11.   No matter what shape or size the melon baller is, success depends almost entirely on technique.

12.   On a cucumber halved lengthwise, the melon baller removes the seeds in a neat, rounded trough.

13.   Remove cores from pear halves with melon baller or knife.

14.   Remove insides and seeds with a small spoon, grapefruit spoon or melon baller and discard.

15.   Scoop out the seeds and pulp with a melon baller or spoon, reserving the shells.

16.   Scoop out seeds with small melon baller.

17.   Some classic uses for the melon baller are actually worthy of revival.

18.   Some melon ballers make spheres the size of peas, others as large as walnuts.

19.   That may mean rigging together a few pans to make a smoker or using a melon baller to make chocolate curls.

20.   The melon baller is one of the few tools that manufacturers seem to have mastered.