While those containers of pre-cut fruit from the grocery store sure are convenient, they definitely aren’t cost-effective! They also tend to have a short shelf-life, which can result in more of your money going to waste if you’re not careful!
I’m not necessarily a whiz with a kitchen knife, but I can confidently cut most produce items on my own. The only thing I’ve preferred to buy pre-cut recently is pineapple because that’s one thing that I just didn’t feel confident about tackling blindly!
But I recently sat down and learned how to cut a pineapple, and I’m happy to report that it’s not nearly as difficult as I had imagined. And since pineapples are currently in season, and I love fresh pineapple in fruit salad, it’s a perfect time to learn how to cut one! :-)
How To Choose A Good Pineapple
The peak season for pineapples runs from March to July, and are harvested at peak ripeness so that they arrive at the store ready to eat! But if you want to guarantee your pineapple will be ready to eat that day, here are a few tips:
- Pick up a fresh pineapple and smell the bottom of the fruit. If it smells like ripe pineapple, it’s ready! If it smells somewhat fermented, it’s probably past its prime, and if it doesn’t smell much at all, it’s probably not quite ripe yet.
- The skin and leaves should have some shine on them, and the skin should feel firm with a slight amount of give.
Once you’ve picked the perfect pineapple and brought it home, all you need to do is cut it up! Luckily for us, it’s not as complicated as you might think.
How To Cut A Pineapple
You’ll need:
- Whole pineapple
- Sharp chef’s knife
- Paring knife
- Stable cutting board
Step 1 – Remove The Top & Bottom
Lay the pineapple on its side, then use your sharp knife to slice off the top and bottom ends of the pineapple.
Step 2 – Remove The Skin
Next, stand the pineapple upright on one of the cut ends. Starting from the top, carefully cut the skin away from the pineapple. Follow the natural curve of the fruit to preserve as much flesh as possible, and continue cutting away the skin until you’ve removed all of it.
More Ideas You'll Love
Step 3 – Remove The Eyes
If larger “eyes” remain in the pineapple, cut them away with a small paring knife. Use shallow diagonal cuts to remove them.
Step 4 – Remove The Core
Next, you’ll remove the core of the pineapple. You can do this a couple of different ways depending on whether you want to end up with pineapple chunks, spears, or rings.
For pineapple chunks or spears:
- With the pineapple still standing on one end, cut the pineapple in half through the center.
- Cut each half lengthwise into 4 pieces, then cut the fibrous core away from each piece.
For pineapple rings:
- Lay the pineapple on its side, and carefully cut it into round discs of whatever width you want.
- Use a small, round cookie cutter or biscuit cutter to remove the core from the center of each piece.
Step 5 – Cut Into Pieces
Once you’ve removed the core using either of the methods above, cut the remaining pineapple flesh into pieces if desired. You can also leave it as rings or spears if you want!
How To Store Cut Pineapple
Cut pineapple will keep at room temperature for a couple of days. If stored in an airtight container in your fridge, it will stay fresh a few days longer, about 3-5 days in total.
You can also freeze cut pineapple to keep it fresh for up to 12 months. Just put it in a freezer-safe bag and remove as much air as possible before placing it in the freezer. Frozen pineapple is great for smoothies!
[bonus_tips]Don’t Know How To Cut Something? Ask Alexa!More Ideas You'll Love
- If you have an Alexa enabled smart speaker in your kitchen, you can get instant help with cutting just about anything!
- Just enable the Chop Chop skill, then say “Alexa, start Chop Chop.”
- If you have an Echo Show or an Echo Spot, you’ll be able to watch video tutorials about cutting and slicing all sorts of fruits and vegetables.
- They also have an audio version if your Alexa speaker doesn’t have a screen.
- Learn more about the Chop Chop skill here.
Do you avoid buying certain things because you’re not sure how to cut them?
How To Cut A Pineapple
Equipment
- Sharp chef’s knife
- Paring knife
- Stable cutting board
Ingredients
- 1 whole pineapple
Instructions
- Lay the pineapple on its side, then use your sharp knife to slice off the the top and bottom ends of the pineapple.
