Cutting a pineapple can be a bit daunting at first due to the prickly stiff exterior and skin, but practice makes perfect and you'll love having fresh pineapple for your recipes or healthy snacks!
I've created this step by step guide with photos to make the process easy!
How to peel a pineapple:
- Cut off the top - the crown. It's best to lay the fruit on its side so you have leverage. See photo below.
Tip: Although the pineapple skin is thick and prickly, get a good secure hold before you cut.
2. Cut off the bottom. I just flip the pineapple over, lay it on the cutting board, get a good grip, and carefully cut off the bottom.
3. Cut off the sides (the skin) paying attention to cut out the eyes. The eyes are round brown spots on the pineapple. If they are left after cutting the sides off, you can take a small knife and cut them out carefully.
Tip: When cutting try to just cut the skin so you don't lose too much pineapple fruit. This takes practice.
In the photo below, you can see the round brown "eyes" are left after cutting the sides. You can use a small knife to get them out or just slice again to remove them paying careful attention not to lose too much fruit in the process.
How to cut a pineapple:
4. Then slice off the pineapple fruit in pieces paying attention not to cut into the core. You'll be left with the core at the end.
5. Once you have all the sides cut, you can now cut slices or pineapple chunks.
The photo below shows the pineapple core after all the pineapple fruit has been cut.
Below: slicing the pineapple fruit into chunks.
Tips:
- Use a sharp knife to cut your pineapple.
- Take your time, don't be in a rush.
- Cut a ripe pineapple. After purchase, store your pineapple at room temperature until you will be cutting it.
- The sliced and cubed pineapple can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 4 days.
- You can freeze your freshly cut pineapple for up to a few months. I usually use mine in smoothies!
Pineapple Recipes:
Cutting a pineapple can be a bit daunting a first due to the prickly stiff exterior and skin, but practice makes perfect and you'll love having fresh pineapple for your recipes or healthy snacks! I've created this step by step guide with photos to make the process easy!
- 1 whole pineapple
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Using one ripe pineapple, using a chef's knife, cut the top off.
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Next cut the bottom off.
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Cut all the sides off.
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Start to slice off the pineapple meat cutting all sides leaving the core.
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Discard the core.
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Cut the remaining pieces of pineapple into chunks.
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Store in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or freeze for a month.
Tips:
- Use a sharp knife to cut your pineapple.
- Take your time, don't be in a rush.
- Cut a ripe pineapple. After purchase, store your pineapple at room temperature until you will be cutting it.
- The sliced and cubed pineapple can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for about 4 days.
- You can freeze your freshly cut pineapple for up to a few months. I usually use mine in smoothies!
Naheed says
Don’t cut the top! You can twist it right off. It comes off easily. You can try it .
Christine Galvani says
Thanks Naheed for the tip! I usually cut the top off, but it's certainly another option to twist it off.