Pineapple is a tasty and healthy product. It is often used to decorate a festive table and various dishes. If it comes to our house in canned form or candied fruit, then there are no questions about how to peel and cut this fruit. And if we come across fresh fruit, it would seem, take it and eat it.
It's not that simple, dear friends. To appreciate all the delights of this tropical fruit, you need to understand the peculiarities of selection, cutting and preparation for serving.
Choose a ripe and juicy pineapple
Before you eat a delicious fruit, you need to choose it correctly. There are several simple rules for choosing pineapples, following which you will certainly be satisfied with your purchase. Let's take a closer look at what you should pay attention to first:
- the leaves at the top should be a rich green color, without yellowness or spots. The leaves of a ripe fruit are easily torn off by hand, without unnecessary effort;
- do not buy these tropical fruits without the top - most likely, this indicates the beginning of rotting of the plant;
- an overly tight tip indicates unripe fruit;
- the peel of a ripe fruit has a yellow-green color, a uniform brown tint of the scales indicates the overripeness of the tasty fruit;
- To the touch, ripe pineapples have an elastic shell that restores its natural shape when lightly pressed with a finger. Increased hardness or softness of the shell indicates an unripe or overripe state;
- any visible deformations that occur during transportation or storage may make this product unsuitable for consumption; if there is visible damage, you should not risk your health; the product may be damaged;
- pay attention to the aroma. It should be soft, appetizing, reminiscent of a melon. The smell should under no circumstances be pungent or offensive.
Tips and precautions
Miss Clean magazine recommends following these rules when choosing and cleaning a tropical fruit:
- The most delicious pulp is located right under the crust. So be careful not to cut too much. The more skin you grab, the less pulp will remain.
- If you choose fresh pineapple for your dish, then pay attention to its ripeness. How to determine that the fruit is ripe: it is heavy, dense to the touch, there should be no brown spots. Tap the fruit, the sound should be dull.
- If the fruit is green and brown in color, this does not mean that it is unripe. Another way to check: pull out a leaf from the very middle of the tuft. It should come off easily and look dry. Unripe pineapples have green foliage.
- The most important indicator of ripeness is the aroma. It should be pleasant, but not too pronounced. A rich smell indicates overripe and fermented pulp, which is dangerous to health to eat.
- Don't be nervous during the cleaning process, be patient. Sudden movements can result in a cut or injury.
- The purchased pineapple can be left upside down overnight. This will help make it sweeter in the morning. A large supply of sugars is concentrated in the lower part of the fruit. If you don't turn it over, you can cut off all the sweet stuff when peeling.
- Be sure to remove the core. It contains substances that can burn the mucous membrane.
Let peeling a pineapple give you only pleasure and not a nervous breakdown. Bon appetit!
Useful properties of pineapple
Pineapple is not only a very tasty delicacy, but also a storehouse of useful vitamins and microelements. It contains sucrose, iron, copper, calcium, zinc and iodine, vitamins A, B, C, ascorbic and citric acid. It is recommended to be used for problems with the gastrointestinal tract, thrombosis, edema, obesity, etc.
86% of pineapple pulp is water. It is a low-calorie food (100 g of product contains 48 kcal). The potassium salt contained in the fruit improves the body's metabolism and removes excess fluid. One hundred grams of this delicious dish contains the daily requirement of vitamin C and 75% of the norm of manganese to strengthen bones and connective tissues.
When moving through air and water, a glass of pineapple juice will help prevent nausea. Pineapples are often used for cosmetic purposes.
Peel like potatoes
Pineapple is an overseas fruit, but housewives have learned to peel it like an ordinary potato. In this case, both a sharp knife and a special device for removing thin skin will be suitable as a tool. The whole process will look like this.
- The pineapple must be thoroughly washed and the top removed.
- Taking a knife, you should peel the fruit in a spiral, gradually moving from top to bottom.
- If the top layer is too thick, then you need to grab a small area with a knife.
After some time, you will have a peeled pineapple in your hand. You can cut it in any convenient way, into circles, cubes, sticks. This fruit will delight you not only with its taste and pleasant aroma, but also with its beneficial properties.
