How to Cut a Cantaloupe with Step-by-Step Instructions

Cantaloupe is a delicious melon that makes a refreshing and nutritious treat. Have you ever wondered how to cut a cantaloupe without wasting a lot of fruit? It has a tough peel, an unpleasant tasting rind, and lots of seeds. If you’ve ever ended up with a sticky sweet mess in the kitchen or far too little fruit to show for your effort, a few pro tips can help.

There are several different ways to cut a cantaloupe, depending on how you want to serve it. By following a few simple steps, you can serve thin or thick wedges, peeled slices, melon balls, or even cut-out shapes.

The main way to cut a cantaloupe

The first few steps of cutting a cantaloupe are the same, no matter how you want to serve it.

1. Cut the ends off of the cantaloupe.
2. Cut the cantaloupe in half.
3. Scoop out the seeds.

After you’ve halved and seeded the melon, you can follow specific directions for cutting it into the size and shape you want. For certain serving styles, you’ll also want to peel the cantaloupe.

1. Cut the ends off of the cantaloupe

Turn the cantaloupe on its side with the stem end on one side (not the top or bottom). Using a sharp chef’s knife or utility knife, cut about 1/4 to 1/2 inch off the stem end and the opposite end of the cantaloupe. The pieces you’ve cut off will be mostly rind and peel, so you can discard them.

2. Cut the cantaloupe in half

With the ends cut off the cantaloupe, you can stand it up on your cutting board to make it easier to cut. Now you can simply cut it down to slice it into 2 halves.  These halves are the starting point for 5 different ways to cut and serve cantaloupe.

3. Scoop out the seeds

Cantaloupes have a soft center with lots of seeds. You can scoop out the center with your hands or use a large spoon to remove that part. Once you’ve removed the seeds, you can cut the cantaloupe into your choice of serving portions.

5 different ways to cut a cantaloupe

The first step in figuring out how to cut a cantaloupe is deciding how to serve it. Some ways are very easy, while others are a little trickier. You can use our step-by-step directions if you want to:

• Scoop cantaloupe into melon balls
• Cut it into wedges
• Cut cantaloupe into chunks
• Cut it into thin slices
• Make decorative cutout melon shapes

How to make melon balls

Melon balls are a pretty addition to a fruit salad, and they’re easy to make if you have a melon baller or fruit scoop. You’ll use your seeded cantaloupe halves to do this. Place the fruit side up on your cutting board, press the scoop into the fruit, and twist it to lift out a perfectly shaped ball. After you’ve scooped out all of your melon balls, use a large spoon to get any “leftovers” out of the cantaloupe. Those pieces of fruit are great for quick snacking or to use for smoothies.

How to cut a cantaloupe into wedges

Cutting cantaloupe into wedges is a common way to serve it. The easiest way to cut cantaloupe wedges is to set the melon half on your cutting board, fruit side up. Cut the half lengthwise down the middle, and then cut those pieces in half the same way. This will give you 4 wedges from each half of the cantaloupe, or if you want thinner wedges, you can cut the fourths in half.

How to cut up a cantaloupe into chunks

There’s an easy way to make cantaloupe chunks, and it starts with wedges. For good-sized chunks, you may want to start with 8 wedges. Take a wedge of cantaloupe and make downward cuts (but not through the rind and peel). You can make cuts about an inch apart, or make them smaller or larger if you like.

Next, cut away the peel and release the chunks by cutting horizontally along the edge of the cantaloupe just above the green rind. The safest way to make your horizontal cut is to slice halfway into the wedge and then turn it around and cut from the other side.

How to cut a cantaloupe into slices

If you want to serve slices of cantaloupe instead of wedges, there’s an easy way to do it. If you place the cantaloupe face down on the cutting board, it will give you a more stable surface for cutting, and the peel side is less slippery, too.

Make downward cuts in whatever width you like. You can leave the peel on the slices or remove it by laying each slice and cutting above the rind.

How to cut cantaloupe into decorative shapes

If you have special vegetable or fruit cutters, you can cut attractive decorative shapes from a cantaloupe. For this, you’ll need thicker slabs of cantaloupe to cut from.

Place the cantaloupe on your cutting board fruit side down and cut the melon horizontally into thick slices. Slabs about an inch thick are a good size, but just be sure they’re no taller than your cutter. Because the fruit is very soft, your cutters will slide through it easily.

Cutting cantaloupe doesn’t have to be hard or messy

If you love serving fresh fruit, cantaloupe is a delicious and versatile choice that’s great for snacking or for serving in pretty fruit salads. Using some great tips for how to cut a cantaloupe, you can be serving it to your friend and family in no time at all.

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