Fruit trays and displays are simple and relatively inexpensive additions to a summer gathering. If you want to jazz it up and make the fruit the main attraction, watermelon baskets can take a simple fruit tray to the next level. They look much more impressive than the work that actually goes into them, which is a definite plus for any busy hostess. I was rather intimidated by them before making my first, and while I still prefer just slicing and eating a watermelon, I have to admit that the watermelon basket went a long way for just a bit of extra work.

Decide on a Basket

Apparently, there’s no wrong way to make a watermelon basket. They can be edged with texture or just left smooth, cut long ways or tall, with a handle or without. Some super creative fruit enthusiasts have taken the basket idea and instead made them to look like a shark (which I think is pretty awesome and might need to gather the ambition to try!). Be sure to decide before you buy, though, as it will affect what kind of watermelon you need.

Choose Your Watermelon

If you don’t already know how to select a ripe watermelon, you should read these tips before you go out to the market.  The last thing you want is to put all of that work into a basket to find that it is mealy or bland.

Most watermelon baskets require an oblong shaped melon, though we made due in our experiment with a rounder one. Look out for yellowed spots or other aesthetic weirdness to be sure that you can cover it or cut it off. You are only going to use half, so make sure you can find one with a nice looking half.

Prepare Your Fruit

You can fill a watermelon basket with just about anything, so go ahead and grab that while you are choosing your watermelon. Other melons will work nicely, and if you have a melon baller you can make them all into nice little matching balls. Strawberries, grapes, pineapple, oranges and bananas can all work, as well.

We cut our watermelon in half and, because we didn’t have a melon baller or much time, scooped the melon out into medium sized, rounded chunks with an ice cream scoop. At the same time, we cut all of the other fruit and set it aside in a bowl before getting to work on the basket. If it is going to sit out for awhile, you might consider tossing the fruit in lemon juice to keep it looking fresh.

If you are going to keep your handle and basket all one piece, keep that in mind before you start chopping. Otherwise, your decorative “handle” can be a separate piece attached with toothpicks.

Carve Your Basket

Now, it’s time to get artsy! Take your time, and use a sharp knife (or an exact-o knife would be good, too). You can mark your lines out with a permanent marker to make it a bit easier to follow, or you can freehand it if you are brave or- like me- impatient.

One great tip that my Aunt taught me as we carved was to trim a bit off of the bottom of the base of the basket to flatten the bottom and keep it from teetering. I would have left it at that, but she then turned that slice upside down and used it as a stand, of sorts, for even more stability.

Fill & Enjoy!

Congratulations- you have made a watermelon basket! Fill it up and set it out for your friends and family to enjoy. The colors and creativity that go into this will make the whole package fun and creative, even if there are some imperfections. Chances are, your guests aren’t going to spot a little asymmetry or “mistakes” as much as the bright colored bowl of delicious looking fruit, so relax and have fun with it.