Instructions for Fruit Carvings

Fruit carving probably originated in Thailand, where it's still a popular activity. The art of fruit carving has spread around the world. Many companies offer carvings for special occasions, but their prices can be high. Carving your own fruit is simple to do at home, and requires only a few basic tools.

Things You'll Need

• Fruit
• Sharp knife
• Carving tools
• Toothpicks

Instructions

1. Choose the fruit you wish to carve. Firm, dense fruit, such as watermelon, apples, papaya and pineapple is a better choice than softer fruits, like ripe mango, peaches or plums. You can carve citrus fruits, but you should only work on the peel. Leave the juicy fruit intact to avoid mess.

2. Assemble carving tools. The minimum required is a small, sharp knife with a firm blade. Choose serrated knives for spongy fruits, but otherwise, stick to a straight knife. You may wish to add vegetable peelers, clean wood carving tools and clay tools and other carving utensils. Experiment with a few and see what kind of marks they make.

3. Choose a pattern. Instruction books and online resources such as A Chef's Help offer patterns and step by step tutorials for specific carvings. If you're just beginning, start with a small, relatively simple project.

4. Begin carving, using a firm, sawing movement to make large cuts and a more gentle, digging motion for holes and small cuts. For incising patterns into the skin of a fruit, hold the knife nearly perpendicular to the piece. Avoid cutting too deeply.

5. Enhance your carving by attaching small carved shapes using toothpicks. This effect makes your carving even more three-dimensional. One popular use of toothpicks is to suspend carved butterflies over fruit made to look like flowers.

Tips & Warnings

• Choose slightly under-ripe fruit for easier carving.

• Wash all fruit and tools before carving.

• Choose stainless steel tools, which won't discolor the fruit.

• Brush apples, bananas, pears and other browning fruit with lemon juice to avoid color changes.

• Avoid dull knives.

• Carve with the knife pointing away from your body.

References

• Thai Carving: How to Carve Fruits and Vegetables
• Asia Recipe: Fruit & Vegetable Carving

Resources

• A Chef's Help: Fruit and Vegetable Carving