Oxo Good Grips Melon Baller- For the Roundest Mounds in Town*
Written: Mar 29 '03 (Updated Mar 31 '03)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Oxo Good Grips perfects the art of melon balling.
Cons: Might inspire ridiculous review titles.
The Bottom Line: A must for the well-equipped gadget drawer.
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| scenery's Full Review: Oxo Good Grips Melon Baller 39781 |
I bet you've been tempted by those perfectly shaped melons at sultry summer parties-succulent globes heaped together in artful mounds of peaches and pinks made all the more enticing by their cool smooth roundness...Ahh, the perfect summer fruit salad.
Yes, to the delight of some and the dread of many, I have decided to raid my kitchen gadget drawer again. With warm weather gatherings on the horizon, I just couldn't stand to let the wonderful Oxo Melon Baller go neglected and review-less. So here it goes.
The melon baller is a simple tool consisting of two half-circular stainless steel cups of slightly different sizes, bound in the center by the subtly curved, simultaneously-soft-and-sticky Oxo rubber handle.(the tool is about eight inches long, total) The inch-or-so deep cups are turned in opposite directions, and each has a tiny drainage hole in the center. (For you visual folks, please scroll up to the top of the page and view the handy picture)
How does it work?... It's all in the wrist.
First select your melons. The tool works equally well for all types. (I prefer cantaloupes on the verge of overripeness) Half them and seed them, and then you are all set for balling.
Next, grasp the center of the tool so one of the ends rests on the flesh of the melon. With a twisting motion, make a circle with your wrist as you scoop, following the curve of the cup. In my first clumsy attempt, I made the ball-breaking error of using an ice cream scoop-style motion, awkwardly scraping the tool down the side of the flesh, without twisting. What I got was an uneven ribbon of melon, not the perfectly rounded ones I desired. The wrist-twist technique is key, and a little practice makes perfect.
My favorite use for the melon baller is making summer fruit salads. I scoop varied sizes of watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew rounds, toss them with some blueberries and sliced strawberries, and arrange in an artfully carved, hollowed out watermelon (if I want to show off) or a simple glass footed bowl (when I'm feeling lazy--read, most of the time). Despite the vessel, melon balls in beautiful shapes, pastel shades, and varied sizes add beauty to any buffet table, and serve as an oasis of health amongst all of those vats o'fat-laden dips and heaps o'fried meats.
If your tastes lean more toward chocolate, the Oxo Melon Baller is also great for scooping out perfectly round chocolate truffles, uniformly sized cookies, or fancy-shmancy little ornamental ice cream balls.
Performance, Care, and Price
The Oxo handle makes the tool a joy to use, even when things get mighty juicy. (Which is a given, especially with watermelons) When wet, the rubber is still easy and comfortable to grip. The stainless steel cups are sharp and sturdy, and haven't bent even when faced with firmer fruit and stiff dough. At the same time, they are slick and non-sticky, all the better to gently drop the balls.
To keep it clean, I usually wash by hand with regular dish soap. Even though machine washing is not recommended for the Oxo Good Grips surface, my melon baller has survived several tossings into my dishwasher without any adverse effects.
Overall, around ten dollars is a very reasonable price to pay for such a sturdy, fun, and easy to use tool. (insert cheesy infomercial voice here) Buy it, grip it, and morph your melons into perfectly rounded, tasty treats.
(OOH, AHHH! Applause!)
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*Anyone dare to suggest a more appropriate review title? Leave a comment.
Recommended:
Yes
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scenery
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Reviews written: 25
Trusted by: 65 members
About Me:
Wading through potty reviews...
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