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How to Cut a Watermelon – a simple yet brilliant technique (Video)

February 6, 2014 By JJ 22 Comments

How to Cut Watermelon - simply genius

It’s the simple things — finding a leftover piece of cake in the fridge, receiving an offhand compliment from a stranger, cracking a recipe with an unexpected twist — that surprise and delight me. But it’s the “why didn’t I think of that first” discoveries that really stick with me.

Cutting a watermelon seems a simple task, just rounds and wedges, right? But late last year I came across a whole new way.

During our trip we spent a week in Cape Cod with my extended family. We ate and drank and laughed and made our way through roughly 10 watermelons in the span of six days.

One afternoon I stopped mid-word, mouth hanging open, as my aunt cut up yet another orb… It wasn’t how she halved it and cut the rind off, or how she sliced it into tall pieces (although I’d never thought to use that technique on anything other than oranges and cantaloupes) that I found so fascinating.

It was the final trick of inverting a bowl over the cut fruit and flipping it over. All of a sudden a bowl of perfectly cut watermelon, ready and waiting to be stored — or devoured. Genius.

How to Cut Watermelon - simply genius

I’ve been using the technique ever since and decided a few weeks ago to share a short Instagram video of it.

It was done holding the phone in one hand, a knife in the other, and trying to capture a bit of each step in under 15 seconds — although the actual flip was left out because even I don’t have three hands.

Then something slightly unexpected happened on Facebook, it went insane. Based on the reaction I figured there were enough people who thought is was equally as genius as I did, and that I should perhaps, finally, make the jump into video…

RJ was kind enough to act as camera man and I’ve managed to teach myself trial by error video editing in a day. Not bad for my first go if I do say so myself — although I could have done without the plane flying overhead somewhere in the middle!

How to Cut Watermelon - simply genius

Food TV here I come, but first I need more watermelon.

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Filed Under: All Posts, Food, RecipeBox, Video Tagged With: Family, Fruit, Had-to-share, How-to, Inspiration, Summer, Treats, Trip'n2013

Comments

  1. Chris Rowley says

    February 6, 2014 at 1:36 pm

    Yet another talent – video! Good job on the watermelon. The only thing I need to remember is to find watermelon to fit the bowl….

    Reply
    • JJ says

      February 10, 2014 at 9:15 pm

      Haha that seems to be a common reaction but it’s quite a bit easier than you’d think ;D

      Reply
  2. chocolatesuze says

    February 6, 2014 at 1:42 pm

    when i saw this on your ig i thought it was fricken brilliant! love the vid!

    Reply
    • JJ says

      February 10, 2014 at 9:15 pm

      Thanks Suze!

      Reply
  3. Kyrstie @ A Fresh Legacy says

    February 6, 2014 at 4:40 pm

    Nice work JJ, this is a great way to cut up a watermelon. Well done on the video.

    Reply
  4. Lizzy (Good Things) says

    February 6, 2014 at 5:00 pm

    Brilliant!

    Reply
  5. keren says

    February 6, 2014 at 5:08 pm

    Amazing! I have to try this. Great post JJ!

    Reply
  6. Glynis says

    February 6, 2014 at 6:02 pm

    Is the ” tip for a flat stomach”‘ as easy as cutting this watermelon? Haha!

    Reply
    • JJ says

      February 10, 2014 at 9:16 pm

      One could only wish ;D

      Reply
  7. Glynis says

    February 6, 2014 at 6:04 pm

    This watermelon post/video is absolutely brilliant!

    Reply
  8. Helen (Grab Your Fork) says

    February 6, 2014 at 10:17 pm

    Fab idea! And you’re a TV natural too!

    Reply
  9. The Life of Clare says

    February 7, 2014 at 7:19 am

    I love this! It’s genius!

    Reply
  10. Marie says

    February 7, 2014 at 1:26 pm

    JENNERRRR,

    LOVE THIS and shared it en français SVP on my blog’s facebook page.

    Have a nice summer and see you in a couple months YAYAYAYY
    xxx

    Reply
    • JJ says

      February 10, 2014 at 9:17 pm

      Aw thanks Frenchie! Yes let me know when you are in town!!

      Reply
  11. milkteaxx says

    February 7, 2014 at 1:37 pm

    genius definitely! gonna buy a watermelon just to try this out!

    Reply
    • JJ says

      February 10, 2014 at 9:17 pm

      I need another asap!

      Reply
  12. Adam says

    August 20, 2014 at 2:18 pm

    Great job on the video! I wouldn’t have suspected that you were new to making videos! (Your trick looks good too.)

    Reply
  13. NicoleBold says

    May 30, 2018 at 8:42 am

    I have checked your page and i have found some
    duplicate content, that’s why you don’t rank high in google, but there is a tool that can help you to create 100% unique content, search
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    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Watermelon | drmichelleronan says:
    February 6, 2014 at 4:40 pm

    […] I will often cut one up and store it in the fridge so we can snack away on it. Then I found this video which shows a very nifty way of preparing a watermelon. What do you […]

    Reply
  2. Time-Saving Kitchen Hacks | Dogears says:
    July 29, 2014 at 2:43 pm

    […] By: 84thand3rd.com […]

    Reply
  3. Watermelon Mint Agua Fresca with a Vitamix - Joy of Blending says:
    August 22, 2014 at 11:12 am

    […] you don’t already have a favorite watermelon-cutting technique, I liked the video in this post, which shows a neat way to cut and store a […]

    Reply
  4. 12 Fun and Clever Ways to Slice, Serve and Enjoy Watermelon this Summer - DIY & Crafts says:
    June 15, 2015 at 2:26 am

    […] Video Source: 84thAnd3rd […]

    Reply

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