How to cut a watermelon (without stabbing yourself)

We've all been there. You bring home a big, juicy watermelon and start slicing only to realize your knife is stuck half way in — and it doesn't want to come out. You push and pull and push and pull — and then, suddenly, the knife finally emerges from the melon with a jerk. And you're left with a hacked-up mess of a watermelon and a sneaking suspicion that you were just inches away from a trip to the emergency room.

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It's just this mental nightmare that led us to ask chef and author of Kitchen Matters Pamela Salzman to walk us through the steps of carving a watermelon that'll leave our limbs and digits intact and the finished product Instagram-worthy. Here's how to do it.

How to Cut a Watermelon Into Bite Sized Pieces

What to Look for: To make sure you're getting the ripest, juicest watermelon, look for a melon that has a nice, hollow sound when tapped. It should also have a creamy, yellow spot on the bottom where it was growing on the ground.

What You'll Need: A cutting board, a serrated bread knife and — you guessed it — a watermelon.

How to Cut It:

Step 1: Cut crosswise through the watermelon. Think of it as the watermelon's equator.

Step 2: Take the cut sides and place them facing down on the cutting board and carefully peel away the skin on all sides of the watermelon.

Step 3: Slice skinned watermelon flesh into 1-inch slices and then stack them and cut into cubes. Voila! You have your perfect bite-size pieces — perfect for a healthy snack or summer salad!