How to Carve a Watermelon Rose on the Side of a Watermelon Basket

Select a large watermelon for this centerpiece project.

Impress your guests by carving a watermelon rose on the side of a watermelon basket. According to Nidda Hongwiwut of Thai Carving, decorative fruit carving started in Sukothai, Thailand between 1240 and 1350. Today, carvers create elaborate baskets and flowers on watermelson. Anyone who can carve a pumpkin can carve a watermelon. All you need is a sharp kitchen knife, a smaller fruit knife and a vegetable peeler. Before you carve your rose, cut out your watermelon basket.

Things You'll Need

• Watermelon basket
• Towel
• Kitchen knife
• Vegetable peeler
• Fruit knife

Instructions

1. Place your watermelon basket on top of a towel to absorb its juices. Cut off the green rind with a kitchen knife, leaving the white of the watermelon. Remove either all of it or an 8-by-8-inch area on the side where you want the rose.

2. Peel off any remaining green rind with your vegetable peeler. Smooth the exterior with the vegetable peeler.

3. Cut a 3 to 4-inch circle with your fruit knife into the side of the basket for the center of the rose. The circle needs to be 1-inch deep. Carve four evenly spaced crescent moon shapes, roughly 2 inches wide, around the inside edge of the circle to form outer petals. The points of the crescent face down. Remove the crescents from the watermelon so the red flesh shows through.

4. Carve out two crescent shapes with the points facing down inside the first crescents to form inner petals. Remove the shapes to reveal the red flesh.

5. 

   The cutout crescent shapes form the rose.

   Cut out crescent shapes, about 3 inches wide, around the exterior of your formed petals in a ring with the points facing up. Remove the shapes. Cut out another ring of crescents outside the first ring, with the points facing up. Remove the shapes to reveal the red flesh.

Tips & Warnings

• A carved watermelon rose looks more realistic if carved on a rounded area of the melon.

• Practice on a watermelon before working on the final basket. Use a turntable or lazy Susan for easy turning.

• Carve your basket by marking the watermelon with a green dry erase marker. Wipe off the marks after you finish carving it.

• Fill the basket with melon balls and other fresh fruit.

• Keep sharp tools away from young children.

References

• Thai Carving; The History of Thai Fruit and Vegetable Carving; Nidda Hongwiwut
• YouTube: Carving Watermelon into Rose Bouquet
• YouTube: Watermelon Carving