Green melon has a very sweet flavor and juicy texture. Unfortunately, due to the rounded shape and smooth skin, it is not easy to cut it, especially if you have never done it before. All it takes to cut a ripe green melon is a cutting board and a sharp knife. After cutting it in half and emptying the seeds with a spoon, choose how to slice it according to your preferences. You can remove the peel directly from the two halves and cut the melon into cubes, you can slice it before removing the peel or use a melon digger to create perfect little balls.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Cut the Melon in Half
Step 1. Wash the melon peel with cold water and dry it with kitchen paper
Scrub the peel with your hands or a vegetable brush to make sure you get rid of any dirt or grime. After washing it, pat the melon dry with kitchen paper to make it less slippery.
- If the melon skin is very dirty, you can use white wine vinegar to clean it thoroughly and kill any bacteria. Pour a tablespoon of vinegar into the palm of your hand and rub it on the surface of the melon, then rinse it with cold water.
- When the melon is wet it is even more difficult to handle, so let it air dry for 5-10 minutes before cutting.
Step 2. Remove the ends of the melon with a heavy, sharp knife
Place it on the cutting board horizontally to avoid damaging the kitchen counter. Grab it with one hand and carefully remove the top and bottom ends to create two parallel flat surfaces. This way, the melon will hold steady on the cutting board as you divide it in half.
The skin of the green melon is smooth and slippery, so be careful. If possible, use a cutting board with a non-slip coating
Step 3. Place the melon on one of the two flat sides and carefully cut it in half
Place the knife blade in the center of the opposite side. Use the pressure of both hands and the weight of the knife to divide it into two equal parts, working from top to bottom.
Cut the melon from top to bottom in a clean, smooth motion. Do not move the knife back and forth to avoid dispersing the melon juices. The flat base will have made it stable, so you can easily cut it in half
Step 4. Empty the two halves of the melon from the seeds with a metal spoon
Hold one half with your non-dominant hand to keep it from rocking. Scrape the central cavity with a metal spoon to remove the seeds. Do not use too much force to avoid removing the pulp of the melon.
Repeat the process to empty the other half of the melon from the seeds, then throw them along with the fibrous mass in which they are enclosed. At this point, you can choose to cut the pulp into cubes, slices or use a melon digger
Method 2 of 4: Cut the Melon into Cubes
Step 1. Place one half of the melon on the cutting board with the skin side up
Gently push it down to keep it from slipping as you cut it. Dry the juices on the cutting board and peel to make both surfaces more stable.
Step 2. Remove the peel in small pieces with a very sharp knife
Rotate the melon on the cutting board while removing strips of peel no longer than 5 cm. Start in the center and slide the blade under the peel towards the edges. The blade must follow the profile of the melon and must only penetrate a few millimeters, to avoid removing an excessive amount of pulp. Stay focused as you peel the melon off.
- This method does not require great skill and precision. However, you may risk removing too much pulp as well.
- Repeat the same process with the other half of the melon.
Step 3. Cut the melon into 3 cm thick vertical slices
Grab it with one hand and gently press it against the cutting board as you slice it to hold it steady. Be careful not to apply too much pressure to avoid damaging the pulp and dispersing the juices.
Keep the slices together to make it easier to cut them into cubes in the next step
Step 4. Cut the cantaloupe into vertical slices
Making horizontal and then vertical cuts on the pulp will form the design of a reticulate. For convenience, you can keep the slices together and rotate them on the cutting board before slicing them in the opposite direction. Cut the melon into 3 cm thick vertical slices to obtain uniform bite-sized cubes. This way, you can easily eat them with a spoon or fork.
Repeat the same process with the other half of the melon
Step 5. Store the melon in the refrigerator to keep it fresh
Use an airtight container and eat it within 2-3 days. Over time, it will go mushy and start losing its juices, indicating that it is going bad.
Alternatively, you can put it in a food bag or airtight container and freeze it, so it will keep for up to 10-12 months
Method 3 of 4: Cut the Melon into Slices
Step 1. Divide the two parts of the melon into 3-4 slices to be able to remove the peel more easily
Place half a melon on the cutting board, with the pulp facing down, and hold it steady with one hand. Cut it into slices about 3 cm thick, taking care to keep your fingers away from the blade so as not to risk injuring yourself.
- This method requires some knife skill, but minimizes the risk of removing even a large part of the pulp along with the peel.
- You can use a large, heavy knife or a small pointed knife. Choose the tool you feel most comfortable with.
- You can consider cutting the melon into horizontal slices to be able to remove the peel more easily. You will have a greater number of slices, but being smaller you will have less effort.
- Repeat the same process with the other half of the melon.
Step 2. Place a slice of melon on the cutting board with the pulp facing up
Immobilize it with your fingers, taking care to keep them away from the peel. Make sure the slice is firmly on the cutting board to avoid injuring yourself as you peel off the skin.
On casual occasions, you can avoid peeling the melon. The diners will be able to hold the slices by the peel and eat them comfortably, without the need to use cutlery
Step 3. Take a small sharp knife and peel off the melon slices
Slide the blade of the knife between the skin and the pulp with a smooth and continuous motion. Use the fingers of your non-dominant hand to apply light pressure to the end of the slice so you can carve the pulp with ease.
- Repeat until you have removed the skin from all the melon slices.
- You can serve the melon in whole slices or cut them into smaller pieces.
Step 4. Store the melon in the refrigerator to keep it fresh
Use an airtight container and eat it within 2-3 days. Over time, it will go mushy and start losing its juices, denoting that it is going bad.
Alternatively, you can put it in a food bag or airtight container and freeze it, so it will keep for up to 10-12 months
Method 4 of 4: Use a Melon Dig
Step 1. Place one half of the melon on the cutting board with the pulp facing up
Hold it steady with one hand to keep it from rocking as you use the digger.
Step 2. Hold the scoop diagonally and use it as if it were an ice cream portioner
Make it sink into the pulp and, when full, twist it upwards. Start making the spheres near the peel.
- Drop the balls into a bowl or serving dish.
- If you don't have the digger, but don't want to give up serving the melon this way, you can use a small ice cream portioner.
Step 3. Find the second sphere as close as possible to the cavity left by the first
Start at one end and work your way to the opposite. Score the pulp leaving as little space as possible between one sphere and the other to avoid waste.
Keep making the balls until only the melon peel is left. If you have any leftover pulp, you can separate it from the peel with a spoon, place it in a separate container and eat it when you feel like having a snack
Step 4. Serve the melon immediately or refrigerate it to keep it fresh
Use an airtight container and eat it within 2-3 days. Over time, it will go mushy and start losing its juices, indicating that it is going bad.
