Cutting a pineapple 101 According to Nancy

There are probably a hundred or more ways to cut a fresh pineapple but this seems to work the best for me.....living in a country that grows amazing sweet pineapples we eat as many as we can.  Call it crazy but my favorite way to eat pineapple is to sprinkle cold ripe pineapple with Kosher salt and Cayenne pepper!

When I look for a good ripe pineapple, I look to see if it is golden in color and doesn't have any dark soft spots, then I give it the smell test...if it smells sweet like a pineapple should, then it is good.  I heard once that if you tug on the leaves in the center of the crown and they come out easy then it is good......I don't do that any more because it isn't always true!  Sight and smell is usually the best way for me to tell!

What's your favorite way to eat fresh pineapple?

first, cut the crown and the bottom off.....

Sit it up on one end and cut the skin away.....

When you look at the top you will see a lighter yellow  with a darker circle in the center.  that is the core and you want to cut that out.  If you want rings, when you get your pineapple to this point, you can buy a tool that will cut the core out and leave the outside in tact... Try Bed Bath and Beyond for one. http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com

You are going to make four cuts to cut the meat away from the core.

Some of these slices may be thicker than you want your pieces so you can cut them in half again to make smaller pieces.

Lay your slices flat and make two to three cuts the long way and then decide how big you want your chunks and cut the other way.........

                           There you have it!!!  Now you just have to decide how to use it!

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© Nancy Rappleye 2011