Here’s a quick visual guide for how to cut a watermelon into perfect rindless sticks or cubes. I find this way much easier to cut AND eat than the typical watermelon triangles that include the rind.

Cut Watermelon Cubes in a Bowl

When watermelon comes into season for the summer, we have a bowl of it in our fridge constantly. I love being able to reach into the fridge and grab a cold and refreshing piece of fruit, and also set it out on the table if a friend comes over.

Sometimes I even freeze the cubes and blend them into a Watermelon Slushie or turn the cubes into a Stacked Watermelon Salad.

Why This Cutting Method Is So Great

No rind = easier to eat – A lot of people cut watermelon into triangles that include the rind, but I find that much less easy to eat. It’s nice to give this to my 1-year old and not worry about her nibbling on a rind.

Takes less room in the fridge – If your fridge is as crowded as mine always is, it’s nice to save on space where you can. The rind is a significant part of the watermelon, and it’s nice to trash it from the start.

Easier to cut – Since you’re mostly cutting the soft flesh that’s just inside the rind, this is much easier to cut because you’re not cutting through the rind for each piece.

Cleaner – This is a little OCD of me to say, but even if I wash the outside of the watermelon, I don’t like it when the rind touches the edible part when I store leftovers. I don’t have to worry about that here.

Customize the shapes – You can vary up the shape into cubes, sticks, or even rindless triangles.

This method only takes a few minutes. Let’s take a look at how to do it.

How to Cut It Up Step by Step:

After you’ve washed and dried the watermelon, cut the top and bottom off (where the “belly button” is) so it can lay flat on a cutting board:

Cutting End off Watermelon - How to Cut Watermelon

If you have a cutting board like this (affiliate) with grooved edges, that can be helpful for catching the juices that inevitably run off.

Next, stand the watermelon up on one of the flat sides, and run a sharp knife along the edges to remove the rind:

Cutting the Rind From Side of Watermelon

You want to curve the knife around the shape of the watermelon, so you only remove the rind:

Removing the Watermelon Rind with a Sharp Knife

As you keep turning and cutting the watermelon, you will end up with a big ball of watermelon:

Whole Watermelon with Rind Removed on Cutting Board

Cut the watermelon ball in half so you have a flat surface for cutting, then cut a grid into the watermelon:

How to Cut Watermelon Sticks - Straight Down on Cutting Board

Then you can grab and eat these watermelon sticks:

Pulling Watermelon Stick Up with Fingers

Usually I leave it in sticks and put them in the fridge, but you can also cut the sticks into cubes.

And if you don’t know How to Pick a Good Watermelon, read that post for my top six tips for picking a sweet, ripe watermelon from the store. Enjoy!

FAQ:

How long does cut watermelon last?

Up to 5 days in the fridge, though watermelon tastes best freshly cut. The edges start to get mealy after about 2 days.

How do you store cut watermelon?

Store in the fridge in an airtight container, for up to 5 days. If it isn’t sealed, watermelon easily absorbs off flavors from the fridge, so I recommend an actual storage container instead of a bowl covered in plastic wrap.

Did you enjoy the recipe? Please leave a 5-star rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. Or, follow me on Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest!

A close up of watermelon sticks on a cutting board

Cut Watermelon Cubes or Sticks

Servings: 8
Prep Time: 5 mins
Total Time: 5 mins
This is the easiest method for How to Cut a Watermelon into perfect rindless sticks or cubes.
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Ingredients

  • 1 large watermelon

Instructions 

  • Wash and dry the watermelon.
  • Cut both ends off the watermelon where the belly button is, to create a flat surface.
  • Stand the watermelon upright on one of the flat ends, and run a sharp knife along the inside of the rind, turning the watermelon after each cut to remove all the rind.
  • Cut the watermelon ball in half, then lay flat on the cutting board.
  • Cut a grid into the watermelon, then you will have watermelon sticks. They are ready to be enjoyed!
  • You can also cut the sticks into cubes, if you prefer that shape instead.

Notes

Here are my tips for How to Pick a Good Watermelon
Storage: You can safely store watermelon in the fridge for up to 5 days, but the watermelon will start to get mealy after a couple days. Store in an airtight container to prevent the watermelon from absorbing off flavors from the fridge.

Nutrition

Calories: 106kcal, Carbohydrates: 27g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 1g, Sodium: 4mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 22g

Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.

Course: Snack
Cuisine: American
Author: Joanne Ozug