How to Cut Fruit for Garnishing

Garnishes can be as simple as a slice of orange.

Don't wait for special occasions to garnish a plate with fruit. Impress family and friends with a colorful assortment and a few techniques. Your dinner will look extra appetizing, with a tempting healthy element to boot.

Things You'll Need

• Any beautiful fruit in season
• a sharp knife
• vegetable garnishing kit

Instructions

1. Slice a whole orange into very thin, round slices. Cut a slit at the center, then twist the fruit into a spiral as you set it on the plate. Include them on a plate of chicken at dinner or platter of breakfast meats for brunch. Sprinkle a few berries around the orange slice for color.

2. Cut a kiwi into thin slices and splay them like a deck of cards or the petals of a flower.

3. Cut start fruit into 1/2-inch slices for a simple, elegant garnish. Wash but don't peel the fruit to keep its distinct shape. Drop the stars into a bowl of punch or pitcher of lemonade.

4. Transform thin slices of melon into roses. Roll a slice tightly, then secure it with a toothpick. Surround the rose with a few mint leaves.

5. Slice strawberries with the stems attached into thin segments and splay them for a splash of red. Or slice them from the top down as if you were peeling a banana. The strawberry will fall open like a rose.

6. Cut thick slices of melon, such as cantaloupe and honeydew, and cut out shapes with simple cookie cutters. Make flowers and add berries to the center, for example.

References

• Better Homes and Gardens: In a Twinkling: Garnishes