Quickly serve a whole watermelon this summer in perfectly shaped cubes. Follow these simple steps to learn how to cut a melon into cubes. Use this technique to create any size cube you like—from large chunks you can hold in your hand, to small pieces you need a spoon to pick up.
Whether watermelon is a staple food in your home during the summertime or you’ve steered away from purchasing a whole one because you are unsure how to efficiently cut it open, here is a simple technique to quickly cutting watermelon cubes.
There certainly are many different ways to cut watermelon. I’ve found this method to be the fastest and cleanest method.
Keeping pre-sliced watermelon in a sealed container makes it easy to enjoy a sweet and refreshing snack that’s also good for you.
How to pick the best watermelon
- Choose a melon that:
- feels heavy for it’s size
- has a yellow spot—a sign of it ripening on the ground
- has a deep hollow sound when tapped
- Want the perfect cubes without lugging a whole watermelon home? This method works the same with pre-cut pieces (watermelon quarters or halves, with the rind attached) commonly sold in supermarkets. Look for them in the refrigerated produce section.
Before your first cut
- Wash the outside with soap. This helps reduce dirt and bacteria transfer from the outer rind to the fruit inside when cutting.
- Use a large sharp knife with a pointed tip.
- Have a storage container nearby to transfer the cut pieces to.
When cutting melon into cubes
- The three series of cuts made to the quartered pieces can be done in any order.
- Adjust the space between cuts to create different sized cubes. A larger distance between the cuts will yield bigger pieces, ideal for fruit platters. If you want more bite sized pieces, leave smaller gaps between the cuts. These are better for individual use or for adding watermelon to a recipe.
Watch How To Cut Melon into Cubes
5 Healthy Watermelon Recipes Ideas
Enjoy watermelon as a refreshing snack on it’s own. It’s low in calories (only 46 calories per cup), fat free and high in vitamins A and C. Better yet, try these filling ways to add fruit in throughout your day.
Breakfast Bowl Topping
Use smaller pieces of cut watermelon cubes (or these fun watermelon pellets) to add flavor to a bowl of plain yogurt or cottage cheese.
Snack Dip
Know how you always need a napkin with watermelon? Use the stickiness to your advantage and dip it. A dry mixture works well—such as seeds (hemp, chia, sesame, ground flaxseeds), ground nuts, cinnamon and even crushed up bars or cookies.
Lunch Mixed-Ins
Add a crunchy texture to a dish, like in this watermelon guacamole or Watermelon Greek Salad recipe.
Drink It
Blend into smoothies or add crushed watermelon to your favorite alcoholic drinks.
Frozen Treat
Place a layer of the cubes onto sheet pan & freeze. Use these “watermelon ice cubes” to add flavor to your drinks. Alternatively, blend the fresh fruit and use it to make your own popsicles.
How to Cut Watermelon Cubes
The easiest way to quickly cut melon into cubes. This method works with any size or variety of melon. Perfect for Summer entertaining—add watermelon cubes to summer salads, fruit skewers or enjoy them on their own as a bite sized snack.
Materials
- whole melon
Tools
- sharp knife with a pointed tip
- cutting board
Instructions
Step 1: Prep Fruit
Wash and dry the outside of a whole watermelon.
Step 2: Quarter Whole Melon
Cut the melon* in half. Repeat, cutting each piece in half again. This will create four equal quarters. (It is okay if the pieces are not all equal. Depending on the shape of the melon used, this might not be possible.)
Step 3: Make Straight Cuts
Work with one quarter of the melon at a time to make vertical and horizontal cuts through each of the flat sides of the melon.
To safely make these lengthwise cuts: Angle the melon on a cutting board, so that one of the melon's flat sides is upright and its length is parallel to the knife.
Securely hold onto the rind and cut straight down through the flesh. Stop once you reach the white part of the rind. Repeat along the entire length of the watermelon flesh. Space the cuts out as large as you want the size of your cubes to be.
Turn the watermelon onto its other side and repeat.
Step 4: Slice into Wedges
Rotate the watermelon 90° and slice from the pointed top down. Stop once you reach the white part of the rind. Repeat along the entire length of the watermelon. (These cuts are perpendicular to the previous ones.)
These cuts will release most of the watermelon cubes. Turn the melon upside down over a large plate or storage container. The cubes should fall out easily. Should any cubes remain, either make sure the cuts went all the way to the rind or cut along the white rind to remove these pieces.
Repeat
Repeat Steps 3 & 4 to cut the remaining watermelon quarters into cubes.
Notes
This same cutting process can also be used to cut seeded melons, like cantaloupe or honeydew, into cubes. After cutting the melon in half, use a spoon to scoop out the seeds. Continue with cutting into quarters and the remaining steps as listed above.
Another creative cut
Now you know how to cut a watermelon into cubes. Looking for more cool ways to cut watermelon? Try these tiny uniform pellet sized pieces. Perfect in a yogurt, salad or enjoyed as snack. Plus it’s a fun kid friendly kitchen activity.
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This post was originally published in 2016 and has been revamped and updated in August 2019.
I’ve been meaning to try this! This would be great for someone who needs to hydrate more but doesn’t love the taste of water. Thanks for the great step by step!
Yes, good point. Thanks Rebecca. Stay tuned for an upcoming blog post with another method to “drink” watermelon (without a blender).