Pineapples are so delicious, but they are also pretty intimidating when it comes to knowing how to cut them and eat them! The spiky skin and often sharp leaves probably inspired supermarkets to sell plastic-wrapped, pre-sliced versions for convenience. But what if I told you anyone can slice a pineapple easily in under 5 minutes, even with a non-chef-quality knife? Read on to discover how to cut a pineapple like a pro!
How to Pick A Perfectly Ripe Pineapple
The hardest part about cutting a pineapple is probably knowing how to select one that is ready to be cut! Considering the fruit is hidden within that spiky exterior, it’s not like you can just look and see that it’s ready. Luckily, there are some helpful hints to make sure you pick the perfect pineapple!
- Check the color—the outer shell should be light to medium yellow without too much green. Completely green means it isn’t ripe, and dark yellow means it may be too ripe.
- Compare the weight – a ripe pineapple will feel heavier than an unripe one due to the extra juices.
- Sniff it—a ripe pineapple will smell like a ripe pineapple! Smell the bottom of it. No smell means it might not be ready, and an overly sweet or vinegar smell means it is ripe.
- Squeeze it – a ripe pineapple should have a little bit of give to it but shouldn’t squish. If it has no give at all, it’s not ready.
- Check the leaves – the top of a pineapple is called a frond. Pull on one of the leaves just a little. It is ripe if it comes off or feels like it could come off!
How to Ripen a Pineapple Quickly
If you already have your pineapple and you’ve realised it isn’t ready yet, you can try to ripen it a bit faster. You can do this by putting it in a paper bag with a banana. The banana will do its thing and encourage the pineapple to ripen in 1-2 days rather than 3-5 days.
Step-By-Step Guide To Cut A Pineapple Like A Pro
Step 1 – Cut off the pineapple’s top and bottom so you can stand it upright.
Step 2 – Position the knife just under the skin of the fruit and cut it downwards to remove a segment of the skin.
Step 3 – Continue until all the skin is removed.
Step 4—From here, you can decide what shape you want your pineapple slices. I opted for small triangles that are easy to grab with a finger, but you can also just cut them into large segments if you are juicing them or slice them into rounds for decoration. For the small triangles, slice the pineapple down the center, then into 4 long slices per half, then rotate and slice into triangles of the desired thickness, as shown in the following pictures:
Step 5—You don’t need to wash the pineapple unless it got a bit dirty while you were cutting it. Pop it into a bowl with some more of your favorite fruits, and it’s ready to eat!
How Long Does Sliced Pineapple Keep For?
Sliced pineapple does need to be refrigerated. Pop them into an airtight plastic bag or glass or plastic container where they will last up to 4 – 7 days, depending on how ripe the pineapple was to begin with.
Should I Wash the Pineapple After Cutting?
The pineapple skin is nature’s own protective barrier, so no, you do not need to wash your pineapple after you cut it. Sometimes, I do if bits of the cut skin happen to stick to the fruit from my chopping board, but usually, it’s OK to just eat it right away.
Serving Suggestions For Sliced Pineapple
There are so many ways to enjoy pineapple. You can juice it for an anti-inflammatory juice or just eat the slices as is. Throw it in a fruit salad with other tropical fruits and some coconut. Dip it into some cottage cheese with salt and honey. Grill it and add it to salads, or serve it with meats like duck. Or, try your hand at making a pineapple upside-down cake!
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FAQs
Pineapple core is safe to eat. I never remove it because it has the highest concentration of bromelain, pineapple’s anti-inflammatory component. However, some people don’t like the core’s aesthetics and prefer to remove it, in which case, go for it!
The bromelain in pineapple is mucolytic, which means it breaks down mucus. This is a great thing, but it does it to your saliva, which is there to protect your mouth. When this happens, the acid in pineapple can feel like it’s prickling in your mouth. It is not dangerous but can be uncomfortable. If it happens to you, eat your pineapple with some yoghurt to soothe it!
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