You will need the following materials:
- 1 medium-large oval or oblong watermelon (seeded or seedless)
- Sharp Kitchen knife
- Cutting board
- Green dry erase marker or ¾”-1” thick painter’s trim tape
- Channel knife (can use top of a vegetable peeler as alternative)
- Large bowl & spoon or scoop
- Apple corer
- Spigot (from beer making supply company)
- Twine & straight pins
- Watermelon juice or punch recipe
- Drill with a 1/2-inch drill bit
- 3/4-inch ball-valve faucet with a handle that's easy to turn with one hand
- PVC-to-faucet adapter that will screw into the back of the faucet
- Rubber O-ring that fits the back of the faucet
- Blender
- Sieve
- Pitcher
- About 90 minutes of your time
- Wash the watermelon under cool running water and pat dry.
- On a cutting board, place the watermelon on its side and cut off 1/4”-1/2” from both ends, being careful not to cut too deep into the white part of the rind. One side will provide a sturdy base.
- Use dry erase marker or painters tape to make a thick band on the upper 1/3 and lower third of the watermelon that will represent the metal bands around a barrel or keg and use the channel knife to trim away a thin line to represent those metal bands.
- Hollow out the watermelon with a spoon or scoop, reserving the watermelon pieces to make your favourite punch or juice. Be sure to leave about 2” of watermelon flesh towards the bottom of the watermelon so the spigot can be placed.
- Use an apple corer to cut a circle for your spigot to fit through the watermelon rind, placing it about 2-3 inches above the bottom of the watermelon. Screw your spigot into place.
- For added detail, carefully pin twine in your lines you’ve made to represent the metal bands around the barrel/keg. Be careful that the pins do not poke through into the barrel/keg.
- Place the barrel/keg on a saucer or plate and fill with your favourite chilled punch or juice recipe.
Step-by-step
Read on to find out how...
If your watermelon is wobbly when standing on one end, use a knife to trim off the stem end of your watermelon rind just enough that the melon sits flat. Then decide which side of your melon looks best — that'll be your front. Cut the top jack-o'-lantern style, big enough to fit your hand through, but center the cut more toward the back of the melon so you can't see the seam from the front.
Use a big spoon to scoop out the fruit into a large bowl. Pour any juice in the bottom of the melon into your pitcher.
Drill a hole a few inches from the bottom of the melon for your faucet. Then use a knife to slightly widen the hole till it's just a little smaller than the diameter of the back of the faucet.
Gently screw the faucet into the hole, putting your other hand inside the melon for leverage. Don't jam it in or you'll bruise the outside of the rind and compromise your seal. Inside the melon, carve away a little more fruit from around the back of the faucet (don't go through the rind) to make room for screwing on the adapter.
Slide the O-ring onto the back of the faucet, then screw on the adapter. To test for leaks, fill the melon halfway with water, then turn on the faucet. Once you've confirmed that your watermelon is indeed operational, pour out the water through the top.
Throw watermelon into a blender and puree. Use the back of a spoon to push the puree through a sieve placed over your pitcher so you're left with just juice. Discard any solids. You should have about 6 cups of juice. Optional: Mix the juice with 1 1/2 cups of rum or any liquor of your choice and 1/2 cup of fresh lime juice (about four limes' worth).
Pour the mixture back into the watermelon. Put the top back on the melon and set it on the edge of a counter or table to serve.
Enjoy!!!
- Have the whole watermelon at room temperature when you carve. The cuts will be easier to make when the watermelon is not cold. You can chill the watermelon in the refrigerator after cutting and before serving.
- Cut a small, thin, flat piece from the bottom of the watermelon before carving. This will make a flat base, making the watermelon more stable when carving.
- Draw the design on the watermelon rind with a fine/medium point waterproof marker or a sharp pencil before you cut.
- After you’ve drawn the design on the rind, insert toothpicks in key places to use as guides for your cuts.
- Use a sharp knife with a pointed tip – the sharper the knife, the easier and cleaner the cuts will be. Be careful!
- Consider using a channel knife for certain cuts and to hollow out larger areas.
- For better grip and to help protect your hands, use a fresh, new thick pair of gardening gloves with gripper palms.
- Choose a flat working surface on a solid base.
- For more detailed designs, draw a template first on a sheet of white paper with a marker or pencil. When finished, transfer the image to the watermelon surface by taping the paper to the melon and tracing along the design’s lines with a pencil, making the design right on the watermelon surface.
- When attaching cut pieces on the watermelon to make your design, use round toothpicks or skewers. Flat toothpicks will often break due to weight of the piece or the thickness of the rind.
Be creative and have fun!