Food Cooking Tips & Techniques How to Cut Watermelon Slices, Cubes, Sticks, and More If you've ever wondered how to cut a watermelon without making a mess, this is the best way to do it. By Phoebe Fry Updated on May 23, 2023 Medically reviewed by Jessica Levinson, MS, RDN, CDN Medically reviewed by Jessica Levinson, MS, RDN, CDN Jessica Levinson, MS, RDN, CDN is a nationally recognized nutrition expert with over 16 years of experience in culinary nutrition and communications. Learn More Fact checked by Isaac Winter Fact checked by Isaac Winter Isaac Winter is a fact-checker and writer for Real Simple, ensuring the accuracy of content published by rigorously researching content before publication and periodically when content needs to be updated. Highlights: Helped establish a food pantry in West Garfield Park as an AmeriCorps employee at Above and Beyond Family Recovery Center. Interviewed Heartland Alliance employees for oral history project conducted by the Lake Forest College History Department. Editorial Head of Lake Forest College's literary magazine, Tusitala, for two years. Our Fact-Checking Process Share Tweet Pin Email In This Article View All In This Article Watermelon Slices Watermelon Cubes Watermelon Sticks Watermelon Balls Photo: Pitipat Usanakornkul/EyeEm/Getty Images On a hot, sticky day, there's nothing better than biting into a chilled slice of watermelon. Juicy, crunchy, sweet, and sour all at the same time, watermelon is the most refreshing summer fruit. If you're intimidated by the idea of cutting watermelon, know that you're not alone. Watermelons are large, unwieldy orbs with thick, hard rinds; of course they're daunting to slice into! It can be tempting to buy pre-cut watermelon at the grocery store, but try to resist the urge. Pre-cut watermelon can get expensive, and will go bad much faster than a whole watermelon will. Keep reading to learn our advice for how to cut watermelon confidently and safely for all the summer salads, granitas, and agua frescas your heart desires. Spoiler: it's a lot easier than you think to cut watermelon slices, cubes, and more! Just make sure you have a big, sturdy cutting board and a sharp chef's knife, and you're good to go. 16 Totally Genius Ways to Use Up an Entire Watermelon How to Cut Watermelon Slices With built-in watermelon rind handles, classic triangular slices are a perfect picnic snack. Watermelon slices are also great grilled, which lends smokiness and allows the flavors to concentrate. Trim off one end of the watermelon in order to create a flat surface.Place the watermelon on its flat side and slice down through the center, creating two halves.Set one half aside to make space, then place the other half cut-side down and slice it in half lengthwise.Slice each half crosswise into wedges. (We like ~1-inch wedges, but the size is up to you.)Repeat with remaining watermelon. How to Cut Watermelon Cubes If you're making a watermelon salad, or if you're going to blend up your watermelon for a smoothie or slushie, cubes are the way to go. Slice watermelon in half around the "equator."Lay halves on a cutting board with the wide, flat ends facing down.Working from top to bottom, use a chef's knife to cut off the rind in strips, following the curve of the melon.With the wide, flat end still facing down, make even, parallel slices through the top of the melon.Rotate the watermelon 90 degrees and slice again.Holding the slices together, turn the watermelon onto its side so your knife is at a right angle to the most recent slices.Make parallel slices along the length of the watermelon to create cubes. How to Store Watermelon So It Stays Juicy and Fresh How to Cut Watermelon Sticks Easy to execute, this cut is kid-friendly and fun to eat. Plus, you don't need to worry about removing the rind. Slice watermelon in half around the "equator."Lay halves on a cutting board with the wide, flat ends facing down.Slice into ~2-inch strips, then rotate the melon 90 degrees and slice ~2 inch strips the other way.Pull out your watermelon sticks and enjoy! 7 Healthy Foods That'll Help You Stay Hydrated How to Cut Watermelon Balls Ideal for a colorful fruit salad, watermelon balls have a decidedly retro feel. You'll need a melon baller for this approach, but a small cookie dough scoop would also work. Trim off one end of the watermelon in order to create a flat surface.Place the watermelon on its flat side and slice down through the center, creating two halves.Use a melon baller to carve into the flesh and form balls. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit