How to Carve a Decorative Watermelon

Watermelon can add a cool edge to a summer gathering.

Carving a watermelon into a decorative basket or centerpiece is a great way to make healthy eating fun. You can use various types of fruits to fill the basket once carved. The traditional Americana fruit basket is most often filled with cantaloupe, honeydew and strawberries. But any colorful fruit can be added for more flavor and variety. Create a decorative watermelon for a picnic, family reunion, baby shower or wedding shower.

Things You'll Need

• Tall watermelon
• Newspaper
• Carving knife
• Dry marker (such as Sharpie)
• Scrubber
• Large heavy duty spoon
• Large bowl

Instructions

1. 

   Choose a fresh, ripe watermelon.

   Find a tall or oval-shaped watermelon to carve. This shape allows for a longer, fuller basket.

2. Spread newspaper down on a table or counter top.

3. Lay the watermelon on the newspaper so that the most stable side of the melon is face down. This will be the bottom of your Americana watermelon basket.

4. Use a marker to draw a straight line down the watermelon from stem to base. Draw a second line from the left side of the watermelon to the right side. Your lines should look like a centered cross with four sections.

5. Stand the watermelon up. Cut a thin slice from the part of the melon you have chosen for the bottom. The slice you remove provides further stability for your basket.

6. Lay the watermelon back down on the side from which you cut the slice. The cross you drew should be face up.

7. Thicken the shorter drawn line with your marker, coloring it in so it's about 2 inches wide. This will be the handle of your watermelon basket.

8. Cut out the top right section of the melon, leaving the colored portion intact. Do this by cutting next to the thickened line and stopping at the horizontal line in the middle. Now cut along the horizontal line to the end of the right side of the melon.

9. Remove this top quarter.

10. Cut out the top left side of the watermelon in the same manner, careful to keep the thickened 2-inch line intact. Remove the quarter. The melon should now look like an old-fashioned picnic basket.

11. Scoop out the inside of the watermelon with a large spoon until it is smooth and free of fruit and seeds. Remove any excess water. Use a gentle abrasive pad to rub off the marker.

12. Cut various fruits, such as cantaloupe, hone dew and strawberries into bite-size pieces. Mix them in a large bowl with fresh blueberries or raspberries, too. Scoop the mixed fruit into the watermelon basket.

13. Cover the decorative watermelon with plastic wrap and chill.

Tips & Warnings

• Decorate the edge of the watermelon with a small carving knife by making V-shaped cuts around the edge. Explore other varieties of watermelon carving for other occasions.

• Consider transporting your freshly carved watermelon in a box, as it may be awkward to carry. It is best to create the carved watermelon the same day as the event.

References

• National Watermelon Promotion Board: Americana Basket