How to Cut Pineapple

Pineapples are tropical, juicy fruits with a natural sweetness only a few can resist. It is often used as a finishing touch to fruit salads and cocktails. It is also served as a topping on pizza and can be blended to make flavoring for drinks. Although millions love it, most don’t really know how to cut pineapple properly. Take a moment to learn how to have your way with this prickly fruit.

Nutrients in Pineapples

The skin and leaves of pineapples are not edible, but the flesh and core are full of nutrients. Pineapples are surprisingly high in soluble and insoluble fiber. They also provide a decent amount of vitamins A; B and C. Minerals in pineapple flesh include manganese, magnesium, copper and folate. An interesting nutrient present in these fruits is bromelain. Bromelain is an anti-inflammatory nutrient that prevents blood clots and is sometimes used to treat worm infections.

Effect of Pineapples on Your Health

If you’ve been looking for a tasty way to get more fiber in your diet, pineapples are it. Constipation, diarrhea and unusual bowel movements are all indicators that you need more fiber. Increasing your dosage can ease these symptoms. Manganese and magnesium can improve the health of your bones, as well as stabilize your blood pressure.

Pineapples are also a good food for weight loss diets. They only have 50 calories per 100 grams. It is also believed that an adequate amount of copper can aid the metabolism, which might lead to accelerated weight loss.

How to Cut Pineapple the Right Way

Pineapples have needle-like leaves and a prickly skin. Therefore, be cautious with your hands and use a steady cutting board. It is common to have problems with cutting a pineapple for the first few times. Try practicing how to cut  pineapple until you master the technique.

Step 1:

Place your pineapple sideways on a firm cutting board. Using a sharp knife slowly cut off the stalk.

Step 2:

Once the stalk is off, slice off both the top and bottom of the pineapple until where the soft, edible flesh starts.

Step 3:

Stand the pineapple upright and cut all the rough skin off lengthwise.

Step 4:

After the skin is off, you will still have some brown divits or spots remaining on the flesh. You can easily remove these with a potato peeler or similar device.

Step 5:

Some pineapples have tender cores you can eat. However, others have hard cores. If you wish to remove this core, use a knife or “corer” to cut around it and throw it away.

Pineapple Serving Tips

Pineapples can add a sweet, tropical flavor to salads, meals, drink and even dairy. Cut thin slices of pineapple and use it to flavor pizzas and lean burgers. You can blend pineapple pieces to add to smoothies or add cubed pieces to yoghurt.

By learning how to cut pineapple correctly, you can bypass its prickly exterior to enjoy its juicy, nutritious core. Whether you slice it or juice it, this sweet fruit can be used to flavor everything from main courses to desserts.