How to choose a watermelon

1. Look the watermelon over.
   You are looking for a firm, symmetrical watermelon that is free from bruises, cuts or dents.
2. Lift it up.
   The watermelon should be heavy for its size. Watermelon is 92% water, most of the weight is water.
3. Turn it over.
   The underside of the watermelon should have a creamy yellow spot from where it sat on the ground and ripened in the sun.

De-seeding a watermelon:

If you would like to de-seed a watermelon, here's a nice and easy way to do it. This is perfect to dice up into chunks for a snack, use in salsa, mix into drinks or anything else you would use watermelon for.

Be sure to wash your watermelon
and knives before cutting into it.

1. Cut watermelon in half, then in quarters
2. Cut through the flesh of the melon along the seed line with a pairing knife. Now, lift off the piece you just cut out.
3. Using a fork, scrape the seeds from the piece you just removed and from the remaining flesh on the rind.

Storage and Handling of watermelon

1. Handle your whole watermelon gently, to avoid internal bruising.
2. Wash hands.
3. Wash your watermelon in running water, rinse well and pat dry.
4. Cut the flesh from the rind, and cut into 1-inch cubes.
5. Place in covered container and refrigerate immediately.
6. Keep cut watermelon refrigerated until consumed, up to 3-4 days.

Choosing and Handling Pre-Cut Watermelon

1. The flesh of the watermelon should appear dense and firm.
2. Refrigerate to preserve maximum freshness.
3. Cover the cut surface of a melon with plastic wrap to prevent the flesh from becoming mushy.
4. Store chunks of watermelon in covered plastic containers.

Quick Tips for Watermelon Cubes and Wedges

Cutting up a watermelon is faster and easier than you may think! All you have to do is cut it in a grid pattern, almost like you were making a checkerboard on the surface of the fruit. Cubes will tumble out ready to eat.

Quick Watermelon Cubes

1. Take a quarter watermelon and lay it on the rind with the interior facing up.
2. Place knife about 3/4 of an inch down from the peak of the wedge. Holding the knife parallel to the far side of the fruit and starting at edge of rind, cut a horizontal line through the fruit all the way down to the rind.
3. Next, place the knife blade 3/4 of an inch lower and make the same cut. Repeat.
4. Next, turn the fruit to the other side and make the same horizontal cuts.
5. And last, starting at edge of the rind, make vertical cuts 3/4 inch apart all the way across.
6. Cubes will tumble out ready to eat!

Quick Watermelon Wedges

1. Take a quarter watermelon and lay it on the rind with the interior facing up. Place knife about two inches from end of wedge.
2. Cut off the curved end of the fruit. Place knife about ¾ to 1 inch (or desired thickness) into fruit and cut straight down.
3. Repeat until entire quarter is in wedges.