How to Cut a Pineapple

The best way to cut a pineapple that looks so fancy and decorative. This is the perfect method for serving pineapple for any dinner or party! 

The Best way to Cut Pineapple

Pineapple is one of my ALL time favorite fruits! It is super sweet, juicy and full of flavor. It’s almost like eating candy! We love to cut it this way and serve it on a big fruit platter. It totally makes the whole platter and looks so pretty!

When I was little, my mom would always slice the pineapple and keep the skin, core and stem on. We all thought it was so fancy and couldn’t wait for dinner to dig in. I’ve continued to cut mine this way and always get questions on how I cut it, so I thought I would do a quick post for you.

How to Tell if it’s Ripe

When choosing a pineapple, use the tips below to tell if it’s ripe:

• Color. The more golden yellow the color is, the riper the fruit will be. Pineapples that are predominately green all over are not ripe enough to eat yet. If the color is beginning to look orange, that could indicate that it’s spoiled.
• Smell. The stem at the bottom should smell fragrant and sweet. If you can’t smell anything, it’s most likely not ripe enough.
• Touch. When you press on the outside skin, it should slightly give in. If it’s rock hard, it’s not ripe enough.
• Weight. The heavier it is (compared to others in similar size), the more juicy it is. The juice makes it weigh more.

How to Cut a Fresh Pineapple

1. Cut the pineapple in half lengthwise (cut all the way through the stem, leaving it on). Then cut in half again.
2. Take a small pairing knife and make a slice across the top 1/2″ down from the core.
3. Use the knife to go around the sides and bottom. The whole pineapple should be able to come out from the skin.
4. Then make 1/2″ slices across.

Once you’ve sliced your pineapple, push one piece out one end and another piece out the other end. Add toothpicks if desired for easy serving.

I love serving it with this way because it looks so fancy! It’s really easy and a fun way to serve pineapple for any dinner or party!

Another Easy Way to Slice Pineapple

If you don’t want to keep the pineapple in the skin, here’s another easy way to slice it.

1. Cut the ends of the pineapple off. Then vertically cut into 4 pieces.
2. Slice the core out at an angle on each piece.
3. Then carefully slice the skin off.
4. Slice into 1/2″ pieces. Cut in half again if you’d like smaller slices.

Freezing Instructions

If you have extra that you want to freeze for later, simply place the sliced pineapple on a baking sheet and flash freeze for 20-30 minutes, or until hard. This way it won’t stick together in clumps. Then add to a freezer bag or container and freeze for up to 3 months. I love adding frozen pineapple to all types of smoothie recipes. It helps make the consistency extra thick and creamy and adds great flavor.

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