Not sure how to use up that ripe cantaloupe sitting on your counter? We’ll show you how to cut cantaloupe in 5 fun and easy ways so you can use it in a variety of recipes all summer long.

Graphic for post – how to cut cantaloupe, five fun and easy ways. Images are in a grid with colorful kid friendly plates against a white background.

Medically reviewed and co-written by Jamie Johnson, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), and Lauren Braaten, Pediatric Occupational Therapist (OT).

In this guide, you’ll find: show

How to Cut a Cantaloupe

Cantaloupe is one of our favorite summer fruits. Its versatile flavor blends well in many different recipes, from side dishes to desserts to salads. Depending on the recipe you’re making, you’ll want to consider different ways to cut a cantaloupe to best fit your needs. From wedges and slices, or cookie cutter shapes to cubes, we’ll review 5 fun and easy ways to cut a cantaloupe, each with a helpful step-by-step pictorial guide.

Pair of hands holding a cantaloupe against a white background.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the easiest way to cut a cantaloupe?

If you’re looking for a quick way to enjoy your cantaloupe, cutting it into wedges is probably the easiest way to cut it, as it requires the least amount of slicing.

When is cantaloupe in season?

Cantaloupe’s peak season is June through August, which is when you’ll typically find the freshest cantaloupe in stores or at farmer’s markets.

Can babies eat cantaloupe?

Yes! Whether you use baby led weaning (BLW) or traditional weaning (aka spoon feeding) approach, once your baby has started solid foods, you can introduce cantaloupe. Just make sure to wash your cantaloupe well before cutting and serving. And serve cantaloupe in a form that’s safe for your baby’s developmental age, as we’ll discuss below.

Related

HOW TO CUT A WATERMELON (5 WAYS!)

Two hands holding a cantaloupe cut in half

How to Pick a Good Cantaloupe

Here are some tips on how to pick a fresh, juicy cantaloupe:

  • Weight: pick up the melon and hold it in your hands. If it feels heavy for its size, you have a cantaloupe that’s close to ripe.
  • Touch: a ripe cantaloupe should have the right level of firmness. It shouldn’t be as hard as a watermelon, although too soft and it may be past its prime.
  • Color: if the rind on your cantaloupe has a greenish hue, it likely needs a couple more days to ripen fully. But if the rind has a beige, pale yellow hue, it’s likely ripe and ready for eating.
  • Sound: give the melon a little shake. If it’s ripe, you should hear all those little seeds making a rattle.
  • Scent: give it a quick sniff. Ripe cantaloupes should have a sweet, musky smell. If you don’t smell anything, it’s likely not ripe yet.

Benefits of Cantaloupe

Melons are filled with a variety of nutrients:

  • Contain potassium, an important electrolyte for maintaining fluid balance, muscle contractions and normal heartbeat.
  • High in vitamin C, which supports the immune system and helps with iron absorption.
  • Cantaloupe is an excellent source of vitamin A, which is necessary for healthy eyes and skin.
  • High water content helps keep your baby hydrated and relieves constipation.

How to Store a Cantaloupe

You can store uncut, whole cantaloupe at room temperature for a couple of days. Store cut cantaloupe in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-5 days. You can freeze cantaloupe cubes for up to 10 months.

How to Cut a Cantaloupe

Cantaloupe is a versatile fruit when it comes to cutting and serving. There are different ways you can cut a cantaloupe depending on how you want to serve it, the recipe you are making, or who you are preparing it for. Here are five of our favorite ways to cut cantaloupe:

  • Cantaloupe Wedges
  • Cantaloupe Cubes
  • Cantaloupe Slices
  • Cantaloupe Balls
  • Cantaloupe Shapes