- Next, stand the pineapple upright on one of the cut ends. Starting from the top, carefully cut the skin away from the pineapple. Follow the natural curve of the fruit to preserve as much flesh as possible, and continue cutting away the skin until you’ve removed all of it.
- If larger “eyes” remain in the pineapple, cut them away with a small paring knife. Use shallow diagonal cuts to remove them.
- Next, you’ll remove the core of the pineapple. For pineapple chunks or spears, with the pineapple still standing on one end, cut the pineapple in half through the center. Cut each half lengthwise into 4 pieces, then cut the fibrous core away from each piece. For pineapple rings, lay the pineapple on its side, and carefully cut it into round discs of whatever width you want. Use a small, round cookie cutter or biscuit cutter to remove the core from the center of each piece.
- Once you’ve removed the core using either of the method above, cut the remaining pineapple flesh into pieces if desired. You can also leave it as rings or spears if you want!
I was told that a way to check if the pineapple is ripe is to tug at the inside top leaves, if it comes away easily then your pineapple is ripe
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Yes, that is a tried and true trick!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Just wanted to say, for people like myself who want the most nutrient dense foods, please eat the core. It has the most bromelain than the softer parts. I asked Whole Foods to pkg just those for smoothies but it never happened. I actually have come to enjoy the core so much. I like having to chew a bit more. I truly savor it.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Yay, I’m not the only one!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.please remember to wash any fruit/vegetable before cutting so the germs on the outside do not travel inside with the cutting.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.My mom uses this technique. She does have the Pineapple corer gadget ,but hasn’t used it lately . Love the tip for being able to tell if it’s ripe.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.You need a pineapple cutter peeler: Pineapple Peeler Corer This makes peeling and cutting a pineapple so easy.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I agree – I have one of those and it makes peeling, coring and slicing a breeze!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’d read that the bottom “scales” of a pineapple (or the space in between) need to be yellow if it is ripe. I didn’t realize pineapple had a “season”, but it does make sense as I buy fresh papaya year-round and it does seem to be best this time of year. These are even easier to cut up than pineapple as the skin can be removed with a vegetable peeler, and once the ends are cut off and it’s cut in half lengthwise (unless one wants rings) the seeds can be scooped out of the middle.
Another tip I’ve read about fresh pineapple is that it’s important to cut it up as soon as possible after one gets home, as the bromelain enzyme that can make our mouths burn is contained in the core. The sooner the core is cut out, the less of this enzyme will be in the fruit that we eat. I’m not sure how accurate this is as some pineapples still burn my mouth regardless, but that’s my understanding…
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Wow, never had a pineapple burn my mouth and I always eat the core. Has the healthiest stuff in it. The bromelain
Please log in or create a free account to comment.That is interesting as I’ve cut into many a pineapple that was just too “strong” for me as I could feel the bromelain digesting my lips and tongue. Many are sweet and perfectly pleasant to eat though, so it seems hit-or miss. Maybe it’s a matter of ripeness or other factors, or maybe some people are more sensitive to the bromelain than others(?). I do try to save the cores to make pineapple-water or other things, but combined with their toughness I can’t eat them directly.
Interestingly, Alton Brown does much the same technique… But, since he is a guy, he uses an electric knife instead of a butcher’s knife :)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.When I bring a pineapple home, I twist off the top and put it upside down in a wide mouth vase for a few days.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.This allows the sugars at the bottom to spread through to the top, making very bit sweet and juicy.
Karen, I have seen this done. I am going to try it. Thanks! :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.The bottom is always the sweetest but often gets wasted. Another tip I learned from a grocer years ago is to squeeze the juice from the bottom that you cut off onto the pieces that you cut up. Delicious!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Yes, that helps a lot. Thank you!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Jilleee- In addition to the smell test in testing for ripeness, you can also tug on the center leaf . If it pulls out easily, then it is ripe. If it resists, look for a different one. If it comes out easily and also smells great, then you probably chose a winner!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks for the advice Jeanne. I never knew about pulling the Center Leaf. Will remember till my time is done.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Jeanne, great tip! My team member, Stacie told me about this method and about setting it upside down for 24 hours like Karen suggested. She said she learned this in Hawaii. I am going to give these things a try! :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.That is what I do, however I think this is also true if it is over-ripe so I think I will go with both methods.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.