12 Fun and Clever Ways to Slice, Serve and Enjoy Watermelon this Summer

Watermelon tastes the way summer feels – sweet and refreshing and fun. If you’re planning on eating a lot of watermelon during the warm months, then you might as well do so in a creative and interesting way. Boring old watermelon wedges are out, and easy-to-eat strips and carvings are in! If you want to take your love for this delicious pink fruit even further, do so with these adorable DIY watermelon shorts.

Watermelon Strips

This simple cutting method yields strips of watermelon that makes eating it just so much easier so that you don’t get sticky juice all over your face. All you have to do is cut the watermelon in half and place the section flat side down, and then cut multiple horizontal and vertical strips so that it looks like you have little squares on the shell. You don’t even have to do anything special to present it – just keep it as is so that people can simply grab a piece and enjoy.

Video Source: LittleThings

Strips in a Bowl

This method is similar to the one above, although in this case, you won’t have any of the rind. You start by cutting the watermelon in half and placing the section upside-down on your cutting board. Then, use your sharp knife to cut off the rind. When all you have left is the lovely pink fleshy part, cut strips that go both horizontally and vertically. Now for the cool part – place a bowl over the watermelon and flip the whole thing over with the board so that your strips are now perfectly placed into the bowl. If you don’t want sticky fingers, keeps some forks on hand so that you can spike the piece you want.

Video Source: 84thAnd3rd

Spaced out Slices

This is such a pretty way to serve watermelon slices – it almost looks like some kind of modern art piece or sculpture. Here’s how to achieve this:

• Cut the watermelon in half and then in half once again.
• Cut close to the rind so that you separate it from the skin – but keep it in there like a bowl.
• Cut slices and push each slice out a little in the opposite direction so that you get the nice jagged look.
• Serve and enjoy!

Video Source: 1KitchenTechnique

Watermelon Slicer

The absolute easiest way to cut a watermelon may just be to use a specially designed slicing tool. You may have seen smaller versions of this, but this giant slicer, available on Amazon, is perfect for these big green fruit (…and veggies, because, technically, a watermelon is both a fruit and a vegetable).  Simply cut off both ends of the watermelon, sit it upright, and then bring the slicer down on it so that you get perfect wedges. This does, however, require some arm strength.

Video Source: RawFruity

Hedgehog and Shark Carving

Start your hedgehog by slicing off a thin piece at the bottom so that you can rest the watermelon on a flat surface and avoid any slips of the knife, then:

• About ¼ of the way from the side, draw a line around half of the watermelon.
• From that fist line, draw a line all around the back of the watermelon.
• Cut that top section out along the lines.
• Use a large spoon to remove as much of the flesh as possible.
• Use a smaller knife to cut out small triangles all along the edge.
• From the rind of the part that you removed, cut four small squares for the feet – round the front part and cut out a triangle in the center to create toes.
• Cut a triangle section for the nose and attach it to the front with a toothpick – add a little blueberry or grape to the tip of the nose, and add some eyes too.
• Cut two more triangles for the ears.
• Slice the removed flesh into cubes or chunks, toss it into the hedgehog bowl and add toothpicks to the top bits to replicate the spines.

Start your shark by cutting of the bottom part at an angle for the base, then:

• Draw two line for the big gaping mouth and cut out the wedge.
• With a large spoon, remove all the flesh.
• With the smaller knife, score a line around the top and bottom of the mouth, remove the dark green skin on those parts and then cut out triangles for the teeth.
• Cut a triangle for the fin from the rind that you removed and attach it to the back with a toothpick.
• Use a melon baller to make cavities for the eyes and then add red grapes for the eyeballs.
• Chop up the yummy fleshy parts and place them into the shark’s mouth.

Video Source: CurbNotes

Shark Fruit Salad

This shark tutorial is very similar to the one above, so I won’t repeat the steps. The difference is that instead of filling it with just the watermelon pieces, other fruits are added to make a scary but yummy fruit salad.

Video Source: PopSugar

Watermelon Keg

Is there anything quirkier than serving refreshing watermelon juice out of a watermelon keg? This is such an awesome idea that I’ll definitely be implementing over the summer! And when the kids aren’t around, a touch of booze in the juice could be just what you need. If you’re feeling particularly lazy, you can try this simplified version of the same concept.

Project Source and Instructions: PrettyPrudent

Watermelon Grill

Honestly, this is just too cute! This adorable little fruit skewer grill is perfect for any summer barbecue. If you don’t have a melon baller, you can simply scoop out the watermelon flesh with a big spoon and just cut into cubes – this will probably be a lot quicker, too.

Video Source: SheKnows

Boozy Watermelon Jell-O

If you’re looking for a fun way to serve some spiked Jell-O then this is exactly the way to do it. With just four ingredients, this is the perfect way to spice up a party, and the fact that you’re actually serving it as watermelon slices just makes it that much more exciting. Save the actual flesh part to eat as a snack or make a quick fruit salad.

Recipe and Instructions: BuzzFeed

Watermelon Sorbet

Sorbet is really is easy to make, and the added lime in this recipe just gives you that nice little bit of tang to balance the sweetness. You could, of course, just serve it in bowls or cups, but where’s the fun in that? If you don’t tell anyone that it’s actually sorbet, your family or guests will get a pleasant surprise when they take their first bite.

Recipe and Instructions: FoodForMyFamily

Balsamic Watermelon Chicken Salad

I practically have one foot out the door already because, honestly, this is one of the best looking and sounding salads I have ever come across! Watermelon, chicken, baby spinach, almonds, and blue cheese (yes!), drizzled with balsamic glaze… it really can’t get any better than that!

Recipe and Instructions: PinchOfYum