How to Cut a Pineapple

Pineapples (Ananas comosus) are best eaten fresh. It is healthier to cut a pineapple at home rather than resorting to the pre-cut variety available in a can with additives and preservatives. Get fresh with a pineapple!

EditSteps

1. 1
   Choose a good quality pineapple. Use your sense of smell––the pineapple must smell highly aromatic, namely sweet and fresh. If you detect an odor that suggests fermentation or there is no sweetness present, skip that pineapple. Prefer pineapples that are heavy for their size and avoid pineapples that are bruised or mushy to the touch.
   
   
   
2. 2
   Place the pineapple on its side.
   
   
   
3. 3
   Cut the crown and the stem off the pineapple.
   
   
   
4. 4
   Stand the pineapple up on one end. Slice the skin off the sides, going from top to bottom. Leave as much flesh as possible remaining on the pineapple––by following the contour of the fruit, this will help to prevent loss of flesh where the pineapple bulges in the middle.
   
   
   
5. 5
   Remove the eye spots. Eye spots are on a diagonal on the pineapple. Cut a V-shaped groove along the diagonal line and remove a set of eye spots each cut. The remaining flesh is ready for cutting now.
   
   
   
6. 6
   Cut the pineapple. The type of cut depends on how you want to use the pineapple. You can choose from any of these cuts:
   
   
   
   
   
   • Cut pineapple circles. Simply cut the pineapple circle slices in a width suited for your needs. Core each circle slice after cutting; this can be done with ease using a round pastry or dough cutter.
   • Cut the pineapple into halves, then quarters for cubes or wedges. For each quarter, cut off the core before segmenting into chunks, then cut the chunks to size.
7. 7
   Add the pineapple to your recipe or meal. It is delicious eaten as it is with nothing added or you can add yogurt, whipped cream, crushed nuts, etc. Or use it to makepineapple upside-down cake, as an addition to a meat dish or as a decoration atop a dessert.
   
   
   

EditVideo

This video shows a clear technique on how to peel and cut a pineapple.

EditTips

• The white fibrous matter in the core tastes bitter but some people like this taste. It is safe to eat, and healthy (it contains antioxidants), but it may not be to your texture because it's generally tough, although the actual taste is mild and quite appealing.
• Pineapples are low in fat and cholesterol free. They contain vitamin C and trace essential nutrients. And they are brimful of great fiber.
• Pineapples contain bromelin; this is an enzyme that breaks down protein. This makes pineapple juice great for marinating tough meat but don't marinate for too long or the meat will fall apart. Bromelin also stops gelatin from setting, so if you want to make gelatin desserts using pineapple, either cook it first or used the canned version, as both processes destroy bromelin.

EditWarnings

• 

   Don't eat the skin; it's tough and undesirable.
  Exercise the usual caution when using a knife. Make sure that the base of the pineapple is stable before slicing off the fruit skin.

EditThings You'll Need

• Cutting board
• Sharp kitchen knife
• Pastry/dough cutter if coring pineapple rings