What tools are needed to peel a pineapple?
Depending on the chosen cleaning method, we will need the following kitchen equipment:
- 2 large well sharpened knives. The pineapple shell is quite strong and the size of the fruit is often not small, so the knife should be as convenient as possible.
- a small potato knife is perfect for removing remaining eyes after peeling;
- cutting board (dimensions and material of the product are at your discretion, the main criterion is convenience and practicality);
- a potato peeler is a good alternative to a potato knife;
- container for the finished product - a large deep plate is perfect, in which it will be convenient to put the chopped pieces.
- A slicer is an indispensable thing for frequent consumption of pineapple, which will reduce the time of cutting the exotic fruit to a minimum.
The border between the peel and the pulp contains the substance bromelain, which is very useful. Its use promotes the breakdown of fats. But it has one significant drawback: due to its increased acidity, when it comes into contact with the mucous membrane, it causes a burning sensation and irritation of the mucous membrane. In this regard, the cleaning and cutting process is performed with two different knives.
Video: how to peel a pineapple with a knife
Peeling a pineapple with a knife
If you have nothing at hand except a knife, then you can remove the inedible top layer of the pineapple with its help. But first you need to thoroughly rinse the fruit, removing all contaminants from the skin, after which you can begin the process. The following algorithm of actions will help you do everything correctly.
- First, the top is removed. The location of the cut is the base of the last leaf.
- After this, the fruit is cut into two equal parts in the middle.
- By making small cuts between the flesh and the skin, you can easily separate one from the other. This must be done from top to bottom, gradually moving in a circle and peeling the fruit.
- First, the skin is removed from one part, then from the other.
This is the easiest way to peel a pineapple to obtain pulp that can be cut lengthwise, into slices or into cubes. To work, you should take a large knife, and as sharp as possible, then you won’t need to put in too much effort.
Step-by-step instructions and methods on how to peel a pineapple
The difficulty of peeling a pineapple is due to the external structure of the shell, which has a grooved shape. If you cut it incorrectly, you can ruin the taste of the fruit. We will analyze in detail the cleaning methods on which you will spend a minimum of time and pamper your loved ones with a juicy dessert.
Vertical trimming
This cleaning method is suitable if you need to get solid rings. Recommended for fresh consumption and preparation of various dishes. The pruning process using this method occurs in the following sequence:
- remove the top and bottom of the fruit. The layer to be removed should be approximately 1-2 cm. Since the pulp in these areas is hard, you should not be particularly sorry for it;
- place the trimmed fruit on a cutting board in a vertical position (according to the name of the method);
- Using a sharp long knife, trim the peel around the entire perimeter. Choose the thickness of the layer yourself, it depends only on the time required: if you don’t have time, remove the thick layer, the eyes will remain on the peel, and you will lose some of the pulp. For thinner layers of peeling, the surface will have to be refined with a potato peeler or a thin sharp knife;
- remove the core using a thin, sharp knife.
Eastern method of preparing pineapple
In eastern countries, pineapple is often served for dessert. This is a quick cleaning method, since it does not remove the peel; the cutting occurs in slices resembling a melon in shape. The stages of the cleaning process are as follows:
- cut the delicacy into four equal parts, without damaging the top with leaves;
- On each part, separate the peel from the pulp by cutting it with a sharp knife;
- Carefully remove the core from each cut piece;
- Use a sharp knife to chop the pineapple pulp into large, equal pieces;
- Place the chopped pieces on the previously separated parts of the peel.
In this rather practical way, you can please your guests with a beautifully served dish, without spending a lot of time and effort.
Partial peeling of the fruit for your own consumption
This is a good cleaning method when eating the fruit at home. The pineapple is expected to be eaten piecemeal and care must be taken to ensure it does not spoil prematurely. Taking into account the fact that the shelf life of this product without peel is significantly reduced. The cleaning algorithm is as follows:
- cut off the top;
- cut off several thin rings;
- Using a knife, cut off the peel from the resulting rings;
- cut the resulting pulp into slices;
- remove the core from the resulting slices;
- Cover the rest of the product with cling film and put it in the refrigerator. The shelf life in this form ranges from 2 to 7 days, depending on the maturity of the fruit.
