Fruit and Vegetable Carving - What is it?

Welcome to the wonderful world of fruit carving. Whether you’ve considered hosting an elaborate event or a simple party amongst friends, fruit carving will be sure to be a hit. With the latest trend of theme parties increasing, the art of fruit carving can bring that extra special pizzaz to your party. The fruit you carve can create fanciful centerpieces for your parties at a fraction of the cost that expensive caterers or party planners would charge. You’ll save on both the cost of food and decorations. For occasions such as baby showers, bridal showers, weddings, birthday parties, or just a fun night with the friends, there are many creative fruit carving ideas that will impress your guests.

What is fruit carving?

Fruit carving is the art of carving and shaping fruit into intricate designs to create an elaborate centerpieces or food holders for parties. Made popular by Asian cuisine creators, fruit carving explores the creative realm of using food as decorations. Carve a watermelon basket and use as a fruit bowl. Create a pineapple flower bouquet display and place in a vase as a centerpiece. Make a cantaloupe boat for the kids. Whatever the occasion, your friends and family will be glad you did.

How to get started?

First, pick a theme. Having a luau? Make little hula girls on pineapple surf boards. A baby shower? Create a watermelon baby stroller to use as a serving bowl for fruit. A safari themed party? Make giraffes with skewers and place strawberries, mangoes, and grapes on them. Can’t think of a theme? Do an online search. There are fruit carving ideas available. Because of this recent craze, books on fruit carving, articles, and websites provide frequent how to articles and, often times, will show you a step by step plan to create the shapes you want to carve out of the fruit. Carving watermelons are usually the easiest to begin with because of their size, firm rind, and soft center. Most novice fruit carvers choose to begin their carving journey there.

Once your theme is chosen you will need to choose a variety of fruit. Watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, pineapple, grapes, kiwi, oranges, strawberries, blueberries, or any kind of fruit that doesn’t brown easily (such as apples, bananas, or avocadoes) work wonderfully for edible centerpieces.  Utensils like ice cream scoopers, a sharp knife, a cutting board, skewers, and tooth picks should all be set up ahead of time.  Readying your supplies ahead of time will aid in creating easy to make, elaborate fruit carved masterpieces.

How long will it take?

Like with any skill, fruit carving takes time to perfect. Practice, practice, practice. Do not wait until the morning of a big party to begin your first carving project. Practice ahead of time making strawberry and pineapple flowers to dip in chocolate for your family one night for a special dessert. Or, make a watermelon fruit basket to bring as a gift to your neighbors to say thanks for being a great neighbor. The more you practice the more confident you will become in your fruit carving abilities. The more confident and adept you become, the less time consuming your fruit carving projects will be.

Whether beginning fruit carving as a hobby, to impress friends and family, or as gifts to others, you will be glad you did. It’s a simple and inexpensive craft to undertake. It will make others feel like you’ve taken the extra time to make them something special and will show them you care. Carving fruit into fun shapes will be sure to make you a hit at any party.