Ella Walter
Carving a shark head out of a watermelon is a fun activity that is perfect for hot summer days, pool parties, or just any time you want to delight your children. It is a simple process that mainly involves cutting the watermelon at different angles to create the shape of a shark head, using a slicing knife and a paring knife. The carved watermelon shark can be placed on a platter and filled with sliced or balled watermelon, and even decorated with blueberries, blackberries, or dried fruit. This guide will teach you how to create your own baby shark watermelon, as well as provide tips for customising and serving your fruity creation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What to carve | Watermelon |
| Tools | Cutting board, sharp knife, slicing knife, potato peeler, paring knife, platter |
| Step 1 | Place watermelon on cutting board with vine side to the right. Cut an acute angle towards the center of the watermelon. |
| Step 2 | With the watermelon sitting on its new flat side, find the original center of the watermelon (where it disconnected from the vine) and measure down about an inch. Cut a 45-degree angle to serve as the shark's mouth. |
| Step 3 | Cut out the watermelon from the top and bottom of the shark's mouth. Turn over the watermelon to remove the remaining fruit. |
| Step 4 | Remove about an inch of the green rind on the top and bottom of the previous cut so the area around the mouth is white. |
| Step 5 | Cut triangles in the white rind to make teeth. |
| Step 6 | Create a fin for the shark using either the mouth cut-off or the angled cut from the bottom. Secure it with toothpicks. |
| Step 7 | Fill the shark with sliced or balled watermelon or other fruit. |
| Step 8 | Place the shark on a platter. |
| Step 9 | Deliver to children while singing and dancing to Baby Shark. |
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What You'll Learn
Position watermelon on cutting board
To begin carving your shark head, you'll first need to position your watermelon on a cutting board. Choose a board that's large enough to provide a stable base for the watermelon, giving you ample space to work with.
Now, carefully place the watermelon on the cutting board, ensuring that the vine side is facing to the right. This positioning is crucial as it will help you make the angled cuts necessary for shaping the shark's head.
Once the watermelon is securely placed on the cutting board, you'll be ready to start the carving process. Before making any cuts, it's a good idea to wash the watermelon and dry it with a towel. This ensures that you start with a clean surface and helps you get a better grip on the watermelon during cutting.
As you get ready to carve, hold the watermelon firmly with one hand. With your other hand, carefully pick up your slicing knife. You'll want to use a sharp knife to ensure clean and precise cuts. Starting at the top left of the watermelon, position the knife at a slight angle, and begin cutting towards the center. This initial cut will help define the overall shape of the shark's head, so take your time and adjust your grip as needed to achieve the desired angle.
Remember to prioritize safety during the carving process. Always cut away from your body and use slow, controlled motions to avoid any accidental slips.
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Cut an acute angle towards the centre
To carve a shark head with a doll pan, you will need a watermelon, a cutting board, and a sharp slicing knife.
Start by setting the watermelon on the cutting board with the vine side to the right. Hold the watermelon and, starting at the top left, use your slicing knife to cut an acute angle towards the centre of the watermelon. This first cut is crucial as it will determine the angle and tilt of the watermelon shark when it is upright, so choose the direction carefully.
Now, with your watermelon sitting on its new flat side, find the original centre (where it was attached to the vine) and measure down about an inch. From there, cut a 45-degree angle to create the shark's mouth. Pull out that chunk of watermelon, slice the pieces, and set them aside in a bowl.
You can further shape the mouth by cutting out more watermelon from the top and bottom of the opening. Remember to keep the bottom intact, leaving about an inch of watermelon meat, so that your creation can hold any juice that collects inside.
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Cut a 45-degree angle for the mouth
To create the mouth of the shark, you will need to cut a 45-degree angle into the watermelon. This will be done after you have cut the acute angle towards the centre and have the watermelon sitting on its new flat side.
First, find the original centre of the watermelon (where it disconnected from the vine) and measure down about an inch. From there, cut a 45-degree angle out to serve as the shark's mouth. This is an important step as it will give the shark its menacing grin. Be sure to cut with care and precision, as the angle you cut will determine the tilt of the watermelon shark when it is upright.
Once you have cut the 45-degree angle, carefully pull out that chunk of watermelon and slice the pieces of watermelon from it, placing them into a bowl. Set the rind aside, as you will need this to create the teeth for your shark. You will now have a watermelon rind that is angled on the bottom with an open gap at the top.
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Remove watermelon from top and bottom of mouth
To remove the watermelon from the top and bottom of the shark's mouth, you will need to use a slicing knife. First, turn over your watermelon to remove any remaining fruit. Place the removed fruit in a bowl. Now, you should be left with a watermelon rind that is angled on the bottom, with an open gap at the top. Next, take a potato peeler and use it to remove about an inch of the green rind from the top and bottom of the previous cut. This will ensure that the area around the mouth is white.
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Use a potato peeler to remove green rind
To use a potato peeler to remove the green rind from a doll pan, you will need to follow a few simple steps. First, ensure your work area is set up safely and effectively. This includes placing the doll pan on a cutting board, preferably with the flat side facing up. Next, take your potato peeler and hold it in your dominant hand. If you are right-handed, hold the peeler in your right hand and vice versa if you are left-handed. Position your fingers so that they are grasping the sides of the peeler without sticking up, to avoid any injury from the blade.
Now, you can begin peeling. Hold the doll pan over the cutting board and run the peeler's blade along the surface of the area you wish to remove the rind from. For maximum safety, it is recommended to hold the doll pan at a slight downward angle and run the blade away from yourself, down towards the cutting board. Continue this process until you have removed about an inch of the green rind from the desired areas. It is important to be cautious and take your time during this step to avoid accidentally cutting too much or harming yourself.
Additionally, you may notice that some areas of the doll pan, particularly around the eyes, still have small pieces of rind attached. Most potato peelers are equipped with a convenient scoop on the opposite end of the blade, designed for removing these remaining bits of rind. Simply use this scoop to carefully pry away any remaining bits of rind until you have a smooth and evenly peeled surface.
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Frequently asked questions
Set the watermelon on a cutting board with the vine side to the right.
With the watermelon sitting on its new flat side, find the original center of the watermelon and measure down about an inch. Cut a 45-degree angle out to serve as the shark's mouth.
Using a paring knife, cut triangles into the white rind around the mouth to create teeth.
Place the completed shark head on a platter and fill it with sliced or balled watermelon.
You can add some blueberries, blackberries, dried fruit, or nuts. You can also make blue JELL-O to put around the shark to make it look like it's bursting out of the water.
