To cut a pineapple, follow these steps for an efficient and clean method:
- Prepare the pineapple
Lay the pineapple on its side on a cutting board. Using a sharp knife, slice off the top (crown) and the bottom to create flat surfaces
- Cut the pineapple in half
Stand the pineapple upright on one of the flat ends. Slice straight down the middle from top to bottom, creating two equal halves
- Remove the core
Each half has a tough core running down the center. Identify the core, which is lighter and fibrous. Using your knife, cut a V-shaped wedge around the core on each half to remove it
- Quarter the pineapple
Slice each half in half again, resulting in four quarters without the core
- Slice into pieces
Take each quarter and slice lengthwise down the middle without cutting through the skin. Then cut crosswise into bite-sized pieces, still leaving the skin intact
- Remove the skin
Carefully run your knife between the pineapple flesh and the skin to separate them. Discard the skin, leaving you with clean pineapple chunks ready to eat or use in recipes
Additional tips:
- Use a sharp knife to prevent slipping and ensure clean cuts
- The pineapple is ripe if it smells sweet at the bottom and the leaves look fresh
- You can serve pineapple chunks as is or refrigerate/freeze them for later use
This method yields minimal waste and easy-to-eat pineapple pieces