Tips for Cutting Cantaloupe

  • Cold cantaloupe – place your cantaloupe in the fridge for a few hours and cut when it’s cold. A cold cantaloupe retains its juices better and will be ready to eat immediately after cutting.
  • Cutting board – choose a cutting board with grooves along the outer edges. This will help with catching juices from the melon as you cut, keeping your kitchen counter less messy.
  • Sharp knife – to avoid any accidents, make sure you are using a very sharp knife when you cut the rind of a cantaloupe.
A yellow kids plate with three slices of cantaloupe against a white background.
A purple kids play with wedges of cantaloupe.
A blue kids play with heart shaped cantaloupe
A teal kids play with cubes of Kalab against a white background.
Pair of hands holding a cantaloupe against a white background.
A pink kids plate with cantaloupe balls against a white background

Wash Cantaloupe

It’s a good idea to wash the rind of your cantaloupe first, so that any dirt or debris on the outside won’t get transferred to the inside once you start cutting. Place the cantaloupe under cool, running water or give it a light scrub with a clean washcloth or sponge and water.

How to Cut Cantaloupe Wedges

Wooden cutting board and a whole cantaloupe with two hands cutting the end off of one side.
Cantaloupe melon on a cutting board with a knife cutting off one end of it.
Two hands holding a cantaloupe in a knife cutting off the skin around the flesh of a cantaloupe on a cutting board.
A pair of hands holding a cantaloupe in a knife cutting off the skin and exposing the orange flesh.
A wooden cutting board with a peeled Cantelope in the skin.
A peeled cantaloupe cut in half with the seeds exposed on a wooden cutting board against a white background.
Hands holding half of a cantaloupe deseeding with a silver spoon.
2/2 of a cantaloupe peeled in deseeded on a wooden cutting board.
Hands holding a Cantelope in a knife cutting it into thick wedges.
Hands holding a cantaloupe cutting it into thick wedges on a wooden cutting board against a white backdrop.
Hands holding a wedge of Cantelope over a wooden cutting board.
A purple kids play with wedges of cantaloupe.

Cantaloupe wedges are great for barbeques and picnics. Cutting melon into a wedge shape is also helpful for toddlers (18+ months) and older kids to manage.

Cantaloupe Wedges with Skin Off

  1. Wash and dry melon.
  2. On a large cutting board, using a sharp knife, cut 1/2″ off of the top and bottom of the melon.
  3. Set one cut side down on the cutting board.
  4. Starting at the top of the melon and following the contour of the melon down to its base, slice off the rind.
  5. Using the green rind as a reference, continue cutting around the sides of the melon until you have no more rind left and only have the orange flesh showing.
  6. Cut melon in half lengthwise.
  7. Using a spoon, scoop out the seeds.
  8. Place the melon on the cutting board, cut side down.
  9. Cut the melon in the option direction as your first cuts, horizontally, in wide slices following the curve of the melon.
  10. Repeat until you are done cutting the melon.

Cantaloupe Wedges with Skin On

  • Wash and dry melon.
  • On a large cutting board, cut the melon in half lengthwise.
  • Using a spoon, scoop out the seeds.
  • Place the melon on the cutting board, cut side down.
  • Cut the melon horizontally, in wide slices following the curve of the melon.
  • Repeat until you are done cutting the watermelon.

How to Cut Cantaloupe Cubes

Cantaloupe melon on a cutting board with a knife cutting off one end of it.
Two hands holding a cantaloupe in a knife cutting off the skin around the flesh of a cantaloupe on a cutting board.
A pair of hands holding a cantaloupe in a knife cutting off the skin and exposing the orange flesh.
A wooden cutting board with a peeled Cantelope in the skin.
A peeled cantaloupe cut in half with the seeds exposed on a wooden cutting board against a white background.
Hands holding half of a cantaloupe deseeding with a silver spoon.
2/2 of a cantaloupe peeled in deseeded on a wooden cutting board.
A wooden cutting board with hands cutting thick slices of cantaloupe.
Fix slices of cantaloupe on a wooden cutting board against away backdrop.
Hans cutting thick slices of cantaloupe into cubes.
Cubes of cantaloupe on a wooden cutting board.
A teal kids play with cubes of Kalab against a white background.

