HOW TO CUT A PINEAPPLE
- Nutrition
- 460
Have you any idea how to cut a pineapple the right way? Well, if you don’t, then look no further. This article will teach you how to cut a pineapple the right way.
The pineapple is identified botanically as Ananas comosus. This fruit is native to the tropics and has a sweet taste. Its exterior is spiky.
Pineapple is loaded with essential nutrients and compounds that can fight disease and inflammation. Pineapple is a healthy source of bromelain, which eases digestion, improves symptoms of arthritis, and enhances your immune health (1, 2, 3, 4, 5).
Also, bromelain accelerates recovery post-surgery or after a strenuous exercise. It also protects you against some forms of cancer (6, 7, 8).
But here’s the thing with pineapples. They have a very tough rind, so tough that you might find it difficult to cut your pineapple and prepare it. And so in this article, I will teach how to cut a pineapple in six easy ways.
CUT IT INTO SLICES
The first step you should take while preparing a pineapple is to take off its rind and crown. The crown is usually sharp and leafy.
To do this, you’ll place the pineapple on its side. Chop the base and the crown off, place the fruit in a standing position, and cut away the rind in strips of 1.25cm. Slicing should be done from top to bottom.
Upon cutting the pineapple into slices, you’ll expose the eyes – these are firm, brown circles.
The pineapple eyes are inedible, and so for each row of eyes, you’ll cut a trench, the shape of a V, and then pluck the trench out to remove them.
On the other hand, you may cut a bit deeper into the fruit after taking off the rind – but the snag is that some of the flesh will waste.
Finally, place the pineapple on its side and cut into thick slices. You can enjoy these as a snack, or have it barbecued or grilled with some nutmeg or cinnamon.
CUT INTO RINGS
One way on how to cut a pineapple is by cutting it into rings. Pineapple rings are stripped of the tough core of the fruit.
The core is fibrous and runs through the center of the fruit. Many people do not like this.
To cut your pineapple into rings, take out the inedible parts as outlined above and then cut the pineapple fruit into slices that look like discs. Thereafter, you remove the core with an apple corer or a knife.
You can bake or grill the rings. You can also use them the way they are as an ingredient for upside-down cake.
YOU CAN CUT YOUR PINEAPPLE INTO SPEARS
Another technique on how to cut a pineapple is by cutting them into spears. Pineapple spears are a great snack. You could eat them dipped in yogurt, enjoy them raw, or even grill them while on a skewer.
To make pineapple spears, first take off the pineapple crown, eyes, and skin using either of the methods described above.
Then, place the fruit in a standing position and slice it in half, cut into quarters. Place each wedge on its side and slice the core. Thereafter, you cut the rest of the wedges into spears.
CUT YOUR PINEAPPLE INTO CHUNKS
Pineapple chunks are an important ingredient for smoothies or desserts. They can also be used as garnishing for pancakes, yogurt, or oatmeal.
To cut a pineapple into chunks, first, follow the steps for cutting them into spears, then cut it into smaller chunks.
You can make this process simpler by using a pineapple corer. After taking off the crown, you place the corer over the fruit’s center, press down, and turn the handle until the corer reaches the base of the pineapple.
Then you can unwind the corer to extract the cored pineapple spiral before chopping it into chunks.
PULL EVERY HEXAGON OFF
If your pineapple is very ripe, you can tug off chewable pieces instead of cutting up with a knife.
Pineapple is a combination of many individual fruits that fuse to make one whole. It is these unique, individual fruits that create the hexagonal regions on the pineapple’s rind (9).
If the fruit is very ripe, you can easily take out each section using just your fingers.
Rather than chopping the crown, you can remove it by cutting along the perimeter of the uppermost segments. Then you apply some pressure on each hexagon using your thumb, pushing away from each fruit with your fingers.
This is a somewhat messy technique and requires more labor, but still, is an interesting option for cutting a pineapple.
YOU CAN MAKE A PINEAPPLE BOAT
Making pineapple boats is another technique on how to cut a pineapple. The boats go well with frozen yogurt, fruit salads, stir-fries, fried rice, and other savory dishes.
To make a pineapple boat, first lay the pineapple on its side. Ensure that the fruit lies relatively flat.
Slice an inch or two-layer off fruit’s opposite side without taking off the crown(s). After that, you cut around the rind but not through it.
Cut the flesh into cubes. Scoop with a large spoon. What you have left is a pineapple boat. You can fill the boat with any dish that you prefer.
HOW TO STORE PINEAPPLE
You can store ripe pineapples at room temperature, but make sure you eat it off within a day or two. Rest the pineapple on its side, turning the fruit every day to prevent pooling of the pineapple juices at the bottom (10).
You can also store your pineapple in your refrigerator. Put it in a plastic bag before storage. Doing this will extend the shelf life of the fruit to nearly a week.
Diced or sliced pineapple should be refrigerated in an airtight container and consumed within five days at the most. If you perceive a fermented smell on your pineapple, this means it has gone bad.
Also, pineapple can be freeze cut for up to a year in air-tight containers (11).
THE SUMMARY
So you have learned how to cut a pineapple.
Pineapples are tropical fruits with a delicious taste and a load of health benefits.
Even though they may have an imposing spiky exterior, they are quite easy to slice. All you need do is to take out the inedible parts. A pineapple corer can simplify this process. You can try all the methods listed in this article to see what works best for you.
Tonika Bruce, MSN, RN, MBA. is an accomplished nurse leader, published author, and personal development expert passionate about advancing healthcare management and quality patient outcomes.
She taps into the years of experience in healthcare management to produce credible and easy-to-understand health and leadership content. Her exceptional work has been featured in reputable publications, including Forbes, Recruiter, Inc, and the Color of Wellness magazine.
