Fruits and Vegetables Carving: Preparation and Platter Design

This assignment delves into the art of fruit and vegetable carving, covering essential aspects from preparation to platter design. It emphasizes the importance of proper tool selection, including stainless steel knives, and outlines various carving techniques, such as skin carving and dimensional carving. The assignment explores the significance of soaking fruits and vegetables for cleanliness, palatability, and extended shelf life, while also highlighting the factors to consider when choosing fruits and vegetables for carving, such as ripeness, skin quality, and color. It also provides insights on preserving carved fruits and vegetables and discusses popular fruits used for carving, with a focus on watermelon carving. Furthermore, the assignment covers considerations for food platter design, including ease of access, uniformity, and the use of attractive and durable materials. It emphasizes the importance of pre-planning the platter arrangement and the significance of choosing high-quality, fresh, and colorful fruits with a good scent. The assignment provides references to support the information presented.

Running Head: FRUITS AND VEGETABLES CARVING 1
Responses to Fruits and Vegetable Carving
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FRUITS AND VEGETABLES CARVING 2
Question 1:
Before a fruit is carved, the essential materials needed for the carving process must be put in
place. The process of carving requires all the tools ready since there are several steps which are
involved. With tools prepared it will help to undergo all steps with interruptions (Asian
Recipe.com, 2016). One of the types of carving involved is the carving of the skin. During this
process, the outer skin is revealed by carving the fruit to get the fleshy part. In the cases where a
fruit contains layers of different colors between the skins, the design should be created to ensure
there is a contrast between the two parts. The other part of carving is carving in dimensions
which help in carving the fruit in relation to measurements. While the fruit is in the hand of the
carver, he should ensure that the process involved in the design is done in a carefully and
realistically (Asian Recipe.com, 2016).
Question 2:
Soaking of fruits and vegetables is of great importance since it makes them clean and healthy for
human consumption. One of the reasons as to why vegetables should be soaked is to ensure that
they are very clean. This is because the herbicides which cling on the vegetables can effectively
be eliminated by soaking. Soaking also softens the vegetables to be consumed as through
soaking; the vegetables are revived and become palatable. Soaking them also ensures that they
last for a longer period. Soaking helps in boosting their flavor since vegetables can absorb the
liquid (Hendricks, 2015).
Question 3:
Various considerations should be ensured before choosing fruits or vegetables before carving.
Firstly, it should be ensured that they have not overripe, have a skin that is smooth and fresh.
Choosing spoilt fruits may not give rise to the desired outcome. Colorful fruits should also be
selected to look attractive and eye-catching after carving. Secondly, fruits to be carved should be
washed and dried for refrigeration to ensure that they remain fresh and to make carving easy.
Knives to be used in carving should be stainless and also sharp. Lastly, fruits to be carved should
be handled with great care by the carver (Chemko, 2014).

FRUITS AND VEGETABLES CARVING 3
Question 4:
After soaking the pumpkins in water, they should be removed immediately from water to ensure
that they do not get rotten. Removing them from the water helps to eliminate the bacteria which
speed up rotting. Where refrigeration is not available, some greens can be wrapped using towel
since it usually absorbs the moisture that is in excess. If the leaves are left to retain the moisture,
they may get spoiled easily. Berries can also be washed with hot water. This helps in the killing
of the spores which makes the fruits to remain fresh for long. Fruits such as tomatoes can also be
put in a bowl that has a towel lining. This will help them to retain their flavor and remain flesh
for a longer period (Pham, 2012).
Question 5:
The most popular fruits that have been used for carving are pineapples, strawberries,
watermelons, apples, oranges, and cantaloupes. Particularly, watermelon carving was and is still
a perfect idea. The carving of watermelon can be traced back to China where fruit carving is
believed to have originated. Typically, the outer parts of the melon are carved and the pulp
scrapped. This leaves out a void which can be used as a food container or to put flowers.
Watermelon carving is also popular in Thailand. A legend in Thai is famed for having decorated
a lantern with a melon carved with flowered designed to impress the queen.
Question 6:
There are various considerations associated with food platter. The individual should ensure that
the food is picked up easily. This ensures that the guests can serve themselves individually
without interfering with the buffet presentation. It should also be ensured that the platter is
simple to enhance uniformity in the setting up of the buffet. Attractive and durable items should
be used when setting the platter. If metals are used they leave some tastes. This will ruin the
whole buffet; therefore good choices on metals to be used should be done. It should also be noted
that food should not be removed after placing the food in a tray since this may cause smudges
and the food will not be attractive as intended. Therefore plans should be initiated before making
the arrangements of the platter by drawing it down on paper (Johnny's Kitchen, 2017)

FRUITS AND VEGETABLES CARVING 4
Question 7:
Steel is the best metal to be used for making carving knives; this is because steel is a mixture of
carbon and iron. The other elements such as chromium are useful as they resist oxidation prevent
corrosion too. Due to the increase in the levels of carbon, this hardens steel and increase in the
resistance of wear (Keller, 2015). Using this tools guarantees the safety of fruits being prepared.
Question 8:
There are various factors which should be considered when choosing fruits. The first quality of
the fruits that should be considered is the quality of the fruits. The fruits chosen should be of
high quality to last longer. Secondly, fruits should be fresh and juicy. Fruits chosen should also
be colorful improve their attractiveness. It should be ensured that the color of the fruits placed on
the platter is good and appealing. Lastly, the smell of the fruits should also be considered. Fruits
with good scent should, therefore, be chosen (Top Dreamer, 2013).

FRUITS AND VEGETABLES CARVING 5
References
Asian Recipe.com. (2016, June 26). Fruit & Vegetable Carving. Retrieved from Asian
Recipe.com: https://www.asian-recipe.com/methods/fruit-vegetable-carving.html
Chemko, S. (2014, March 6). How to Prepare for Fruit and Vegetable Carving. Retrieved from
Thai Creations.com: http://thai-creations.com/2012/04/how-to-prepare-for-fruit-and-
vegetable-carving/
Hendricks, J. (2015, February 26). Is Soaking Raw Fresh Vegetables in Water Good or Bad?
Retrieved from http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/soaking-raw-fresh-vegetables-water-
good-bad-11920.html
Johnny's Kitchen. (2017, September 13). Cold Platter Preparation. Retrieved from
https://www.johnnyskitchen.us/cooking-techniques/cold-platter-preparation.html
Keller, M. (2015, January 28). The Best Steel for Woodcarving Knives. Retrieved from
https://whiteeaglestudios.wordpress.com/2015/01/28/the-best-steel-for-woodcarving-
knives/
Pham, D. (2012, May 30). 6 Ways to Keep Your Fruits and Veggies Fresher for Longer.
Retrieved from http://inhabitat.com/6-ways-to-keep-your-fruits-and-veggies-fresher-for-
longer/
Top Dreamer. (2013, March 18). Interesting Ideas Fruit and Vegetable Art. Retrieved from
https://www.topdreamer.com/interesting-ideas-fruit-and-vegetable-art/

FRUITS AND VEGETABLES CARVING 6