How to Cut a Pineapple

The Easiest Ways to Cut a Pineapple

In 17th-century America, the pineapple was a sign of hospitality. Since the fruit had to travel long distances, it was seen as a great delicacy. So why can it feel like such a—dare we say— inhospitable fruit? Fear not. Pineapple isn’t actually difficult to cut up. These four easy methods for cutting a pineapple (into rings, long quarters or planks, small segments, and the famous viral pineapple hack from TikTok) will make it easy to break into the spiky fruit. Note: You can refrigerate prepped pineapple in an airtight container for up to three days.

How to Remove Pineapple Skin

Don’t let the outer layer intimidate you. This easy method will help you get to the sweet insides of the fruit fast, so you can slice it up any way you like. (If you’re trying the TikTok hack, you can skip these three steps and proceed to the end of this article.)

First, remove the top and bottom of the pineapple. Place the fruit on your cutting board and use a sharp chef’s knife to slice off the spiky top. You want to cut about a half-inch from where the leaves meet the fruit. Do the same with the root end of the pineapple. Discard both.
Next, it's time to cut the skin. Stand the pineapple up so it rests on the bottom and use your knife to peel the skin, slicing along the curve of the fruit. (Don’t worry if a few of the brown “eyes” are left behind; you’ll go back to remove these.) Turn the pineapple as you cut away the skin, slicing off about 2-inch strips each time.
Finally, it's time to get rid of the eyes. Go back around with your knife and make shallow slices to remove the brown eyes, which allows you to retain as much fruit as possible. If you like, you can use a melon baller or paring knife to remove them too.

4 Easy Ways to Cut a Pineapple

1. Cut a Pineapple Into Rings

Lay the pineapple down on the cutting board and cut perpendicular to the core (the white, fibrous circle at the center of the fruit). Use a biscuit cutter to remove the core on each slice, then serve or proceed with your recipe. Rings make for easy grilled pineapple—and they’re a must on pineapple upside-down cake.

2. Create Long, Wide Planks

Slice vertically just next to the pale, circular core. Turn the pineapple again and repeat until you have four planks. Discard the pineapple core or use it (along with the outermost peels) to make a Mexican drink like tepache, and simply grill your planks.

3. Chunk Your Pineapple

Chop the long planks into thinner spears. For smaller pieces, slice the spears lengthwise, then crosswise to make about 1-inch chunks. Chop even finer for a pineapple salsa or leave in bigger pieces to make smoothies.

4. Try the Viral “How to Cut a Pineapple” Hack

Remember the TikTok trend of people eating pineapple with their hands like candy, ripping chunks right from the core without any chopping? It’s possible, but you need a very ripe pineapple. First, twist and pull to remove the prickly top. Tap the base of the fruit on a flat surface a few times, turning it as you go. Now, use your thumb and forefinger to firmly grasp one of the small vertical spikes and pull to remove a small section (which is the size of a typical pineapple chunk). Eat the fruity bits, tossing the rind, until the pineapple is gone.

How Do You Know When a Pineapple Is Ready to Cut?

No matter which approach you choose, make sure to pick a ripe pineapple: Look for mostly yellow—not green—flesh, and smell the root end for a sweet, slightly floral aroma. The flesh should also give slightly when you press it with your fingers. And before getting started, wash your pineapple and rub it dry with a towel. Though you won’t eat the skin or tuft of green leaves, you want to avoid dragging any bacteria from the outside of the fruit into its insides.

The Best HelloFresh Recipes and Dinner Ideas with Pineapple

As the culinary maxim goes, what grows together goes together. That’s why you’ll see pineapple appear in many recipes inspired by cuisine from Latin America, Southeast Asia, and other tropical areas—not that these HelloFresh recipes are limited by geography!

We’ll bring the pineapple—or any other dish you desire—to you each week if you sign up for a HelloFresh subscription today!

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