Whole pineapples are the best! The sweet, juicy, tropical flavor brightens any morning and can momentarily transport us to far away places with palm trees and ocean breezes. If you’ve never cut a pineapple before, they may be intimidating. But with the right approach, they are an easy, economical, eco-friendly fruit to put on your table (or in your cocktail!).
It’s easy to be tempted to purchase pre-peeled and cored pineapples in plastic containers at the grocery store. But resist! Peeling and coring your own not only gives you the best taste and longest shelf life, but reduces the amount of plastics you use. It’s a win-win!
How to cut a pineapple easily:
Step 1: Lay the pineapple on its side.
Step 2: With a sharp knife, cut off the leaves as close to the top as possible. Make your cut about ½ – 1 inch from the top.
Step 3: Rotate the pineapple and repeat on the bottom side.
Step 4: Turn the pineapple on one of the flat bases you have created. This creates a sturdy work surface for you. Slide your knife along each side of the pineapple to remove the peel. It’s ok if there are a few dark “eyes” that remain, but aim to shave most of them off. Repeat on each side.
Step 5: Slice the fruit as close to the core as possible on all four sides.
Those hunks can then be sliced into spears, wedges, whichever you prefer.
What to do with the core of a pineapple?
Although the core is not as sweet and is more fibrous than the rest of the fruit, it still has a lot of flavor. In fact, the core is great for cooking because it does not fall apart as easily as the more tender fruit. After you cut a pineapple and devour it, slice the core and add into a stir fry, skewer it onto kebabs, or chop it and add to your fresh salsa. I also like to blend the core into smoothies!
Our favorite ways to eat pineapple:
Freshly cut pineapple tastes great in this Classic Shrimp Fajitas Recipe, or in the salsa for this Grilled Chicken with Cucumber-Peach Salsa. We also love Pineapple and Shrimp Foil Packets. Our favorite way to eat it is simply fresh sliced pineapple. The pineapple I cut this morning for this post lasted all of 15 minutes in our house. Yum!
FAQ’s
How long can pineapple be stored in the refrigerator?
Pineapple needs to be eaten within 3-5 days of being cut.
How should I store pineapple after I cut it?
After you cut a pineapple, you can store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
How can I tell if a pineapple is ripe?
A ripe pineapple will be golden in color and you can smell the sweet fruit through the skin. Green pineapples need to ripen further.
