While there are a few ways of how to cut up cantaloupe easily and properly, we inherently focus on ways to emphasize the least amount of steps and to encourage safety with the knife. This is a part of our Food Guides category.
How to Cut Up Cantaloupe Overview
Your end result will be either to have one cantaloupe section per person and the other cutting method ends up with a bowl of bite-sized pieces to dish out servings (or for use in a fruit salad). These steps will show you both ways so you’ll know how to cut a cantaloupe easy. Then, you can easily serve it next time with grilled burgers, as shown in the BBQ Burger Sides article.
How to Cut Up Cantaloupe in Popular Shapes and Sizes
Overall, this is the best way to cut up cantaloupe. On the whole, you can end up with slices for individual servings or you can end up with cubes for individual servings or use in a salad. It starts with making the individual sections for the first way and then you continue from there to make the bite-sized pieces for the second way. So, let’s begin.
How To Cut A Cantaloupe Into SLICES
This is how to cut a cantaloupe into slices or sections. Normally, you’ll want about 4 to 8 sections per cantaloupe half. That’s 8 to 16 sliced sections per cantaloupe. Hence, here are your steps to achieve that.
Step 1. Rinse off the outer surface of the cantaloupe before cutting. Then, place the cantaloupe on a cutting surface. Using a large knife, cut the cantaloupe completely in half, lengthwise, i.e., cutting along the longest middle length. Then, rinse off the cutting knife.
Step 2. Under running water, using a spoon (or your fingers), scoop out the insides (seeds and innards), minimizing the removal of the actual cantaloupe.
Step 3. Cut each half in half. Repeat until you have the sizes of serving sections you want to serve. Usually, it is about 4 to 8 sections per cantaloupe half. This gives you about 8 to 16 sections per an entire cantaloupe.
How To Cut Up Cantaloupe Into CHUNKS or CUBES
The best way on how to cut a cantaloupe into chunks or bite-sized cubes is this. Follow the previous steps to start with about 4 sections per cantaloupe half. To clarify, have a total of 8 sections per cantaloupe. Then, proceed with these continued steps to cut them down into the desired pieces.
Step 1. With each cantaloupe section, cut a deep slit (end to end) down the middle. Ensure you cut down deep and stop only when you reach the rind, from one end to the other.
Step 2. Perform cross-sectional cuts across each cantaloupe section. You’ll begin to see how these cuts will determine the size of each chunk. It’s here that you can alter it to make them very large cubes or smaller bite-sized pieces. For the smaller pieces, you can strive for about 1/3 to 1/2-inch cuts.
Step 3. Finally, you’ll slice along the bottom edge of each cantaloupe section. You can hold the cantaloupe section’s rind bottom during this process but use caution not to cut yourself. For safety, I hold one end and slice only to its middle; then, I turn the cantaloupe section 180 degrees to hold the other end and slice that other half to stop in the middle. After cutting each section, discard the rind and place the cantaloupe pieces into a bowl. Keep the cutting surface cleared for cutting each section. You now have a bowl of cantaloupe pieces for servings or usage in a salad recipe.
Recipe for Using Cantaloupe in a Salad
Here’s a popular recipe for cantaloupe salad. It uses cantaloupe chunks as described on how to cut above. It’s extremely fast and easy to make and uses common kitchen ingredients. It also has lists of additional ingredients to optionally add to make a more hearty cantaloupe salad.
FAQ on Cantaloupes
How long does a cantaloupe last in the fridge after it’s cut open?
This is how to cut and store cantaloupe. With proper refrigeration, it can last 3 to 5 days, according to various sources. If cut up into the smaller pieces, it’s best to plan to discard it after 3 days. If you’re trying to preserve an entire half of a cantaloupe, i.e., not cut into sections nor pieces, it can last up to 5 days if tightly sealed. However, for any orange cantaloupe cuts of sizes, it’s best to discard it if a white appearance or whitish foam starts to form.
What are some common ways of how to cut and serve cantaloupe?
It’s served often as sectional slices or bite-sized pieces by themselves. Sometimes, the sectional slices are also served with the rind cut away. It can also be served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream served over it. More on the recipe side, it’s often served as a member of a fruit salad or as a cantaloupe salad where it’s the star ingredient. For presentation, it’s sometimes served as cubed bite-sized chunks on top of a lettuce leaf, and possibly a small scoop of cottage cheese alongside it.
Where does the name “Cantaloupe” come from?
The orange cantaloupe is named after a small town close to Rome in Italy. That town is named “Cantalupa”. And it’s known for its sweet, orange melons.
What’s the difference between the honeydew melon and the cantaloupe?
The University of Arkansas explains the difference between the honedew melon and the cantaloupe. Regarding flavor and texture, it references the honeydew melon as being green, sweeter, and with a firmer flesh texture when eaten.
Tell me more about the Cantaloupe.
Wikipedia goes in-depth about the cantaloupe here. It covers everything from its origins and variations, as well as its nutritional values.
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Conclusion for How To Cut Up Cantaloupe
You’ve now seen how to cut up cantaloupe easily by following these simple steps. This quick and easy process gets the fruit ready to eat or add into a recipe. So, next time you are at the store, be sure to pick up a cantaloupe and give this method a try.
And, on special days like the Super Bowl or holidays, you can serve cantaloupe on a fruit platter. And, you can also serve some cauliflower florets next to a veggie dip. Here are some other related recipes you might like: