Tap a Watermelon! or How to Make a Watermelon Keg
by ModMischief in Cooking > Beverages
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Tap a Watermelon! or How to Make a Watermelon Keg
Wow your guests and enjoy a delicious drink in style!
After seeing an incredible watermelon keg online, I knew I needed to try it for myself.
Unfortunately, I couldn't find a similar tap and pvc adapter, so I had to modify the design somewhat.
***update*** I've added pictures of a bigger melon keg we made for a recent party.
For more info on my watermelon kegs or my other projects, you can check out my blog.
After seeing an incredible watermelon keg online, I knew I needed to try it for myself.
Unfortunately, I couldn't find a similar tap and pvc adapter, so I had to modify the design somewhat.
***update*** I've added pictures of a bigger melon keg we made for a recent party.
For more info on my watermelon kegs or my other projects, you can check out my blog.
What You'll Need
From the hardware store:
-Hose Bibb, Quarter Turn (that's the tap)
-Faucet Lock Nuts (those black circles)
-Brass Pipe Nipple 1/2" (the piece with threads on both ends)
-Coupling 1/2" (what looks like a hex nut)
-drill bit (optional)
From the grocery store:
-Watermelon (I used a very small melon for this demo, but you'll need a big one if you want more than two drinks out of it)
-Saran wrap (or similar cling wrap)
From your kitchen:
-paring knife
-ice cream scoop (a spoon could work in a pinch)
-large bowl
-blender
-strainer / sieve
From the liquor store:
-vodka or your poison of choice (this is optional, but there's not much of a point without it, right?)
-Hose Bibb, Quarter Turn (that's the tap)
-Faucet Lock Nuts (those black circles)
-Brass Pipe Nipple 1/2" (the piece with threads on both ends)
-Coupling 1/2" (what looks like a hex nut)
-drill bit (optional)
From the grocery store:
-Watermelon (I used a very small melon for this demo, but you'll need a big one if you want more than two drinks out of it)
-Saran wrap (or similar cling wrap)
From your kitchen:
-paring knife
-ice cream scoop (a spoon could work in a pinch)
-large bowl
-blender
-strainer / sieve
From the liquor store:
-vodka or your poison of choice (this is optional, but there's not much of a point without it, right?)
Cut Off the Top
Use your knife to cut the top off your melon.
Try to keep the hole fairly small, but make sure it's big enough to stick your hand in.
Make sure you cut on an angle (like you would if you were carving a pumpkin) so you can use the top as a lid without it falling in.
You can cut a small notch out of the lid to make it easier to refill your melon after your guests inevitably finish off the original contents.
Try to keep the hole fairly small, but make sure it's big enough to stick your hand in.
Make sure you cut on an angle (like you would if you were carving a pumpkin) so you can use the top as a lid without it falling in.
You can cut a small notch out of the lid to make it easier to refill your melon after your guests inevitably finish off the original contents.
Gut the Melon
Scoop out all of the delicious insides and set them aside.
Make a Hole for the Tap
Using the drill bit, make a hole near the bottom of your melon. Be sure to put it on the prettiest side of your watemelon (this is, after all, what all your guests will be admiring).
If you don't have a drill bit handy, a corkscrew would work.
Using a paring knife, make the hole the same size as your coupling. Take your time with this step as you'll need a good fit if you don't want it to leak.
Don't just shove your coupling in the hole as a bruised melon won't be watertight.
If you don't have a drill bit handy, a corkscrew would work.
Using a paring knife, make the hole the same size as your coupling. Take your time with this step as you'll need a good fit if you don't want it to leak.
Don't just shove your coupling in the hole as a bruised melon won't be watertight.
Connect the Hardware
Wash all the hardware.
Screw your nipple into the coupling with one of the lock nuts inbetween. It's not nearly as nasty as it sounds.
Push the coupling through the melon.
Place a small piece of saran wrap over the coupling and cut an opening in the middle. The plastic wrap should help prevent leaks.
Screw on the tap with a lock nut between the tap and the coupling.
Wrap the excess saran wrap around the edge of the lock nut and trim it so it looks pretty.
Screw your nipple into the coupling with one of the lock nuts inbetween. It's not nearly as nasty as it sounds.
Push the coupling through the melon.
Place a small piece of saran wrap over the coupling and cut an opening in the middle. The plastic wrap should help prevent leaks.
Screw on the tap with a lock nut between the tap and the coupling.
Wrap the excess saran wrap around the edge of the lock nut and trim it so it looks pretty.
Blend
Throw the watermelon guts into a blender and turn it into juice.
Pour the juice through a strainer to get the worst of the pulpy bits out.
Add a generous helping of vodka and stir.
Pour the juice through a strainer to get the worst of the pulpy bits out.
Add a generous helping of vodka and stir.
Enjoy
Relax and enjoy a cool drink.
Bask in the adoration of all your party guests.
Bask in the adoration of all your party guests.