How to Clean a Pineapple

Pineapple is a versatile addition to any number of dishes.

The pineapple is an extremely versatile fruit, delicious in fruit salads, desserts and Asian dishes. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, pineapples are also high in vitamin C, potassium, and bromelain, an enzyme that aides in digestive health. While many grocery stores carry freshly cut pineapple slices or chunks, buying a whole pineapple saves you money, and preparing a pineapple yourself is easy.

Things You'll Need

• Pineapple
• Serrated knife
• Paring knife
• Cutting board

Instructions

1. 

   Select a ripe pineapple by testing its firmness.

   Select a ripe pineapple, because unripe pineapple is difficult to cut and less sweet in taste. Similar to an avocado, when squeezed gently, a ripe pineapple will be firm to the touch and give only slightly, while an unripe pineapple will simply be firm. Because you will cut away all the skin, no washing or cleaning is necessary.

2. 

   Cut off the top.

   Lay the pineapple on its side on a cutting board. Using a serrated knife, cut off the top of the pineapple, about an inch below the leaves.

3. Cut off about an inch of the bottom of the pineapple as well.

4. Stand the pineapple upright, and slice off the skin with a serrated knife.

5. 

   Using a paring knife, cut out any brown spots.

   Lay the pineapple on its side, and use a paring knife to pry or cut out the remaining brown "eyes," or spots of skin left on the pineapple. Insert the tip of the knife into the brown spot, and cut around the spot until it detaches.

6. 

   Cut into circular slices.

   Use the serrated knife again to cut the pineapple into circular slices.

7. 

   Use the paring knife to remove the hard core in the center of each slice. Insert the tip of the knife near the center, and cut in a circle to remove the core.

Tips & Warnings

• While you can store leftover pineapple in the refrigerator, pineapple goes bad within two to three days. You should discard pineapple when it is noticeably sour or acidic in both taste and smell.

References

• United States Department of Agriculture: Pineapples Fact Sheet
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Fruit of the Month: Pineapple

Resources

• "The New York Times"; Grilled Pineapple Salsa; Mark Bittman; July 2006