Pineapples flesh are fully packed with vitamin A and vitamin C, coming with a fresh sweet and sour juice. But you are unsure about how to cut a pineapple without waste? Don’t worry, let’s deep dive into 2 methods, “quick” and “without waste” to see both advantages and disadvantages of each method.
How to Know a Pineapple Is Ripe?
Before we delve into knife skills, let’s talk about selecting the right pineapple. The peak season for pineapples usually runs from March to July, and finding a good one depends on its ripeness when you buy it. Look for fruit with a yellow rind instead of green, which is a good sign of ripeness. Another tip is to pick it up and smell it from the bottom. If it has a sweet and fresh aroma of pineapple juice, then it’s ripe. On the other hand, if there’s no smell of pineapple, it’s not ripe yet, and if it has a fermented smell, it’s over-ripe. In short, we can check if it’s ripe using these methods:
- The color: A ripe pineapple will have a vibrant golden color on its skin. Avoid pineapples that are mostly green or have patches of brown, as they may not be fully ripe.
- The smell: Give it a gentle sniff near the base of the fruit. A ripe pineapple should have a sweet, tropical aroma. If it doesn’t smell fragrant or has a sour smell, it may not be fully ripe.
- The texture: Gently press the pineapple with your thumb. It should give slightly when pressed, but it should not be overly soft or mushy. If it feels too firm, it may not be ripe yet. The texture should be firm, yet slightly yielding.
- The leaves: The leaves at the top of the pineapple should be green and healthy-looking. If they are dry, brown, or easily detach from the crown, it could be a sign that the pineapple is overripe or past its prime.
- The weight: A ripe pineapple should feel heavy for its size. This indicates that it has a higher water content, which contributes to its juiciness.
Also don’t worry if your choosen pineapples haven’t ripened. Leave them in a few days to let it ripe, before cutting off.
How to Cut a Pineapple without waste?
Now that you have a ripe and ready tropical fruit in hand, bring it to the kitchen and follow our step-by-step guide for cutting a fresh pineapple. Below is a comparison of these 2 methods along with detailed guide to cut a pineapple. With this cooking tip, cutting a pineapple will become just an easy task that everyone can do.
You will need:
– A pineapple
– A large sharp knife
– A small sharp knife (optional, if you apply “quick” method, you won’t need it)
– A cutting board
Instruction:
Step 1. To remove the top and the bottom of the pineapple, use a large sharp knife and take 2 cuts at both ends.
Step 2. Slice off the skin of the pineapple following its round shape. With “quick method”, place the knife behind the skin and pineapple eye and start to remove them. To cut a pineapple without waste, place the knife between the skin and the pineapple eye.
Step 3. (Skip this step if you are following quick method). It’s a must to remove pineapple eyes. Although they are not poisonous, they have a fibrous texture and can be really unpleasant to consume. To do that, first, observe your pineapple to figure out the spiral lines created by the pineapple eyes; then, use a small knife to carve small wedges including the eyes. Obviously, “without-waste” method saves more pineapple flesh than “quick” one; however, it’s really take more time!
Step 4. Cut the pineapple in a vertical direction to get two equal halves. Place each half of the pineapple on its flat, slice it once more lengthwise to divide it into two equal parts. We got 4 quarters in total.
Step 5. Remove the core and cut pineapple flesh into piece. Now it’s ready to eat.
Pineapples are best consumed soon after purchase, but if you need to store them, place them in the refrigerator for no more than 5 days. It’s best to consume it all before it starts to ferment. Enjoy pineapple as a fresh snack or in Thai pineapple fried rice, salad, Hawaiian pizza or pineapple chicken.
