Watermelon is a summertime staple. Each summer, stores and farm stands have an abundance of watermelons on display, and many people feel no picnic or barbecue is complete without watermelon.
Watermelon is a refreshing option on hot days. It's ideal sliced and served, or can be included in fruit salads, smoothies or even "spiked" cocktails. The key to a tasty watermelon is knowing how to pick one that is ripe, while serving watermelon comes down to understanding some easy cutting strategies.
· Choose a watermelon that has a firm, symmetrical shape. Avoid melons with bumps, dents or cuts.
· Watermelons should be relatively heavy. They're 92 percent water, and that juiciness should be reflected in a substantial weight for the melon's size.
· Watermelon.org advises looking for a creamy yellow spot on the underside of the watermelon. This is called the "ground spot." It indicates where the melon sat on the ground and ripened in the sun. Once cut from the vine, a watermelon has about three to four weeks to be consumed.
· All parts of the watermelon are edible, including the seeds and rind. The rind can be pickled or cut up to use in stir-fry dishes.
When bringing watermelon to an event, it is a courtesy to bring it already sliced or cut up. This ensures the host or hostess does not have to tackle what can sometimes be a chore. Here are three techniques to cut a watermelon easily.
Cubes
1. Cut both ends off of the watermelon.
2. Stand the watermelon on one sliced end. Use the knife to slice down and cut off the rind.
3. After removing the rind from all sides of the melon, cut into discs about 1/2-inch in thickness.
4. Then cut those discs into cubes.
Slices
1. Cut the watermelon in half lengthwise.
2. Take one cut half and place it cut-side down.
3. Cut the watermelon into slices.
4. Repeat for the other cut half.
Strips
1. Cut the watermelon as you would with the slices. Rather than leaving it in large slices, turn the watermelon and cut the same size slices in the opposite direction. This creates strips that are easy for kids to grab and maneuver.
2. Repeat with the other half of the watermelon in the same manner.