Fruit carving is widespread in Europe and Asian countries and is mainly famous in Thailand, China, and Japan. Many fruits can be used in this process; artists’ most popular ones are watermelons, apples, strawberries, pineapples, and cantaloupes.
How long can your watermelon carvings last? Well, watermelon carvings can often look good for about a week. They look best on the first day, however, they can still look well after one week when stored properly.
Collect your materials:
- Spoon
- Carving knife
- Paring knife
- Cutting board
- Washed ripe watermelon – choose a watermelon that’s firm to the touch, which means you will have a fresh watermelon. The skin should be smooth and unbroken. If possible, select a seedless variety. Seedless watermelons are easier to serve.
Prepare your watermelon bowl:
- Peel the green skin off of the sides and top of the watermelon with a paring knife.
- Remove the top third of the watermelon and discard it. If your watermelon bowl is unstable, cut a small level spot on the bottom so that the melon sits flat.
- Be careful when peeling the watermelon. You only want to peel away the very top green layer.
Carve small petals into the watermelon:
- Use your carving knife to create a petal. Insert the knife into the watermelon at a 45-degree angle and create a small, curved slice.
- Create a second slice about a centimeter behind the first slice. The 2nd slice will carve out a small sliver of watermelon.
- If the sliver of watermelon doesn’t slide out easily, gently scoop it out with the spoon.
Create a flower in the watermelon:
- Continue to carve the petals of your flower, starting at the center and moving outward.
- Work in a spiral formation, carving smaller petals near the center and larger petals near the edge.
Scoop out the flesh of the watermelon:
- Use the spoon to remove the watermelon flesh and set it aside.
- Be careful not to disturb your flower carving, especially if you carved too deeply when making petals.
- Use the watermelon flesh in a fruit salad or discard it.
