How to Carve a Watermelon Into a Heart Basket

If you want to impress your family and friends at the next picnic or backyard barbecue, grab a knife and a watermelon. Making a watermelon fruit basket may look complicated, but it's a simple edible decoration that you can use as an eye-catching centerpiece. Follow these directions to learn how to carve a watermelon into a heart basket.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Watermelon
• Serrated knife
• Marker
• Garnishing tool
• Pumpkin carving knife
• Melon baller

1. Slice off the bottom of the watermelon with a serrated knife to create a flat surface in order to display the basket.

2. Use a marker to draw a horizontal line around the length of the watermelon. If you would like to make a handle for your watermelon basket, mark two lines, spaced 2 inches apart, from one side of the watermelon to the other.

3. Cut the watermelon along the lines using either a garnishing tool or a pumpkin carving knife. To make the job easier, carve the watermelon in sections. If you are carving a handle on your watermelon basket, be careful not to cut it off completely.

4. Scoop the inside of the watermelon using a melon baller, and reserve the fruit to use as part of the final presentation.

5. Form the shape of the watermelon basket into a heart by using the garnishing tool to round the edges of the basket slightly, being careful not to cut away too much of the rind.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep your watermelon basket chilled in the refrigerator or on ice until you are ready to use it. Likewise, replenish the basket with chilled fruit when it becomes empty. By only putting out a portion of the fruit at a time, it will stay cold and refreshing.