With our simple hints and tips, it is easy to choose and cut up this yummy tropical fruit.
Pineapples. Golden, sweet pineapples. Buy the right one, and the taste is so delicious! But get the wrong one, and you’re left with a sour and hard or overripe and bruised fruit. And just what is the easiest way to cut up that prickly-skinned fruit? Yes, pineapples have gotten the best of us. But with these simple tips, you’ll become a pineapple pro!
Buying a Pineapple
1. Give it a once-over.
Don’t waste your time (or money) on a green pineapple. Some say that green pineapples can actually be ripe and sweet inside, but chances are, it’s not. Instead, reach for those that have a yellow or golden color on the skin. Sometimes, you may only see the yellow color around the stem end, which is great. But if you come across one that has the same color all over the fruit, you’ve got a winner!
2. Give it a sniff.
Smell the pineapple before you add it to that cart of yours. It should have a mild, sweet aroma.
3. Feel it.
If you pick up a pineapple and it’s soft, put it right back down. That’s an indication that the fruit is overripe, or worse, rotten. Look for a pineapple that’s firm but gives just slightly when handled.
Peeling and Cutting a Pineapple
Now that you’ve selected the sweetest, juiciest pineapple, you have to cut it up! You’ll need a sharp knife and a cutting board.
Cut off both ends. This will make sure you have a stable pineapple to work with.
Set the pineapple on one end. With a knife, slice off the skin by following the curve of the pineapple from top to bottom. Try not to cut too deep here...you want to waste as little as possible.
You might find that you haven’t actually cut off enough, and little prickly circles are still left.
Don’t worry. Just give it another swipe with your knife. (For less waste, you can cut out each circle individually, but that takes more time.)
From here, it’s up to you how you want to cut it. You could cut the fruit into rings, and then remove the inner core. Or you could cut the pineapple into smaller pieces.
To cut into small chunks or slices, cut the pineapple in half lengthwise.
Then cut into quarters.
Remove the core by cutting down at an angle.
Cut the fruit into slices...
or smaller chunks.
You’re done! Munch away or add to salads, sandwiches, burgers and stir-fries.