Pinapple Tips

How to cut a pineapple:

First you want to select a knife that is bigger than your pineapple is wide. It will be very hard to cut if it is smaller. The wrong knife increases the risk of cutting yourself.

You also want to be sure your knife is sharp.

Start by cutting the top of the pinapple off.

Than cut the bottom off. Try to cut it straight, because this will be your base for cutting the sides.

Now we slice the sides down, as close to the skin as possible.

*Special note: If you get a lot of "knots" when you slice the sides of the pineapple, you can use the tip of a vegetable peeler to scoop them out, or the tip of a pearing knife. This wastes less pineapple then slicing off the whole side again, but it takes a little longer.

This is what it looks like from the top.

Then we cut around the core. Depending on the pineapple's ripeness and sweetness, and what you are are using it for, will determine whether or not you use the core. The core is usually woody textured and not as sweet. We often discard the core; but if your are cooking with it or being very frugal, you may use it.

Now we lay the pineapple flat side down and slice it in 3 or 4 long strips, keeping them together.

Next, we turn the strips around and slice accross the long strips making the chunk size of your choice.

That is how we cut a pinapple!

How to pick a pineapple:

Depending on how ripe you want it (how fast you are going to use it) will determine how you want to pick a pineapple. The leaves will be green and succulent and hard to pull out.

If its has green it means it is not ripe yet. It will ripen on the counter in a few days (depending on HOW MUCH green there is and how warm it is. So you want to watch it; If you wait too long, it will turn brown inside, or the fruit flies or ants might beat you to their sweet goodness! If it ripens before you are ready, you can refridgerate it for a day or two.

It is ripe when the outside skin turns brown or golden. The leaves on top will start to dry, turn brown and can easily be plucked. Now it will be sweet and juicy!

Fresh pineapple is much better than canned. We hope you will try it!

TKM in Training,