Recipes

How to Cut Honeydew with Step-by-Step Instructions

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Last Updated: Mar 1, 2022

Honeydew melon is a refreshing fruit ideal for summer, but it can be enjoyed throughout the year. The sweet sugary flavor and juicy texture of this fruit make it a perfect ingredient for smoothies, salads, and desserts. Or, you can enjoy it just by itself.

However, cutting this round fruit with smooth, thick, and firm skin can be difficult if you have never done it before.

In this guide, we show you how to cut up a honeydew melon into slices, wedges, and cubes with no effort.

Prepping a honeydew melon

Before you cut a honeydew melon, rinse it under cold water to remove any grime. Air-dry it for 5 to 10 minutes and then pat dry with a paper towel so that it is not too slippery when you cut it.

Place the melon on a non-slip cutting board and brace it with 1 hand. Using a sharp, heavy knife trim about ½in from both ends of the fruit. This creates 2 flat surfaces at both ends, which makes cutting the honeydew easier.

Cutting honeydew in half

To cut a honeydew melon in half, follow the steps below:

  1. Once you have trimmed the ends, place the cut side on the cutting board. Hold the melon with 1 hand, and using a sharp knife, slice down from the top through the middle. Avoid using a sawing motion, as this can release more of the fruit’s juice.
  2. Place a honeydew half on the cutting board with the fruit side facing upwards. Hold the fruit with 1 hand to keep it from rolling. With the other hand, use a spoon to gently scrape the seeds and pulp from the middle.
  3. Repeat the same process for the other half.

Now the honeydew melon is ready to be cut into slices, wedges, or cubes.

How to cut honeydew into cubes

Here are 2 easy methods to cut a honeydew melon into cubes:

Method 1

In this method, you’ll skin the entire half before cutting it into cubes.

  1. Place the melon, fruit-side down, on the cutting board. Press it down gently to make sure it does not slip. Be sure not to press too hard, as more of the fruit’s juices may escape. You can gently wipe any excess juice on the board and the fruit to make sure it does not slip while cutting.
  2. Hold the fruit firmly with 1 hand, and using a sharp knife, slice away the rind. Start at the top half of the melon and slice at an angle in a downward motion. Carefully slice away the rind and not too much of the fruit. Continue to cut out the rind throughout the fruit.
  3. Place the skinned honeydew flat-side on the cutting board and hold the top of the fruit with your fingers so that it does not slip. Slice the melon lengthwise into 1in wide sections. Make sure you do not squeeze the fruit while cutting.
  4. Keeping all the sliced honeydew pieces together, turn the melon around on the cutting board. Cut across the slices into 1in sections or cubes.
Green Organic Honeydew Melon Cut in a Bowl

Method 2

This method involves slicing the honeydew into wedges, then separating the rind from the fruit.

  1. After cutting the melon in half and scooping it, place half honeydew melon on a cutting board skin side down. Hold it at an angle with one hand and cut wedges lengthwise about 1in thick. Cut the other half into wedges, too.
  2. Hold each wedge on the cutting board and carefully run the knife between the fruit and the rind. Cut halfway and then turn the wedge around and run the knife through the fruit and rind on the other side. This way, you will separate the rind from the fruit.
  3. Take 2 to 4 wedges at a time and place them on the cutting board on their sides so that they are facing you horizontally. Now slice the wedges, from the top to bottom into bite-size pieces, about 1in thick. Now your honeydew melon cubes are ready to eat!

How to cut honeydew melon for a fruit tray

Serve up honeydew melon with other fruits like cantaloupes, strawberries, and watermelon on a fruit platter to inspire your family and friends to eat fruits.

Below are the steps to follow to cut a honeydew melon for a fruit platter:

  1. After washing the honeydew melon, cut off both ends of the fruit. 
  2. Place the cut end on the cutting board and hold the melon with 1 hand. Use a chef’s knife and hold it at an angle to trim around the melon, from top to bottom. Follow the shape of the fruit and angle your knife as the fruit curves. Go all around the melon to remove the rind. After you finish, if you notice any rind on the fruit, just trim it off.
  3. Cut the melon in half, and scoop out the seeds in the middle using a spoon. Make sure you clean this area nicely.
  4. Flip 1 melon half and place it on the cutting board with the flat side down. Slice across the fruit using a slight rocking motion. Make sure that the slices are of similar thickness. You can discard the 2 end pieces.

Now arrange the slices on a platter with other fruits to create a beautiful fruit platter.

sliced ripe melon on rustic wooden background

How to make honeydew melon balls

You can create an attractive-looking fruit platter or make a beautiful fruit salad with honeydew melon balls.

All you need is a parisienne scoop or a melon baller to scoop balls from the melon. You can also use a small ice cream scoop or a rounded measuring spoon if you don’t have a melon baller.

Use the following method on cantaloupes and watermelon, too:

  1. Cut the honeydew melon in half and scoop out the seeds and pulp. Leave the skin on and place it on the cutting board with the fruit facing upwards.
  2. Hold the melon with 1 hand and use the other hand to scoop the fruit with a melon baller.
  3. Start near the edge of the fruit and dig the melon baller into the fruit at an angle, going downwards and then scooping it upwards to create a melon ball.
  4. Drop the ball into a bowl and continue scooping.

Enjoy honeydew melon today

Now that you know how to cut a honeydew melon, you can enjoy this delicious fruit and serve it on a fruit tray, make a fruit salad, or just enjoy it as it is. And if you are craving a honeydew melon, you know you can always shop for it at Instacart for easy delivery or pickup.

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