Five amazing watermelon hacks

Watermelon is summer’s gift to the world. It’s all of our favorite things on a hot day: sweet, refreshing… and even healthy. Though we can never get tired of the classic watermelon cubes, YouTube user Karina Garcia has some creative ideas that will help bring your watermelon game to the next level. Check out her brilliant hacks!

1. Picking the perfect watermelon

A good watermelon dish starts at the store––but it can be hard to choose the right one given the density of the fruit’s outer skin. Make sure you are getting the best of the bunch by using this great trick to test its ripeness. Give the melon a good knock with your knuckles, just like if you were knocking on your neighbor’s front door. If the resulting sound is slightly hollow, your fruit is ready to eat. But be careful: if it sounds too hollow, it’s probably too ripe.

2. Easy-to-eat watermelon spears

This is, hands down, the easiest way to cut and enjoy a watermelon without getting the sticky juice all over your face and fingers. This slicing hack transforms your watermelon into individual spears for simple grab and go snacking at parties and family BBQs. This is a great trick for kids, who tend to have a hard time keeping clean with the traditional watermelon wedge.

3. Watermelon ice pops

For a sweet treat that is a healthier alternative to another sugary summertime favorite, pierce watermelon triangles with craft sticks. Freeze for several hours or overnight and enjoy your homemade watermelon ice pops!

4. Watermelon ice cubes

Keep your drink cool while infusing flavor all day long. Slice up a fresh watermelon into cubes and pop them in the freezer. When they come out, use them as you would ice cubes and drop a handful into a tall glass of water. The kids will love these! And bonus points to any creative parents that can add these to a summer cocktail for a fruity boost of flavor.

5. Make it sweeter

It sounds crazy, but there’s a reason why salted watermelon food and drink products are starting to pop up everywhere. Sprinkle a pinch of salt on your watermelon before taking a bite. While you might think it will leave a salty taste, the savory seasoning actually amplifies the sweetness factor. Cool!

We can’t wait to try out these watermelon hacks this summer. Find all the above tips and more of Karina’s hacks in the video below: