Last week I was at Subway grabbing a sandwich for lunch. I had my back turned to the counter as I chatted with my sister, who had just ordered the turkey, bacon, and avocado sub. In the middle of our conversation she lowered her head and mumbled, “Um, looks like someone could really use an Our Best Bites tutorial on how to cut an avocado…” I turned to see a gawky teenage boy absolutely murdering the poor thing. It’s at times like these that I realize our simple little tutorials on “how to cut a…” really do have the potential to revolutionize the world. Or at least make some of your lives easier!
We’ve done mango, kiwi, watermelon, corn on the cob, ginger, jalapenos, and much much more. (Check out our Tips and Tutorials Page for a full list. Well, a mostly full list. We admittedly suck at updating our indexes.) Summer is a great season for pineapple so I figured it was about time we add this beauty to the list!
Repeat this step around the pineapple until all of the skin is off. If you still have some little pits in there, just use a paring knife, or the edge of a vegetable peeler to remove them.
At this point, you could cut the pineapple into slices, and use a paring knife to remove the core.
More often though, I need chunks, and in that case just cut the entire pineapple in half from top to bottom, and then cut both halves in half so you have 4 pieces like this:
Now let me show you one of my favorite kitchen gadgets. I have a million gadgets, and half of them aren’t really all that useful and end up sitting on shelves and in cupboards (but note that they look really cool sitting there…) This one really does get used all the time. It’s a pineapple cutter. They’re really inexpensive and you can even find them a lot of times in the produce section of the grocery store, next to the pineapple. That’s where my Mom discovered them years ago and our family has been using them, and giving them as gifts ever since.
The pineapple is a symbol of hospitality, so I think one of these cool cutters along with a fresh pineapple makes a great housewarming or hostess gift. Plus it’s unique. Who else will get them a pineapple cutter?? You’ll be the coolest friend ever.
Note that in most recipes you can substitute fresh for canned.
Okay so I live in hawaii Eat and Grow pineapples but do I know how to cut one!! Ummm, No, but I am learning!!! and this is a great tip!! But I do really need one of those awesome twisty things!!!
Where do you get one?
Aloha Shar
Thank you for showing how to cut things, and explaining exactly how to do things step by step. My mom never taught me how to cut things up easily and I spend a lot of time wasting and butchering things up trying to make them look good! Thanks again!
This is fabulous! I've never bought a whole fresh pineapple because (1) I'm not sure how to pick a good one and (2) how to cut it once I'm home. Thanks for the lovely tutorial. How do you know how to pick a good pineapple? I'm 6mos pregnant and seriously craving some now!
I have to say, today is my first time visiting your site and I am a fan for life! I can't wait to go home and try your recipes. You are great at making them so simple to follow. Thank you so much for taking the time to make this for everyone in cyberworld, including me!
I LOVE fresh pineapple! When we were stationed in Guam my husband did a lot of traveling and would have to fly through Hawaii. I told him I would not pick him up from the airport unless he brought me fresh pineapple. There's nothing better then pineapple that's been picked the day before!
ooh ooh! Emily, I vote for shipping me down there!
That is so cool!
That is so cool, I should get me one of that pineapple cutter. Great tutorial 🙂
Nate and I have a favorite Restaurant here that makes this TO-DIE-FOR pineapple salsa. Seriously. It is SOOOO good. Every time we eat it we always say, "okay, we need to figure out a way to ship a bottle of this to Sara so she can figure out how to make it."
I have no idea how to ship salsa. And if I don't figure it out soon, I'm shipping you down here instead!!!
Hooray for the pineapple cutter!!! We love ours!
Thanks, this was SUPER helpful! After almost 5 years of marriage, I have never cut a pineapple. I always make my hubby do it! I told him its a man's job (like grilling.) He doesn't really agree, but he does it anyway. I finally feel brave enough to try it on my own. And I will definitely buy that gadget if I ever see it!
I LOVE PINEAPPLE! I lived in Uganda for awhile, and that first way is actually the way my African neighbor taught me to cut pineapple. And I ate a pineapple every single day I was there. 🙂 But I have never seen a pineapple cutter and am going to order one off amazon today. Thanks!
Thanks for posting this…I never buy whole pineapples b/c I'm intimidated with cutting them!
Also, thanks for linking to old recipe- I love it when you do that, because you guys have SO MANY good recipes and I forget them. The Hawaiian turkey burgers look like a perfect summer dinner!
Thanks for always being a good resources for yummy food!
I have a Pampered Chef pineapple cutter that both cores and skins, but doesn't cut into slices. LOVE it.
and if there is a recipe for the pineapple drink… my email is
[email protected]
Is there a recipe for the drink you show inside the pinapple?
Thanks for sharing the pineapple cutter! I didn't know they existed.
I love your how-to tutorials! I cut a watermelon yesterday and it was so smooth because of you! And I used to never eat bacon because I hated the grease all over my kitchen–you've introduced that tasty food back into my life as well. I'm so glad I found you. Thanks!
Wow! I've never seen a pineapple cutter. Cool! Thanks for sharing!
My parents brought me back a pineapple from Hawaii. I've always been one to buy pineapple already chopped because I was too intimidated to cut my own. I did some research and ended up cutting mine the same way you did. It was so much easier than I had expected. I would love to get the gadget you showed as well. That might be the next kitchen gadget on my list. The other thing I learned while researching pineapple is that you want to rinse your pineapple after cutting it (some people even said soaking in salt water) to get rid of some of the acidity. Otherwise when you eat it your tongue and throat can feel a little weird.
I love kitchen gadgets and have never seen a pineapple cutter (or maybe never paid attention to one). Thank you for sharing all these lovely recipes.
Alleen
<3 it! What a cool toy!
Also if your pineapple is any bit sour, sprinkle with salt and you get instant sweet!
ooh! how I LOVE my pineapple cutter. It is the best thing in the whole world and now we eat pineapple all the time. So glad you shared the glory of those things!