Cantaloupe cubes are great for putting in fruit salads, freezing for later use in smoothies, or snacking on the go.

  1. Wash and dry melon.
  2. On a large cutting board, using a sharp knife, cut 1/2″ off of the top and bottom of the melon.
  3. Set one cut side down on the cutting board.
  4. Starting at the top of the melon and following the contour of the melon down to its base, slice off of the rind.
  5. Using the green rind as a reference, continue cutting around the sides of the melon until you have no more rind left and only have the orange flesh showing.
  6. Cut melon in half lengthwise.
  7. Using a spoon, scoop out the seeds.
  8. Place the melon on the cutting board, cut side down.
  9. Cut the melon in the same direction as your first cuts, vertically, in 1″ slices.
  10. Turn the melon, taking one slice at a time, and cut in the opposite direction in 1″ slices.
  11. Repeat until you are done cutting the melon.

How to Cut Cantaloupe Slices

Wooden cutting board and a whole cantaloupe with two hands cutting the end off of one side.
Cantaloupe melon on a cutting board with a knife cutting off one end of it.
Two hands holding a cantaloupe in a knife cutting off the skin around the flesh of a cantaloupe on a cutting board.
A pair of hands holding a cantaloupe in a knife cutting off the skin and exposing the orange flesh.
A wooden cutting board with a peeled Cantelope in the skin.
A peeled cantaloupe cut in half with the seeds exposed on a wooden cutting board against a white background.
Hands holding half of a cantaloupe deseeding with a silver spoon.
2/2 of a cantaloupe peeled in deseeded on a wooden cutting board.
Half of a cantaloupe being sliced into small slices.
Half of a peeled cantaloupe sliced into thin slices.
A hand holding a thin slice of sliced cantaloupe above a wooden cutting board against a white background.
A yellow kids plate with three slices of cantaloupe against a white background.

Cutting cantaloupe into thin slices or crescent moon shapes is an easy and safe way to serve this melon to babies and younger toddlers 6-18 months of age. Cantaloupe is a firm and slippery fruit – it doesn’t really “squish” well unless it’s almost too ripe to eat. For this reason, we don’t recommend serving cantaloupe in cube or ball shape to babies or young toddlers due to an increased risk of choking in this form.

  1. Wash and dry melon.
  2. On a large cutting board, using a sharp knife, cut 1/2″ off of the top and bottom of the melon.
  3. Set one cut side down on the cutting board.
  4. Starting at the top of the melon and following the contour of the melon down to its base, slice off of the rind.
  5. Using the green rind as a reference, continue cutting around the sides of the melon until you have no more rind left and only have the orange flesh showing.
  6. Cut melon in half lengthwise.
  7. Using a spoon, scoop out the seeds.
  8. Place the melon on the cutting board, cut side down.
  9. Cut the melon in the same direction as your first cuts, vertically, in thin 1/2-1″ slices.
  10. Repeat until you are done cutting the melon.


How to Cut Cantaloupe Balls

Half of a cantaloupe sitting on a wooden cutting board.
Two hands holding a Cantelope and using a scooper to form Cantaloupe balls.
A wooden cutting board with a cantaloupe with scoops taken out and a glass container with cantaloupe balls.
A pink kids plate with cantaloupe balls against a white background

Scooping cantaloupe into balls is a fun and easy way to make a pretty fruit salad for your next barbeque. It’s a great way to get kids helping out in the kitchen too.

  1. Wash and dry melon.
  2. On a large cutting board, cut the melon in half lengthwise.
  3. Using a spoon, scoop out the seeds.
  4. Using a melon baller or small cookie scoop, press it into the melon flesh, rotate it in all directions, and remove the ball from the cantaloupe. Repeat until you have desired amount of melon balls.
  5. When you have used the entire surface of the cantaloupe, simply cut off that portion so you have a fresh layer to make more melon balls.


