Tutorial Tuesdays: How to Peel a Pineapple

It's here! It's here!  I finally had time to start my Tutorial Tuesday series.

Today I'll show you how to peel a pineapple.  Please bear in mind that when I first learned this, I had to learn to do it with a machete!  I'm glad the knives I get to use have gotten less rustic.


Supplies: Cutting board on a secure surface (place a towel under it if it slides on the counter)
              Fresh Pineapple
              Large flexible serrated knife (a bread knife works well)
              A paring knife

Basic terminology: The spiky green leaves are the "crown".  The scales are the "eyes".  The "stem" end is the area where the pineapple was cut away from the plant.  The "core" is a fibrous center stalk that runs through the pineapple.

Step 1: Lay the pineapple on its side, with the crown facing the right.  If you are left-handed, you might find it easier to place the crown to the left.

Step 2: Using the serrated knife, cut across the pineapple, a half an inch below the crown. 

Step 3: Cut the bottom off the pineapple, approximately 1/2 inch above the stem end.

Step 4: Turn pineapple upright onto the stem end.  Begin slicing the peel off the pineapple from top to bottom. This is where having a flexible knife comes in handy, allowing you to follow the curve of the fruit.  Turn the fruit as you continue peeling the skin off.

Step 5: Lay the pineapple on it's side.  Those brown spots are the "eyes" and where where the scales grew out of the fruit.  They are edible, although the texture leaves a lot to be desired.  If you don't mind the texture of the eyes, you can skip ahead to Step 7.

Step 6:  Begin slicing the "eyes" off with a paring knife..  Hint- "eyes" grow in a diagonal line on a pineapple.  Rather than slicing each eye off individually, slide your knife under multiple eyes at a diagonal angle.

A pineapple that has had all the "eyes" removed.  Notice the diagonal slicing.

Step 7: Slice the pineapple in half.  (You may have some trouble slicing through the core.)

Step 8: Slice the fruit into spears.  Slice around the core to do this.  (The core is edible and contains a lot of juice.  However, I don't eat my cores.  I freeze them for juicing later.)  In this picture, the core are the two pieces on the bottom and the spears are the top pieces.

Step 9: Slice fruit into chunks.

Step 10: Move to storage vessel of choice and eat happily.