Creative Ways to Serve a Watermelon

Choosing the perfect watermelon

The first thing you need to know is how to find the best watermelon. These tips may not be an exact science, but they're a good start for those who have no idea which one to choose.

The tap-test: When deciding which watermelon to buy, tap on it with the palm of your hand. If the sound is hollow, the watermelon is most likely ripe and rich in water. If the sound is muffled, the watermelon is not ripe and should not be purchased.

The hardness test: A fresh watermelon will have hard and shiny skin. If the skin is soft or dull, it's usually because the fruit is old.

The stem test: A watermelon's stem is a good indicator of the ripeness of the fruit. Some will tell you that a shorter stem is indicative of ripeness, while others insist that the dryer the stem – the riper the watermelon.

Watermelon sticks

This preparation method may require some practice, but it pays off once you've mastered it. This is the perfect way to prepare watermelon when you have a lot of guests coming over because you don't need to separate the flesh from the rinds.

• Cut the watermelon in half.
• Place the watermelon face-down and cut it into rows.
• Turn the cutting board around and cut more rows in a crisscross pattern.
• Wipe off any excess liquids and serve the cutting board as is. Now guests can pick up whichever piece they want.

Video instructions:

Watermelon Smoothie

If you're feeling adventurous, you can make a watermelon smoothie with minimal effort and maximum style. You'll need a knife, a drill, and a clean metal coat-hanger. If it sounds weird, watch the video below that'll teach you how to make a perfect smoothie in 30 seconds.

Watermelon “pizza”

Want to surprise your friends and family? Invite them over to try your special summer pizza! This technique requires some effort because you need to cut the watermelon into discs. Once you've cut it, top the discs with crumbled whey cheese (such as feta or ricotta), mint leaves, desiccated coconut, or other fruits.

Watermelon popsicles

Another summer treat is a frozen popsicle. This recipe will teach you how to make a delicious watermelon popsicle with a surprising twist.

Ingredients:

• 3 cups watermelon cubes
• 2 ripe tomatoes, peeled
• 2 jalapeño peppers, thinly sliced

Preparation:

1. Blend the watermelon and tomatoes until fully mixed.
2. Use a sift to remove the bigger chunks from the mix and transfer into a bowl.
3. Add the jalapeños to the bowl and leave in the fridge for an hour.
4. Remove from the fridge and transfer the juice into popsicle molds, then freeze for 7-10 hours.

Watermelon hedgehog

Finally, I'd like to suggest my kids' favorite way of serving watermelon – the hedgehog! If you trust your kids with knives, they can assist you in making this delightful dessert. Otherwise, they can help put in the final touches.

• Begin by cutting a part of the skin into a flat surface to make the watermelon stay in place.
• With a sharp knife, cut the watermelon in half, but stop short of the end, as shown in the photo below.

• Remove the flesh from both sides and cut it into nice-looking squares or balls.
• Use a delicate knife to cut “spikes” at the edges of the watermelon skin.

• Use a pair of toothpicks for the “nose”, which is just a small rind decorated with a small fruit (such as a grape, cherry, or blueberry).

• Use four more toothpicks to give your hedgehog eyes and ears using two triangular rinds and a pair of small fruits.
• Move the flesh back into the hollowed-out watermelon and use toothpicks to give your creation spikes.

If you want to take the hedgehog outside the house, do not implement the final step until you’re at your final location. I can promise you that no one will be able to ignore your creation!