Southern Living: How to Cut a Watermelon
SOUTHERN LIVING
JULY 18, 2022
BY TAYLOR TOBIN
Whether it's served in wedges alongside a barbecue spread or cut into cubes and mixed into a fruit salad, watermelon is one of the most popular summertime fruits for Southerners to enjoy.
But because watermelons are big, heavy, round, and covered in a thick rind, they can prove challenging to slice, especially if you've never done it before. That's why we're providing a step-by-step guide to cutting a watermelon into triangles and into cubes, complete with advice from chef de cuisine Karl Gorline of The Woodall in Atlanta, Ga. and chef de cuisine Trenton Tisdale of The Anvil Pub & Grill in Birmingham, Ala.
What to Look for When Buying a Watermelon
If you've ever heard your mother or grandmother tell you to "thump a melon" to test its ripeness, you'll be glad to know that mom and grandma were spot-on with this advice. Cradle the watermelon in one of your arms and use your other hand to rap on the rind with your fingers or knuckles. You want to hear a deep, hollow sound, and you should also feel a vibration at the base of the watermelon. These signs indicate that the watermelon is ripe and ready to cut.
Other clues that the watermelon is ripe include a heavy, solid weight, a green rind with a matte finish, and brownish-black "sugar spots" on the rind.