Confession: the first time I bought a fresh pineapple I had no idea what to do with it, but trust me – it’s actually simple!
How to cut a pineapple:
1. I’ve found that selecting a pineapple which is light green/yellow in overall color yields the sweetest fruit. You also know it’s ripe when you pull a green “frond” from the top and it plucks out easily.
2. Lay the pineapple on its side on a big cutting surface. With a sharp knife, cut the bottom and top ends off.
3. Place the pineapple on the flat bottom.
4. Using a sharp knife, cut the rind off the fruit, following the natural curve of the pineapple.
5. Once you have all the rind off, go back over the fruit to remove any of the hard “eyes” that remain.
6. Cut your pineapple in half length wise.
7. Cut each half in half, so you now have 4 quarters.
8. Place the quarters flat side down then, placing your knife at an angle, cut out the tough core.
9. Cut the cored quarter into slices lengthwise, and chop!
See? It’s not so hard! It truly gets easier every time you do it too, so get to practicing!
Made this for thanksgiving, and it was such a big hit. Light and refreshing amongst all the heavier stuff, and there wasn’t a bite left! Several commented on how much they liked the pomegranate ariels, which they weren’t familiar with. Thanks for the great recipe!
Thanks for the tips. I have always been reluctant to buy a whole pineapple because I didn’t know how to pick ripe ones or even how to cut them.