quick tips

how to cut a pineapple

Pineapple is one of our very favorite fruits, and we go through at least one a week.

For a long time, I was intimidated by the idea of cutting a pineapple, so I stuck with canned, but it’s actually really easy.

They offer special pineapple cutting tools, but they’re unnecessary. Here’s how I do it with a knife and apple corer (you could do it without the apple corer, but since I have one, I use it!):

how to cut a pineapple

Start with a fresh pineapple. This one was actually slightly overripe because it took me a few days to get to it after we brought it home. A ripe pineapple will smell ripe and have a golden tint.

how to cut a pineapple

Cut off the crown and the base.

how to cut a pineapple

Cut the pineapple in half and begin slicing around the edge to remove the skin. A Dominican friend of mine once told me that the brown spots cause cold sores. I have no idea if that’s scientifically proven or not, but I figure Dominican’s know their pineapples, so I don’t take any chances.how to cut a pineapple

Next, push the apple corer through the round base (oops, I forgot to take a picture of that step!). In my experience, the pineapple holds onto the corer pretty tightly, so I usually just slice the base in half and the core falls right out. Then cut each half into slices. For the bottom half, where the core is thicker, it sometimes takes two or three times to remove all of the core, which is hard and inedible.

If you don’t have an apple corer, simply slice your round pineapple into slices and then core each slice with the knife, just like you’d do apple slices.

how to cut a pineapple

Cut the pineapple slices into chunks, and you’re done!

Pretty easy, right?

How do you cut a pineapple?

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Quick Tip: Substitute Apple Sauce for Oil

source: cjmartin

One of the easiest substitutions you can make in your kitchen is to substitute applesauce for vegetable oil in baked goods like cake, muffins, brownies and more. By replacing liquid oils with applesauce, you lower the calories and fat in a recipe.

Here are a few tips for using applesauce in baked goods:

  • Applesauce can be replaced at a 1:1 ratio. So if your recipe calls for 1/2 cup oil, you can replace that with 1/2 cup applesauce.
  • Be sure to buy sugar-free, all-natural applesauce since your recipe probably doesn’t need more sugar.
  • Baked goods may be slightly chewier with applesauce than with oil.
  • If you’re worried about applesauce changing the texture of your recipe, you can substitute a portion of the oil rather than the whole amount.
  • Other fruit purees work as well because they all contain pectin, which acts a lot like oil in the recipe.

We’ve always had really good results replacing oil with applesauce in breads, cakes and muffins. I’ve never tried replacing it in cookies, but I’d love to hear your thoughts if you have!

Have you used applesauce or other fruit purees as a substitute in baked goods?

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Quick Tip: Defrosting a Frozen Turkey

November 23, 2010

If you’re worried that your turkey isn’t going to be thawed in time for you to start baking it on Thursday, use a a cold water bath to help speed up the process. Submerge your turkey in cold water, changing the water every 30 minutes until your turkey is thawed all the way. Whatever you [...]

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