How to make a fruit salad bowl out of a watermelon

Making a Watermelon Basket to hold your fruit salad can be a fun family project, and will make a very nice presentation of your salad.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Large knife
• Melon baller or tablespoon
• Paring knife
• Water proof black magic-marker

1. 

   Use the water proof magic-marker to draw an outline of a basket, or any other shape you want to cut, onto the watermelon.
   
   I found that measurements that work best for the handle is of 2 -2.5" inches wide.

2. 
   Large Carving Knife

   Using the large knife to cut along one side of the "basket handle" until you reach the horizontal basket line that you drew on the watermelon.

3. With the large knife, cut a straight line from the center of the basket handle line to the horizontal basket line of the watermelon.

4. Still using the large knife, cut another straight line above the horizontal scalloped basket line that you drew with the marker & follow it to the beginning of the handle on the opposite side.

5. The above steps will produce one quartered section that needs to be removed & set aside.
   
   Repeat all of the above steps until all quartered-sections above the basket of the watermelon have been removed.

6. 
   Paring Knife

   After all the quartered-sections are removed, use the paring knife to remove the flesh from under the basket handle. (I usually take a moment to munch on this part!)

7. 
   Melon Baller

   Use either a melon baller or a tablespoon to create scallops along the watermelon flesh on the quartered sections of the watermelon.

8. Cover your watermelon-basket with saran wrap & put it in your refrigerator until you are ready to use it. When you are ready to use your basket, fill it with your fruit salad.

Tips & Warnings

• Please see my other article on "How to make a Fruit Salad"
• "Step by Step" pictures will be posted the next time I make this boat.
• Try to purchase a seedless watermelon; if this is not possible, remove as many of the seeds as you can while working on the basket.
• If needed, you can use the pearing knife to clean up the scalloped edges you made.
• Never leave a child unattended in the kitchen while preparing foods.

[FrazzledNanny]

on 2/20/2009 Thanks for the easy to follow steps. 5*

[Fuller1972]

on 10/8/2008 These used to be really popular, perhaps you'll bring them back.