Is it difficult to cut a pineapple at home?
In fact, not everyone can peel and cut this exotic fruit so as not to get dirty and exhausted. But there are some general cutting schemes and rules, the observance of which will save you from unnecessary hassle:
- It is better to cut the pineapple before serving to maintain its juiciness and fresh appearance.
- Use a sharp knife.
- If you find it difficult to hold the massive fruit in your hands, do not remove the green tail of the pineapple, but hold on to it.
- During the cleaning process, you should make sure that there are no hard dark spots left in the pulp, which spoil the taste and appearance of the fruit ready for serving.
- The hard fibrous core of the fruit must also be removed: it is not considered edible.
The average weight of a pineapple is one and a half kilograms, so cutting it requires knowledge and skill
Squeezing out the pulp with a special knife
For special gourmets of this delicacy, a special slicer is perfect. A very necessary thing in the household. With its help, the pineapple is cut into perfect slices. The shape of the slicer resembles a plastic or metal corkscrew with sharp plates, specially designed for this type of fruit.
Slicers are mechanical and electrical, for household and industrial purposes. The process of cutting with a mechanical household device is quite simple and will not take more than two minutes:
- cut off the top with leaves from the pineapple, place the tropical fruit in a vertical position;
- insert the slicer into the core of the pineapple and screw it into the pulp according to the principle of a regular corkscrew;
- having reached the base, remove the slicer from the fruit.
You will end up with an empty bowl-shaped peel and perfectly cut flesh in the shape of circles.
Remove the core from the peel and you have an original container for fruit salad in pineapple!
Decorative basket for a festive feast
Another great option to surprise your guests is the way of serving an exotic fruit in a basket. Thanks to a good imagination, you can make a very original thing. To make a basket you need:
- Cut the pineapple into two equal parts.
- Cut out all the pulp, paying attention to the thickness of the resulting walls; they should not be too thin.
- Carefully cut cubes and triangles from the resulting pulp.
- Place the juicy pieces into pre-prepared baskets. If desired, you can add grapes or mint leaves.
The resulting baskets can be used for fruit salads made from other berry ingredients. Baskets with cut-out handles will look impressive.
Method 4
- If pineapple rings are required, first carefully remove the core and then remove the peel.
- Pineapple for salad and pizza is cut into small pieces. First, the fruit is divided into four parts, cutting it lengthwise. Then, without much difficulty, the inedible core is removed from the quarters and crushed into pieces of the desired size.
- If you are interested in a decorative way to serve pineapple on the table, you can form a basket.
An integral part of table setting for a holiday is the beautiful presentation of fresh fruit. And, of course, many housewives are interested in issues related to beautiful and, importantly, correct cutting of fruit. It is important that they not only look bright and festive on the table, combining them with the main dishes and the theme of the evening. It is important to remember that guests will want to not only admire them, but also try them. Therefore, it is necessary to cut fruits so that they are convenient to eat.
How to properly core a pineapple?
It is not recommended to eat the pineapple core; it is tough and fibrous. Depending on the form of further use of the pineapple, there are different ways to extract the central part. Let's look at them in more detail:
- If it is necessary not to damage the integrity of the fruit, you can use a long, sharp knife with a narrow blade.
- You can get rid of the core by cutting the fruit into rings and using a small knife to remove everything unnecessary.
- The easiest way is to cut the pineapple into 4 parts and cut out the core with a knife.
Some doctors still recommend eating the central part of the pineapple to prevent intestinal constipation, since dietary fiber is not absorbed by the body and is excreted.
Big trouble
The biggest problem with this life hack is that pineapple is a rather juicy fruit. So if you continue to separate its particles from each other, the juice will begin to actively secrete. Over time, your desk and hands will become unpleasantly sticky.
It’s good to wash often: myths about shampoo and hair care that only harm
"Dad is offended." Agata Muceniece about her relationship with Priluchny after the divorce
A Brazilian travels 36 km by bike every day to take his loved one home.
Do you like guys with long hair?
