How to: Cut a Pineapple

Is anyone else out there scared of a fresh pineapple?! Maybe it’s their spikey texture and knife-point-like leaves (which I was stabbed by several times carrying it around the grocery store), but I’ve always chickened out or went the lazy way by buying pre-cut pineapple slices. Well no more! Not only is it cheaper to buy a whole pineapple versus the slices or chunks, but it’s also juicier and fresher! I put together a quick step-by-step tutorial with photos so you can see how simple it really is!

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Supplies:

1 fresh and ripe pineapple of course!

A large sharp knife

A paring knife

Air-tight container (optional)

Before you buy your pineapple, check to see if it’s ripe by gently pulling out one of the center leaves. If it comes out easy then you know it’s ripe!

After you purchase your pineapple, place it in the refrigerator upside down for 30 minutes before you cut it. This sounds kind of weird, but it’s so that the natural sugar that settles in the bottom can run back through the fruit, resulting in juicier and tastier pineapple slices!

(1. & 2.) Twist and pull to remove the leaves from the top. (3. & 4.) Cut 1 inch to a ½ inch off of both ends.

(5.) Next, shave off the outside skin of the pineapple by standing it up and cutting ¼ of an inch from the edge. (6.) You can use a potato peeler or your knife to remove any leftover bits of skin. (7.) Set the pineapple back down on it’s side and cut it into 1 inch to ½ inch slices. (8.) To remove the centers from the slices, use your paring knife to cut around.