How to Cut a Watermelon

Name: How to Cut a Watermelon
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 1 Watermelon

Updated May 13, 2025

5 from 524 votes

How to cut a watermelon with or without the rind. I’ll show you two simple methods for slicing into triangles rind on or cubing it, removing the rind first.

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Prep Time 5

Servings 12 servings

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How to Cut a Watermelon and Remove the Rind
How to Cut Watermelon with the Rind
How to Cut a Watermelon Recipe
How to Cut a Watermelon (Video Tutorial)
Serving Ideas
FAQs
More Tutorials

Cutting a watermelon is easy!

I used to avoid buying whole watermelons just because I didn’t want to deal with cutting them. But once I figured out a few simple ways to break one down, it stopped feeling like a chore (once I got the hang of it, it’s actually pretty quick.). Now it’s something I actually enjoy

I’ll walk you through two ways I usually cut it. One for when I want to remove the rind completely and cube it up, and one for when I just want easy slices with the rind still on (less cleanup, still super snackable).

Happy Cooking!
– Yumna

How to Cut a Watermelon and Remove the Rind

**Step 1:** Start by removing a half inch off the top and bottom of the watermelon.

**Step 2:** Stand the watermelon on one of the cut sides. Using a sharp knife, starting from the top and following the contour of the watermelon, carefully slice the skin off. Your cut will be about one-half inch in depth.

**Step 3:** Continue to peel the watermelon, taking off two to three-inch-wide pieces of the rind following the white inner peel color. Be sure to cut deep enough to see only the flesh.

**Step 4:** Cut the watermelon in half vertically.

**Step 5:** Then, cut each half in half again to give you four manageable quarters.

**Step 6:** Once cut into four quarters, you can proceed to cut into desired shapes and sizes.

**Step 8:** For large triangle cuts, lay the quartered watermelon on one of flat sides. Then, cut down vertically.

**Step 9:** To cut watermelon into cubes, lay the quartered watermelon cut side down and cut into triangles. Then, make perpendicular cuts lengthwise. Rotate the stack to the other original cut side and make more perpendicular cuts to create a grid pattern of watermelon cubes.

How to Cut Watermelon with the Rind

**Step 2:** Stand the watermelon on one of the cut sides. Using a sharp knife, starting from the top-center, cut the watermelon in half. Set one half aside.

**Step 3:** With the half still standing, cut in half again to have a quarter of the watermelon. Set one quarter aside, lay one quarter down with the cut side on your cutting board.

**Step 4:** With a sharp knife, slice the watermelon across its width starting from one end. Cut each slice into one-quarter to one-half inch slices until you have reached the other end.
Finally, repeat with the remaining quarter and other half of the watermelon.

Large watermelon on cutting board with side part getting cut off.

How to Cut a Watermelon

Author: Yumna Jawad

5 from 524 votes

How to cut a watermelon with or without the rind. I’ll show you two simple methods for slicing into triangles rind on or cubing it, removing the rind first.

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Prep Time5

Total Time5

Servings servings

Video

Ingredients

▢ 1 Watermelon

Instructions

Without rind

Start by removing a half inch off the top and bottom of the watermelon.
Stand the watermelon on one of the cut sides. Using a sharp knife, starting from the top, and following the contour of the watermelon, carefully peel the skin off, about ½ inch in depth.
Continue to peel the watermelon, taking off 2-3 inch wide pieces of the peel following the white inner peel color, being sure to cut deep enough to see only the flesh.
Cut the watermelon in half vertically then each half in half again to give you four manageable quarters.
Cut into desired shapes and sizes
For triangle cuts: lay the quartered watermelon on one of the flat sides. Then, cut down vertically. You can then cut each triangle into cubes, or
For cubes: lay the quartered watermelon cut side down and cut into triangles. Then, make perpendicular cuts lengthwise. Rotate the stack to the other original cut side and make more perpendicular cuts to create a grid pattern of watermelon cubes.

With rind

Start by removing a half inch off the top and bottom of the watermelon.
Stand the watermelon on one of the cut sides. Using a sharp knife, starting from the top-center, cut the watermelon in half, set one half aside.
With the half still standing, cut in half again to have a quarter of watermelon, set one quarter aside, lay one quarter down with the cut side on your cutting board.
With a sharp knife, slice the watermelon across its width starting from one end. Cut each slice into ¼ inch to ½ inch slices until you have reached the other end.
Repeat with the remaining quarters.

Equipment

Notes

Storage: Store cut watermelon in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Freezing Instructions: You can freeze watermelon without the rind and use within a year. Their thawed texture will be altered but they are excellent when frozen and thrown in smoothies.

Photo Credit: Erin Jensen

Nutrition

Calories: 113kcal, Carbohydrates: 28g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Sodium: 4mg, Potassium: 420mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 23g, Vitamin A: 2134IU, Vitamin C: 30mg, Calcium: 26mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.

Did You Make This Recipe?

How to Cut a Watermelon (Video Tutorial)

Serving Ideas

FAQs

How do I store watermelon?

Encase tightly in your wrap of choice or store in an air tight container. Cut watermelon is best eaten within three days.

Can I freeze watermelon?

Rindless chunks are best for this. Use within a year. Their thawed texture will be altered but thrown into the blender frozen, they are excellent in smoothies.

How long does a whole, uncut watermelon last in the fridge?

While they are space hogs, an uncut watermelon can last a good two weeks in the refrigerator. Once it is cut, though, you need to use or freeze quickly.

How do I pick the best watermelon at the store?

Give it thump! Listen for a satisfying hollow-sounding thunk. The melon should feel heavy for its size and the pale spot should be yellowish (ripe) rather than white (not ripe.)

Is the rind edible?

It is usually left behind but the watermelon rind is completely edible and tastes like a cucumber. They’re from the same plant family, called cucurbits. Some pickle the rinds. Others chop for stir-fry.

How to Cut a Watermelon

How to Cut a Watermelon and Remove the Rind

How to Cut Watermelon with the Rind