Not really
Of course, there is evidence that you can actually peel a pineapple this way quite easily. However, there is also a high probability that the fruit in the video was of the Tainung variety. It was specially bred in Taiwan. Its pulp is not only incredibly soft, but also has a slight juiciness, so that very little juice flows from it. Also suitable for this situation are Japanese tiny pineapples from Ishigaki, Okinawa. Unfortunately, it is simply impossible to buy them in Russia.
Based on this, we can say that it is almost impossible to conduct such an experiment at home, especially if you do not want to do the cutting in the bathroom to prevent a mess. So the best option would be to simply take a knife and cut the fruit into standard bite-sized pieces.
How to peel a pineapple at home - step-by-step photos and life hacks
As we have already noted, pineapple goes well with many foods. This is an ideal option for preparing canapés:
Expert opinion
Ekaterina Korneva, expert in the field of care, cleanliness and beauty
I will help you understand all the intricacies.
Now you know how to cut a pineapple beautifully so that it is convenient to eat, and not just admire the culinary masterpiece. And the non-standard shape of the fruit allows you to fulfill your culinary fantasies and offers many unusual cutting methods. How to peel and core a pineapple: 5 ways For any questions, please contact me, I will be happy to answer!
Cutting the fruit beautifully: creating a fruit plate
After we have figured out the options for cleaning pineapple, the question arises: how to beautifully serve the sliced product and surprise your guests with the original design of this exotic dish? There are many ways to present juicy ripe fruit on a fruit plate with a bright and beautiful design. We will analyze one of them in detail:
- Wash the pineapple well under running water and dry it thoroughly with a towel;
- cut off the top with the leaves and put it aside for a while, we will still need it for further decoration;
- cut the ripe fruit into 5 equal parts;
- Carefully cut off all the peel from each cut part, try not to spoil it;
- place the pulp on a cutting board and use a knife to separate each piece with one longitudinal and four transverse cuts;
- take a large plate, arrange the peels in a circle in the form of boats and carefully place the resulting pieces back into their peels;
- place the green top in the central part of the plate;
- wash some cherries and cherries, prick them onto skewers, insert the skewers into each slice of juicy pineapple;
- Place pieces of other fruits and berries between the boats. The following will do the job perfectly: apples, pears, plums, bananas, kiwis and other delicious treats.
Show your imagination and create your own unique composition of a fruit plate. Feel free to experiment; on the Internet there are many options for various dishes that will become a real decoration for your table.
Selective cleaning method
- Divide the fruit into four quarters;
- Now you need to quickly peel the pineapple from the inner hard core - cut it with a knife on both sides;
- Peel each quarter in sequence;
- Now cut the strip into slices of the desired width. Ready!
A bowl in the form of a basket, inside of which the filling is placed, will look especially impressive when served during a banquet. In addition to pineapple pieces, the composition can be supplemented with other tropical fruits and bright berries. Contrasting ingredients will make the dish more solemn and elegant, so strawberries, raspberries and currants are perfect additions.
Folk remedies Recipes for masks At home Hair loss in women How to stimulate growth Causes of hair loss Hair loss in men Review of vitamins Helpful tips
Slicing into rings
The first method allows you to peel the pineapple with a knife and do the classic cutting into rings. Slices of the exotic fruit can then be used for pies, pizza, and salads.
The sequence of actions is as follows:
- You need to cut or pull out the tops from the pineapple. Then cut off the top and bottom in a layer about 2 cm thick.
- Place the fruit vertically and trim it successively (cut off the hard skin).
- Carefully remove dark “eyes” from the entire surface of the fruit.
- Cut crosswise into slices. Their thickness should be about the size of a finger.
- Carefully cut out the dense core from each circle with a knife. You will get the required rings.
They are then brushed with butter and grilled, followed by slicing according to the recipe.
Standard cutting
After the pineapple has been peeled using the first method, it needs to be cut into two pieces of unequal size. The proportion is 1/3 plus 2/3.
Next, a thick core is cut out from both parts. The larger piece is usually cut into semicircular slices. Cut the remaining part into cubes with a side of approximately 1 cm.
The cubes can then be used to prepare all kinds of salads and desserts. Half rings - grilled.