How to Carve Melon Roses

Carved melon roses can complement a larger fresh fruit display.

You can carve melon roses into a natural, edible centerpiece display. Many melon varieties are suitable for a sculpture medium to execute detailed flower carvings. It can take a little practice to perfect the look of real roses in a melon sculpture. Novice carvers can still enjoy the process of carving into the fruit and shaping each individual flower petal. Take your knife work to the next level with a fully carved melon of roses.

Things You'll Need

• Stainless steel carving knife
• Plastic wrap

Instructions

1. Chill the melon overnight in the refrigerator to make the inner flesh as firm as possible.

2. Slice 1 inch off the base of the melon so it rests evenly on a flat surface.

3. Remove the entire top half of the melon peel. Start shallow and go deeper until most of the white pith layer is removed. Leave the bottom half of the rind intact to act as the rose basket.

4. Cut out a ¼ inch of melon flesh from around each 2- to 3-inch rose. Slice into the melon from straight up above and send the point of the knife about 1½ inches deep for each cut. Remove and discard the slivers of cut melon flesh.

5. Slice thin wedges of melon from inside each round rose form to create petals. Reference the look of real roses to mimic the interlocking, curved petal shape. Extract the thin wedges of melon flesh to reveal the melon rose petals.

6. Cover the carved melon roses with plastic wrap. Return the carved melon to the refrigerator until five minutes before meal service.

Tips & Warnings

• Inedible fruit carvings are sometimes sprayed with hairspray to seal the pours on the surface and stop moisture loss.

• Always use stainless steel or other nonreactive tools to avoid discoloration.

References

• AsiaRecipe.com: Fruit & Vegetable Carving - Introduction Thai Carving