How to Cut Cantaloupe Shapes

Wooden cutting board and a whole cantaloupe with two hands cutting the end off of one side.
Cantaloupe melon on a cutting board with a knife cutting off one end of it.
Two hands holding a cantaloupe in a knife cutting off the skin around the flesh of a cantaloupe on a cutting board.
A pair of hands holding a cantaloupe in a knife cutting off the skin and exposing the orange flesh.
A wooden cutting board with a peeled Cantelope in the skin.
A peeled cantaloupe cut in half with the seeds exposed on a wooden cutting board against a white background.
Hands holding half of a cantaloupe deseeding with a silver spoon.
2/2 of a cantaloupe peeled in deseeded on a wooden cutting board.
Half of a cantaloupe peeled in the seated.
Thinly sliced cantaloupe any wooden cutting board
Then slices of cantaloupe cut into heart shapes.
Heart shaped pieces of trim up on a wooden cutting board.
A blue kids play with heart shaped cantaloupe

Cantaloupe shapes are so fun! Cutting melon this way is great for older toddlers and younger kids just starting to help in the kitchen. Get creative and add cantaloupe with other fruits and cheese cubes for kabob appetizers.

  1. Wash and dry melon.
  2. On a large cutting board, using a sharp knife, cut 1/2″ off of the top and bottom of the melon.
  3. Set one cut side down on the cutting board.
  4. Starting at the top of the melon and following the contour of the melon down to its base, slice off of the rind.
  5. Using the green rind as a reference, continue cutting around the sides of the melon until you have no more rind left and only have the orange flesh showing.
  6. Cut melon in half lengthwise.
  7. Using a spoon, scoop out the seeds.
  8. Place the melon on the cutting board, cut side down.
  9. Cut the melon in the same direction as your first cuts, vertically, in thin 1/2-1″ slices.
  10. Repeat until you are done cutting the melon.
  11. Lay one slice of cantaloupe on the cutting board, and using your favorite cookie cutter, cut out any shapes you prefer.
  12. Repeat until you have cut shapes out of all of the slices.

Tip: You can dice any leftover watermelon to eat or use in a smoothie or popsicles.

Graphic for post – how to cut cantaloupe. Six images in a grid on colorful kid friendly plates with different ways to cut a cantaloupe.

Get the recipe: Step-by-Step: How To Cut a Cantaloupe

5 stars (1 rating)
A step-by-step guide on how to cut a cantaloupe, 5 fun and easy ways!
Yield: 10 servings
Prep: 10 minutes
Total: 10 minutes
Author: Michele Olivier
Course: Side Dish
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Leave a Review

Ingredients 

  • 1 cantaloupe

Instructions 

HOW TO CUT CANTALOUPE WEDGES

  • Wash and dry melon. On a large cutting board, using a sharp knife, cut 1/2″ off of the top and bottom of the melon. Set one cut side down on the cutting board. Starting at the top of the melon and following the contour of the melon down to its base, slice off the rind. Using the green rind as a reference, continue cutting around the sides of the melon until you have no more rind left and only have the orange flesh showing.
    A pair of hands holding a cantaloupe in a knife cutting off the skin and exposing the orange flesh.
  • Cut melon in half lengthwise. Using a spoon, scoop out the seeds. Place the melon on the cutting board, cut side down.
    Hands holding half of a cantaloupe deseeding with a silver spoon.
  • Cut the melon in the option direction as your first cuts, horizontally, in wide slices following the curve of the melon. Repeat until you are done cutting the melon.
    Hands holding a cantaloupe cutting it into thick wedges on a wooden cutting board against a white backdrop.
  • Serve and enjoy!
    A purple kids play with wedges of cantaloupe.

