Cantaloupe is one of my most favorite melon because of its juiciness and sweet-like-honey but still refreshing flavor. In this post, I’ll share how to cut a cantaloupe into cubes or pieces simply, quickly, and without waste in just 10 minutes.
Table of Contents
What You Need to Cut a Cantaloupe
Like watermelon or a honeydew, a cantaloupe requires to be peeled and cut in advance before eating. Therefore, you’ll need to prepare several tools:
- A Cutting board: Use a clean, sturdy cutting board with a stable surface. This provides a safe and hygienic platform for slicing the cantaloupe.
- A Sharp knife: Select a sharp kitchen knife with a long blade. A sharp knife makes cutting the cantaloupe easier and safer.
- Container/Plate: Prepare a container or plate for collecting the cuttened pieces of cantaloupe.
How to Pick a Cantaloupe
I’m sure sometimes while at supermarket, we ask ourselves how to pick a ripe cantaloupe. A ripe cantaloupe is essential to enjoy the best flavor and texture. From my experiences as well as some sources I learned on social media, here’s a guide on how to tell if a cantaloupe is ripe:
- Smell the Stem End: This is a clear sign to check if a cantaloupe is ripe. Bring the stem end of the cantaloupe close to your nose and take a whiff. A ripe cantaloupe should have a sweet, fragrant aroma. If it lacks a noticeable smell, it may not be ripe.
- Observe the stem end: This is how to tell if a cantaloupe is good or bad. Look at the area where the stem was attached. Here is the key point. On top of a mature cantaloupe, there will be many small circles. The more circles there are, the more the cantaloupe expands, and the more it absorbs light. Therefore, this cantaloupe will taste sweeter.
- Press the Ends: Gently press your fingers on both ends of the cantaloupe. It should yield slightly, indicating ripeness. If it feels too firm, it may need more time to ripen. If it’s too soft, it might be overripe or spoiled. However, don’t press too strongly as your fingernails can score the cantaloupe; although you can exactly check the ripeness, it will spoil it later then.
- Check outside netting: Look for a cantaloupe with a well-defined netting pattern on its skin. The netting should be prominent, indicating maturity.
- Its Color: Ripe cantaloupes typically have a golden or orange hue. Avoid ones that are too green, as they may not be fully ripe. However, if it’s overly brown or soft, it might be overripe.
How to Cut a Cantaloupe into cubes or pieces
Now that you’ve prepared yourself and your workspace, it’s time to proceed with cutting the cantaloupe. You can cut it into pieces, or cubes – depend on your purpose of consuming it. Cubes are the best shape for making salads and desserts, while pieces are good to eat directly. Follow these easy steps to cut a cantaloupe into cubes or pieces in just 10-15 minutes:
Step 1. Cut off the ends and halve the cantaloupe:
- Place the cantaloupe on the prepared cutting board. Slice off the stem end with a sharp knife.
- Next, slice the cantaloupe in half lengthwise or crosswise. Because a cantaloupe is like a sphere, so cutting it lengthwise or crosswise doesn’t matter. You should now have two symmetrical halves.
Step 2. Remove the seeds and skin and cut into pieces
- Use a spoon to scoop all the cantaloupe seeds out of the melon.
- Turn a half of your cantaloupe so that the flat surface lies on the cutting board. Peel the cantaloupe cleanly with a knife, from its end down to the cutting board.
Step 3. Cut the cantaloupe into cubes or pieces
- Pieces: After finishing peeling the skin of a cantaloupe, make 4 cuts on each half like cutting a pizza, with all the cuts meet in the center of the half. Then, cut each big piece into bite-size pieces.
- Cubes: Cut lines parallel lengthwise and crosswise so that they are even. You’ll get cantaloupe sticks in different length. Cut these sticks crosswise to achieve the cubes. Another method is to cut into pieces, then cut each piece into 4-6 cubes.
Step 4. Serving and storing cut cantaloupe pieces/cubes
- If you would like to eat it immediately, just fill the plates with cut cantaloupe pieces and enjoy. To save for later use, you should store them in sealed boxes/container and keep them in fridge for up to 4 days. Enjoy them as soon as possible for the best flavor and texture.
- You can freeze cantaloupe pieces/cubes; but note that after freezing you should only use them to make smoothie or juice, as the texture will change significantly. Frozen cantaloupe pieces match orange, strawberry, banana, and pineapple the most, in my opinion.
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How to Cut a Cantaloupe into Cubes or Pieces
In this post, I’ll share how to cut a cantaloupe into cubes or pieces simply, quickly, and without waste in just 10 minutes.
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Rate
Servings: 6 people
Calories: 68kcal
Equipment
Ingredients
- A cantaloupe
- Tools: knife cutting board, container
Instructions
Step 1. Cut off the ends and halve the cantaloupe:
- Place the cantaloupe on the prepared cutting board. Slice off the stem end with a sharp knife.
- Next, slice the cantaloupe in half lengthwise or crosswise. Because a cantaloupe is like a sphere, so cutting it lengthwise or crosswise doesn’t matter. You should now have two symmetrical halves.
Step 2. Remove the seeds and skin and cut into pieces
- Use a spoon to scoop all the cantaloupe seeds out of the melon.
- Turn a half of your cantaloupe so that the flat surface lies on the cutting board. Peel the cantaloupe cleanly with a knife, from its end down to the cutting board.
Step 3. Cut the cantaloupe into cubes or pieces
- Pieces: After finishing peeling the skin of a cantaloupe, make 4 cuts on each half like cutting a pizza, with all the cuts meet in the center of the half. Then, cut each big piece into bite-size pieces.
- Cubes: Cut lines parallel lengthwise and crosswise so that they are even. You’ll get cantaloupe sticks in different length. Cut these sticks crosswise to achieve the cubes. Another method is to cut into pieces, then cut each piece into 4-6 cubes.
Step 4. Serving and storing cut cantaloupe pieces/cubes
- If you would like to eat it immediately, just fill the plates with cut cantaloupe pieces and enjoy. To save for later use, you should store them in sealed boxes/container and keep them in fridge for up to 4 days. Enjoy them as soon as possible for the best flavor and texture.
- You can freeze cantaloupe pieces/cubes; but note that after freezing you should only use them to make smoothie or juice, as the texture will change significantly. Frozen cantaloupe pieces match orange, strawberry, banana, and pineapple the most, in my opinion.
Nutrition
Serving: 200g | Calories: 68kcal