Ways to Cut Fresh Fruit
Fresh fruit is a refreshing and naturally sweet treat. Additionally, many fruits provide key vitamins and minerals for our bodies. The United States Department of Agriculture recommends 1 to 2 cups of fruit per day, depending on age and gender. No matter how you slice it, fruit is an important part of a daily diet; so sharpen your knives and hit up your local produce department. Does this Spark an idea?
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Berries
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Strawberries can be enjoyed whole or in easy bite-sized pieces. Most berries don't need to be cut; they are small and portable enough to simply be popped directly into your mouth following a thorough washing. The strawberry is the most common berry to be cut, as it tends to be larger and also has an inedible leafy bit and stem. Remove this stem with a small paring or utility knife; cut a small circle around the stem, then pluck it out using your fingers. Strawberries can be eaten whole, but can also be enjoyed sliced over a bowl of yogurt or cereal.
If you are planning on storing strawberries, do not hull or slice the berries until you plan to use them.
Citrus
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Orange slices can liven up a jar of juice. Citrus fruits, such as oranges, grapefruits and lemons, often come with thick skins that must be peeled before eating. Remove the skin in several ways. Cut the outer peel away in a spiral motion or cut off the very end of the fruit, then score the peel without cutting into its "meat." Peel the skin away using your fingers. Leave the skin on and cut the fruit into quarters, as a third option.
Use a very sharp knife; a dull knife can make peeling off citrus skin difficult, increasing the risk of injury.
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Melons
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Watermelon is a quintessential summer treat. Melons, such as cantaloupes and watermelons, can be intimidating to cut, as they have hard, outer exteriors. However, with a sharp knife and steady grip, slicing a melon is an easy experience. Peel a melon by turning it on its side and slicing off the ends. Then, in a spiral, slice off the rind. A sharp knife will be able to get between the rind and the actual edible part of the fruit, leaving more to enjoy!
Many people enjoy slices of melon with the rind attached so that they can hold the fruit with their hands. Slice a melon in half; then slice the halves into wheels. Cut the wheels into slices. This technique works well with watermelons.
Pomaceous Fruit
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Slicing an apple can help the eater stay away from the core. Apples and pears are two of the most recognizable pomaceous fruits, which grow on flowering trees. They are often eaten by biting directly into the fruit, but are also enjoyable sliced. Cut the fruit into quarters around the inedible core, and then slice each quarter into your desired size. For example, some people are fine with the size of each quarter, while others like thinner slices on which to nibble.
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References
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