HOW TO CUT CANTALOUPE CUBES

  • Wash and dry melon. On a large cutting board, using a sharp knife, cut 1/2″ off of the top and bottom of the melon. Set one cut side down on the cutting board. Starting at the top of the melon and following the contour of the melon down to its base, slice off of the rind. Using the green rind as a reference, continue cutting around the sides of the melon until you have no more rind left and only have the orange flesh showing.
    A pair of hands holding a cantaloupe in a knife cutting off the skin and exposing the orange flesh.
  • Cut melon in half lengthwise. Using a spoon, scoop out the seeds. Place the melon on the cutting board, cut side down.
    2/2 of a cantaloupe peeled in deseeded on a wooden cutting board.
  • Cut the melon in the same direction as your first cuts, horizontally, in 1″ slices.
    A wooden cutting board with hands cutting thick slices of cantaloupe.
  • Turn the melon and cut in the opposite direction in 1″ slices. Repeat until you are done cutting the melon.
    Hans cutting thick slices of cantaloupe into cubes.
  • Serve and enjoy!
    A teal kids play with cubes of Kalab against a white background.

HOW TO CUT CANTALOUPE SLICES

  • Wash and dry melon. On a large cutting board, using a sharp knife, cut 1/2″ off of the top and bottom of the melon. Set one cut side down on the cutting board. Starting at the top of the melon and following the contour of the melon down to its base, slice off of the rind. Using the green rind as a reference, continue cutting around the sides of the melon until you have no more rind left and only have the orange flesh showing.
    A wooden cutting board with a peeled Cantelope in the skin.
  • Cut melon in half lengthwise. Using a spoon, scoop out the seeds. Place the melon on the cutting board, cut side down.
    2/2 of a cantaloupe peeled in deseeded on a wooden cutting board.
  • Cut the melon in the same direction as your first cuts, horizontally, in thin 1/2-1″ slices. Repeat until you are done cutting the melon.
    Half of a cantaloupe being sliced into small slices.
  • Serve and enjoy!
    A yellow kids plate with three slices of cantaloupe against a white background.

HOW TO CUT CANTALOUPE BALLS

  • Wash and dry melon. On a large cutting board, cut the melon in half lengthwise. Using a spoon, scoop out the seeds.
    Half of a cantaloupe sitting on a wooden cutting board.
  • Using a melon baller or small cookie scoop, press it into the melon flesh, rotate it in all directions, and remove the ball from the cantaloupe. Repeat until you have desired amount of melon balls. When you have used the entire surface of the cantaloupe, simply cut off that portion so you have a fresh layer to make more melon balls.
    Two hands holding a Cantelope and using a scooper to form Cantaloupe balls.
  • Serve and enjoy!
    A pink kids plate with cantaloupe balls against a white background

HOW TO CUT CANTALOUPE SHAPES

  • Wash and dry melon. On a large cutting board, using a sharp knife, cut 1/2″ off of the top and bottom of the melon. Set one cut side down on the cutting board. Starting at the top of the melon and following the contour of the melon down to its base, slice off of the rind. Using the green rind as a reference, continue cutting around the sides of the melon until you have no more rind left and only have the orange flesh showing.
    A pair of hands holding a cantaloupe in a knife cutting off the skin and exposing the orange flesh.
  • Cut melon in half lengthwise. Using a spoon, scoop out the seeds. Place the melon on the cutting board, cut side down.
    Hands holding half of a cantaloupe deseeding with a silver spoon.
  • Cut the melon in the same direction as your first cuts, horizontally, in thin 1/2-1″ slices. Repeat until you are done cutting the melon.
    Thinly sliced cantaloupe any wooden cutting board
  • Lay one slice on the cutting board, and using your favorite cookie cutter, cut out any shapes you prefer. Repeat until you have cut shapes out of all of the slices.
    Then slices of cantaloupe cut into heart shapes.
  • Serve and enjoy!
    A blue kids play with heart shaped cantaloupe

Notes

Storage: Cut cantaloupe is best stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Equipment

Cuisinart Knife Set
large cutting board

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