The easiest part of preparing a pineapple is twisting off the crown from the base. Aunty used to hate the tedious chore of removing the skin with a peeler or knife. Many times, more of the pineapple was thrown away because of how difficult it is to score off the tough outside layer and dig out those hard “eyes” in the flesh before cutting the yummy parts into bite size pieces.
However, Aunty found a better way to slice and dice this hard fruit!
First, cut in half lengthwise, and then again, lengthwise.
Then, use a knife to scoop the fleshy part of the fruit away from the tough outer part.
Cut off the hard core portion and cut the yummy sweet juicy wedge into bite size pieces.
Eat, and enjoy. Wasn’t that SO much easier?
[pineapple eating tip: if the pineapple isn’t sweet enough for you, sprinkle a little bit of table salt on it.]
Yup, that’s how I learned to do it at Dole. 🙂
Kay,
I haven’t been to the Dole plantation since I was in elementary school!
It’s funny how locals don’t do half of what returnees or visitors do. We just stay in our own little communities and do our own thing. Meanwhile tourist fill their entire stay with absorbing as much activities and culture that Hawaii has to offer.
You are unusual with one foot in your local side and one in your Chicago side. Could there be any combination of cities that are more different from each other?
Did I tell you that I worked 3 summers at the Dole Pineapple cannery? I was a trimmer. Those 12 hour days really taught me what I didn’t want to do for the rest of my life.
Thank you for the great tip. This way is so much simpler. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it. I was only doing ’round’ or ‘doughnut’ cut before, dah..
For real, yeah?
I found that this technique works well with avocados, too! Cut lengthwise in quarters, remove seed, slice avocado meat lengthwise to your thickness preference, peel back the hard skin, and voila! Easy sliced pieces of avocado for your favorite salads, or in a sandwich like my favorite: bacon avocado on toasted sourdough with mayo. Yum! Now I am hungry.
Which reminds me that I need to finish up my recipe post based on your onolicious MushRoomy Chicken that is most wonderful! Now I am even hungrier!
Whaaaa??? I feel like eating pineapple now.
Me too, Jalna! Now it isn’t such a chore!