A melon baller is a kitchen utensil which is designed to scoop out spherical chunks of melon, or other foods, when used properly. While the tool might seem laughably obscure, there are actually a number of uses for a good melon baller, and it is a tool well worth acquiring for the kitchen, especially for people who do a great deal of formal entertaining. Most kitchen supply stores sell melon ballers in an assortment of sizes, and they are also typically available through special order. You may be able to find a melon baller even more cheaply at a restaurant supply store.

At first glance, a melon baller looks like a slightly bizarre spoon. It typically has a medium length handle of wood, plastic, or another easily gripped material, attached to a semi-spherical scoop. The melon baller is sunk into the melon and twisted to pull out a neat ball of fruit. In some cases, a melon baller is double ended, with scoops of two different sizes to make it more versatile. Ovoid scoops are also available, for creating oblong shapes.

While a melon baller is designed for melons, there are an assortment of potential uses for the tool. It can be used to create neatly sculpted butter pats, for example, or garnishes of other fruits like strawberries. Cooks can also take small scoops of sorbet or ice cream to create dessert garnishes or small teaser tastes. Using a melon baller is almost irresistible, and some cooks find themselves making spherical garnishes out of everything they can imagine when they first acquire one.

A melon baller does not just have to be used to make artful garnishes. It can also be used to do things like scoop the seeds and pith from fruits. When making roasted stuffed vegetables like mushrooms, tomatoes, or peppers, a melon baller can neatly and quickly remove the unwanted portions. The tool can also be used to scrape the seeds from squashes and perform other similar tasks.

When choosing a melon baller, look for one which is sturdy and feels heavy in your hand. Make sure that the handle is very solid, as you do not want it snapping off while you work. Many companies make melon ballers which are dishwasher safe, which can be quite convenient, but always double check on this as you do not want to damage the tool. You may also want to consider getting a double ended melon baller, as it will be more versatile around the kitchen.