ah, watermelon. Known for its sugary-sweet, bright red flesh and vibrant green, striped skin, this juicy fruit is so refreshing, especially when served chilled on a hot summer day. Seedless watermelons are even easier to eat, since you can quickly cut and serve them without worrying about any hard, black seeds making their way into your fruit salad.

So, what’s the best way to cut a watermelon into slices or cubes? You’ll want to keep the fruit stable and minimize the number of cuts. Here’s what to know!

Bowl of watermelon cubes with watermelon slices behind it on a wood serving platter

Lori Rice

How to Pick a Ripe Watermelon

Before you cut any watermelon, make sure you have a ripe, sweet fruit so it’s worth your effort. There are several things to evaluate when you are selecting a melon that will indicate it is a good pick.

First, make sure the melon is uniform in its shape, whether it is round or oval. Blemishes and webbing on the skin are common given how the fruit grows in the field but be sure there are not any deep cuts or damages to the skin.

Next, pick up the melon. Ripe melons are heavy for their size because they have more water content.

Now you want to evaluate the field spot, also called the ground spot. Watermelon vines grow close to the ground, so one side of the melon will be in contact with the ground as the melon grows and ripens, similar to a pumpkin. This spot will not be dark green like the rest of the melon; instead it turns from white to a buttery yellow. If the field spot is more of a yellow than white color, you have a ripe melon.

Oblong watermelon on a wood cutting board

Lori Rice

Prepping the Watermelon

Always rinse and dry the skin before starting to cut. If the watermelon is too large to fit in the sink, wipe it with a damp towel to remove any dirt. Use a large, sharp knife that will allow you to get through most of the melon with one cut.

Make sure you are on a sturdy surface and that the cutting board won’t slide as you work. Watermelons are tricky to handle on their own; we don’t need your tools working against you, too!

Watermelon slices on a wooden platter

Lori Rice

A Few Favorite Watermelon Recipes

 

How to Cut a Watermelon Into Slices and Cubes

Prep Time 5 mins
Total Time 5 mins
Servings 6 servings
Yield 1 watermelon

Ingredients

  • 1 round or oblong watermelon, rinsed and dried

Method

How to Cut a Watermelon into Slices

  1. Trim the ends:

    Cut off each end of the watermelon, enough to expose some of the red flesh.

    Trimming the ends off the watermelon

    Lori Rice
  2. Cut the melon in half:

    Turn the watermelon up so that it’s resting on one of the flat surfaces you just created by cutting off the ends. Cut the watermelon in half lengthwise working from top to bottom.

    Cutting a watermelon in half

    Lori Rice
  3. Cut the slices:

    Place a half of the melon cut-side down and cut into 1-inch slices. You can cut the slices thicker or thinner based on your preferences. Repeat this process with the other half to create large watermelon slices.

    Cutting a watermelon into slices

    Lori Rice
  4. Cut into wedges:

    To cut larger slices into quarters or smaller wedges. Stack 3 to 4 slices on top of each other and ensure they are sturdy. Cut them in half from the top to the bottom of the stack.

    Cutting watermelon slices into wedges

    Lori Rice

How to Cut a Watermelon into Cubes

  1. Trim the ends:

    Cut off each end of the watermelon, enough to expose some of the red flesh.

    Trim the ends off a watermelon

    Lori Rice
  2. Remove the rind:

    Turn the watermelon up on its side so that it’s resting on one of the flat surfaces you just created by cutting off the ends. Use the knife to cut the rind off of the watermelon, working from top to bottom. Continue to work your way around the melon until all of the rind is removed and the red-pink flesh is exposed

    Cutting off the watermelon rind

    Lori Rice
    Cutting off all the watermelon rind

    Lori Rice
  3. Cut the melon in half:

    Cut the watermelon in half lengthwise working from top to bottom

    Cutting a watermelon without the rind in half

    Lori Rice
  4. Cut into slices:

    Place a half of the melon cut-side down and cut into 1-inch slices. You can cut the slices thicker or thinner based on your preferences. Repeat this process with the other half.

    Cutting rindless watermelon into slices

    Lori Rice
  5. Slice into strips:

    Slice into strips. Cut each half in strips 1-inch wide.

    Slicing watermelon into strips

    Lori Rice
  6. Cut into cubes:

    Now cut across those strips to create cubes of watermelon. Repeat for each slice.

    Cutting watermelon into cubes

    Lori Rice