We just LOVE pineapples. Sweet ones that is! When we lived in the Dominican Republic, we often saw pineapple plants growing along the side of the road, or in someone’s yard. The reason they are so expensive is that they take a LONG time to grow. And the plant only produces 1 pineapple, every other year (so I’m told!). The leaves of the pineapple plant have a beautiful pink and green coloring, but watch out…they are spiky and prickly!
When I go to choose a pineapple, I look for one that has a tint of yellow all the way up the pineapple. If the bottom of the pineapple is yellow, but the top portion is still green-ish, then it won’t be as sweet as it could/should be! If the pineapple is “all green” pass it by…it won’t be sweet at all!
Another helpful hint is to smell the bottom yellow part of the pineapple. Does it smell sweet? If so, then get it!
Removing the “pineapple hat” can be done 1 of 2 ways, depending on how tight it is still on the pineapple. The first way is to take your hand up from the bottom of the “hat” and grab the “hat.” With a good grip on the “hat,” give it a hard twist. If the “hat” is loose, it will twist off easily. If that doesn’t work, try #2…
Method #2…It’s difficult to see from the picture, but I am banging the “hat” on the edge of a counter. Give it a good whack on the counter edge, as close to the bottom of the “hat” as you can. It should pop off on the first whack…if you whacked hard enough!!! If not, try it again.
Once the “hat” is off, cut off the top and bottom of the pineapple.
Sit the pineapple up right and slice off all the edges (I do realize there is another method to cut them, where you cut out the core before removing the “skin”. I don’t think this method gives you “the most fruit”!).
Be sure to cut off all the “eyes” that you see. It is said that bacteria can live in there, so you want to remove them all.
Make 4 downward cuts around the core leaving 4 large hunks of pineapple. Remove any last little “eye” parts.
Slice or dice as you wish.
If your pineapple is super sweet and juicy, you might consider juicing it in a juicer and then freezing the juice in ice cube trays. You can then add a few cubes to a smoothie to give it that extra sweetness that can only come from a pineapple!
Great Tips! I’ve always been scared to cut my own pineapple…now I gotta try 🙂
I love your “how-to’s!” This one is great! I’ve never bought a pineapple because I didn’t know how to cut it! Thanks Erin!
Extremely useful post. Our favorite pineapple is the Maui Gold–unfortunately it’s also one of the most expensive and difficult to get pineapples out there! Not exactly a frugal fruit.
Let me also say that It’s been a pleasure catching up on your new and improved site!
Dan
Casual Kitchen
Another way to tell whether a pineapple is ripe (learned while I was in Mexico) is to reach into the top “hat” as you call it and try to pull out one of the smallest leaves. If it comes out easily with little effort on your part, the pineapple is ripe. It’s worked for me for the past year. Thanks for the tips!
I never knew how to choose a Pineapple in the store. Thanks!
I never knew how to cut or choose a pineapple. I wish I had seen this before going to the grocery today. I siged as I passed the pineapples again. I always have had to buy them already cut or canned so we rarely get to have pineapples.
Thank you!!!
I have one of these (http://www.amazool.com/en/new-kitchen-gadget-pineapple-peeler-corer-slicer-cutter.html) and it makes life so easy…and I think I’m allergic to pineapple “eyes” anyway – they make my tongue swell up/hurt if I get any of the brown in my mouth! 🙁
Thank you for sharing your tips! I LOVE pineapple but never buy it for fear of getting a not-so-good one. Question: Do you know a pineapple will last after it’s been cut into? It’s just my hubby and I, so that’s another reason I never buy pineapple – I’m not sure how long it will last after I cut into it or what else to do with it once I have.
Love this site, btw!
From my experience, a pineapple will last 4-6 days in the fridge. If you don’t think you’ll eat it, freeze the cubes for use in future fruit smoothie!
From my experience, a pineapple will last 4-6 days in the fridge. If you don’t think you’ll eat it, freeze the cubes for use in future fruit smoothie!
P.S.: Wanted to say great post!
We were thinking alike. I just cut a pineapple and thought…hmm…I wonder if this would make a good blog post and then 2 people did it within 2 days. 🙂
Rinsing the fruit before you eat it will help to remove a lot of the acid and will give it a sweeter taste (learned this on the dole plantation in Hawai’i!). Also – I love to eat the core!!! It’s not as tangy, and has TONS of fiber.
Thanks for the tips! Never thought to rinse the fruit 🙂 Or eat the core!
Erin
You can just bypass pulling off the “hat” and lop it off with your top cut. Saves a step.
Erin, I am tagging you with the Attitude of Gratitude Award! I think your blog is awesome, and I have made some of your dinners, which helps my budget out tremendously.
I hope you will participate and accept this award.
http://mamanordy1.blogspot.com/2009/04/when-life-gives-you-lemons.html
Debbi
I bought a pineapple for $1.25 this week! I live in Chicago and bought a Jewel Osco Dole Pineapple (on sale for $2.00) and used a Dole $.75 off coupon. Yeah for cheap pineapple.
Now I feel better equipped to choose a good one!
I just cut open my pineapple ($1.50 from Ralphs) with your instructions on my computer screen – it was so easy and simple! Thank you!
Yeah! So glad you could enjoy it!!!
Just an FYI to go along with your method, if you let your pineapple sit upside down over night on the counter, can leave for a day or so, it will be sweet all the way thru, even if it is still a little green. The juices from the bottom go through out the pineapple.
I am a pampered chef consultant, and the pampered chef just came out with a Pineapple Wedger (item #2416) for $18.00. It is an awesome tool!!!
Check to see if your grocery store will cut and core them. My grocery store Kroger will do it for free.
I love my pineapple corer from Williams-Sonoma! I know 4 people who have boughten them after seeing ours in use! 🙂
I wish I would have read this BEFORE I purchased my pineapple. Oh well. Better luck next time. Thanks so much for the tips!