- To see if a watermelon is ripe, tap the outside — ideally, it'll make a hollow sound.
- Leave the rind on for utensil-free snacking, or cut it off if for smoothies and fruit salads.
- To prevent the watermelon from rolling around, cut it in half and flip it onto the flat sides.
Nothing screams summer quite like a ripe, juicy watermelon — but you'll obviously need to cut it open before you dig in, which can be an intimidating task. This fruit is challenging to cut through not only due to its sheer size and thick rind but also because it's round, making it trickier to steady on a cutting board.
Ultimately, it comes down to how you plan to use the watermelon. Leaving it on the rind allows you to eat it without any utensils, but if you're not using it as a handheld snack, you're probably better off removing the rind.
Below, chefs share how to cut watermelon three different ways, plus some must-know storage tips for making it last.
How to tell if a watermelon is ripe
There are several signs to look for that can indicate a watermelon is ripe.
First, the patch on the underside of the watermelon, where it was resting on the ground, should be yellow rather than white if it's ripe.
Aysegul Sanford, chef and recipe tester behind the food blog Foolproof Living, recommends giving the watermelon a knock with your knuckles and listening for the pitch it makes. A ripe watermelon will give off a hollow sound, an unripe watermelon will emit a higher-pitched sound, and an overripe one will make a lower thud.
A ripe watermelon typically feels heavier and has a sweeter smell compared to an unripe one.
Quick tip: However you choose to cut your watermelon, experts advise using a chef's knife or serrated bread knife, which will allow you to slice through the tough rind with ease.
How to cut a watermelon into chunks or cubes
Square-shaped chunks of watermelon are perfect for fruit salads, party punches, skewers, and yogurt parfaits. Regardless of how you plan to use your chunked watermelon, make sure to remove the rind so you don't have to pick around it. Sanford notes that this cut is great for meal prep — so you can easily toss it into smoothies or pack it for work.
1. Slice the watermelon in half. Steady the watermelon with your non-dominant hand while you use the other to slice the watermelon in half on the equator using a chef's knife or a serrated bread knife. Flip each half of the watermelon down so it's resting on this larger flat side (with the rind facing up).
2. Carve off the rind. Remove the rind and pith — the white part of the flesh — by carving down the sides and rotating the watermelon with your other hand as you go. Do this for both halves of the watermelon.
3. Score the watermelon. When you're left with just the pink flesh of the fruit, make three or four horizontal slices through each half, and then three or four vertical slices through each half. This will make large chunks. If you'd like to make them smaller, cut each chunk into halves or thirds.
Quick tip: If your cutting board keeps sliding around under the weight of the watermelon, lay a damp dish or hand towel beneath the cutting board to secure it in place.
How to cut a watermelon into slices
Watermelon slices are typically cut into triangle-shaped wedges about 1-inch thick. The rind is usually left on for this type of cut, making it a perfect option for the beach, picnics, and large social gatherings where you might either not have easy access to utensils or are trying to minimize your dirty dishes.
1. Cut the watermelon in half. While the fruit is resting on its side rather than either end, steady it with one hand and cut it down the middle on the equator using a chef's knife or serrated bread knife.
2. Halve the watermelon again. Place the cut sides of exposed fruit down on the cutting board and cut each half down the middle again. You can stop here if your watermelon is small, yielding four pieces. For a large watermelon, cut each of these pieces in half lengthwise, but keep these halves together for the next step. You'll end up with eight pieces in total from both original halves.
3. Slice off the wedges. Finally, position your knife over the top of the rind and make horizontal cuts about an inch or so apart so you create a series of triangular slices. Feel free to make the wedges as thin or thick as you like.
How to cut a watermelon into sticks
Watermelon sticks, which are cut into long rectangular shapes, are another crowd-friendly cut, says Sanford.
Leaving the rind on makes the sticks easy to enjoy by hand since this particular shape is harder to eat with a fork. Devan Cameron, chef and owner of Braised & Deglazed, also notes that this is an easy cut to place on the grill for a fun and refreshing barbecue side dish.
1. Cut the watermelon in half. Lay the watermelon on its side. Then, using a chef's knife or serrated bread knife, cut it halfway on its equator. Roll both halves onto the flat sides you just cut.
2. Cut a checkerboard through the rind. Make parallel slices across the rind in one direction, between 1 to 2 inches apart. Then, go back and make another set of slices running perpendicular to the ones you just cut. When you're finished, the lines across the rind should look like a scoreboard. Repeat this step on the other half of the watermelon.
How to store cut watermelon
The best way to store cut watermelon is to place it in an airtight container or plastic bag, says Cameron. Better yet, before sealing it in the container or bag, Sanford recommends sealing the watermelon in plastic wrap or beeswax wrap, which will keep the fruit from drying out or absorbing any other food odors in your fridge.
When stored properly, cut watermelon will last for up to three to five days.
While you can cut and store watermelon ahead of time for a party, avoid doing this more than 24 hours in advance to ensure it stays juicy and fresh. Ideally, you want to wait until the morning of or night before an event to cut it.
Quick tip: If you don't have any plastic wrap on hand, Cameron suggests draining the liquid that accumulates in the bottom of the container or plastic bag daily to prevent the fruit from getting soggy.
Insider's takeaway
How you cut your watermelon depends largely on the situation and personal preference. Leaving the rind on and slicing the watermelon into sticks or wedges is your best bet for easy utensil-free snacking and casual get-togethers, but if you're adding the watermelon to another dish or would prefer to eat it with a fork, it makes more sense to remove the rind.
No matter what shape you choose, always remember that cutting the watermelon in half is the first step because it provides two flat sides for easier slicing.
To make your watermelon last as long as possible, wrap it in cling wrap before placing it in an airtight container or bag in the fridge.
Rebecca Strong Rebecca Strong is a Boston-based freelance writer covering health and wellness, food and wine, fitness, and travel. In addition to contributing to the Health Reference and Kitchen verticals at Insider, she has also written for Healthline, Health magazine, Bustle, StyleCaster, PopSugar, AskMen, and Elite Daily. You can follow her work on Twitter. Read more Read lessncG1vNJzZmivp6x7o8HSoqWeq6Oeu7S1w56pZ5ufonyowcidnKxnm57BpLTEp2ahp6diwbB5wq6rZq%2BRqbKzucSlpqc%3D