How To Cut A Pineapple
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Delicious pineapple
Pineapple is one of my favourite fruits. My family loves it very much especially if it is sweet. I grew up eating lots of pineapples. Malaysia is a pineapple-growing nation. Pineapples are very sweet and cheap there. I used to plant them in my backyard. They are extremely delicious when plucked ripe from the plant.
Sweet, juicy pineapple
Pineapple is a very healthy fruit and comes with various health benefits. It is loaded with vitamins and minerals and rich in fiber. It is also rich in manganese, a trace mineral that is very important for building bones and connective tissues.
I buy pineapples very often and I always have to cut to serve everyone. I thought it’s high time my children learn how to cut pineapples. I had to show them. All you need is a very good, sharp knife and I mean very sharp. You need a chopping board too.
Almost all my friends who saw me cut pineapples were surprised. It’s obvious they do it very differently. This is how I always do it. I think cutting this way minimises wastage. I actually enjoy cutting out the eyes of the pineapple. I thought it’s fun.
Cut off the skin
Firstly, cut off the top and the bottom of the pineapple. Let it sit on one end and then cut off the skin from top to bottom.
Cut out the eyes
Then cut out the eyes, row by row, turning the pineapple as you cut.
Skin and eyes removed
After that’s done, rinse the pineapple under water to clean it and then cut into half. Slice into small pieces lengthwise.
Cut into sections
Cut off the tough centre and then cut into smaller pieces. You can enjoy eating them just as they are or you can sprinkle some salt over it. Not only does salt make it taste sweeter but it helps to prevent your tongue being ‘cut’ by the pineapple. When we were young, we even ate it with soya sauce and sugar. You can also make pineapple juice too, which is another of my family favourites.
Do you like pineapples? How do you cut your pineapples? Please share, add and comment in the comment box below.
Other pineapple recipe that you may be interested in:
Popular Pineapple Tarts
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42 Comments
Viviane on January 4th, 2010
I love pineapple. This is a very creative entry! I never really cut pineapple, not that I remember but I am sure I did not do it as beautifully. My mom usually cuts these stuff. I like them when they are a bit tart though. Actually I love all my fruits a bit tart.
Cool entry!
3hungrytummies on January 4th, 2010
Haha that’s how we do it at home too 
How much do you pay for a pineapple over there?
DianasaurDishes on January 4th, 2010
That’s how I cut pineapples too! My aunties in Hawaii taught it to me.
penny aka jeroxie on January 4th, 2010
I cut the pineapple the same way. I love it with black sauce and red cut chillies!
The Cooking Ninja on January 4th, 2010
I never did slice out the eyes so nicely like u did. Thanks for the tips.
Mary on January 4th, 2010
@Christine@Christine’s Recipes - I can only do it with a very sharp knife. I once bought a very expensive knife just because of the pineapple! But I have learned how to sharpen a knife. Pineapples here can be tricky. Quite a gamble at times. Some are very sour. I still miss all the sweet, juicy pineapples back home.
@Viviane - Wow…you are too pampered by your mom. I think I have pampered my girls enough. They have to learn now 
If I buy pineapples here I like to keep them for a day or 2. It will be sweeter then. I only like them sweet.
@3hungrytummies - I guess that’s the way we cut pineapple at home but it seems different here. Some of my friends cut the skin very thick in order to cut off the eyes at the same time. I think there’s a lot of wastage cutting it that way. Here, it costs about £2 for a fairly big one or £2 for 2 small ones. Very expensive compared to home.
@DianasaurDishes - Looks like people in hot countries, or pineapple-growing countries, cut pineapples this way 
@Penny aka jeroxie - We sure make our pineapples more worth the money cutting it this way I can imagine the fabulous taste….black soya sauce with cut chillies. I know you need to add chilies to every dish if you can
@The Cooking Ninja - That shows how much pineapples I have cut :D. It’s not easy but after a few practices like what @Christine said, it becomes easier and better. So, more practice for you
pegasuslegend on January 4th, 2010
Wow this is very informative I thought I knew everything about pineapple cutting till I read this thanks for the information!!!! GReat job Mary
Christine @ Fresh Local and Best on January 4th, 2010
This is how my mom taught me to cut a pineapple, and it’s my favorite way to slice into these beauties.
Sarah, Maison Cupcake on January 4th, 2010
I love fresh pineapple and won’t be scared to cut it up now. thanks!
Little Inbox on January 4th, 2010
It takes me really long to cut an pineapple, and it’s slippery too, not so easy to handle.
Mary on January 4th, 2010
@Pegasuslegend - Thanks very much. You are most welcome.
@Christine @ Fresh Local and Best - Me, too…just how I was brought up. I see that hawkers are very good in doing it…so fast!
@Sarah, Maison Cupcake - I can see that you are going to eat more pineapples now
@Little Inbox - I used to have difficulty in cutting it but have improved. I buy smaller ones these days so that I can hold it well in my left hand while I cut with my right hand.
Shirley on January 4th, 2010
This is exactly how we cut it here. I will be cutting one tomorrow, mine is waiting at the counter. Good post!
Angie@Angie's Recipes on January 4th, 2010
Very professional way to cut pineapple. Well done!
Divina on January 4th, 2010
Nice looking pineapple. We also peel our pineapples like this but it’s our maid who is doing for us. I want to eat some pineapples now.
anncoo on January 4th, 2010
I just bought an pineapple yesterday and it was so sweet and juicy~~hehee…already inside my stomach. I remember last time, the fruit seller will cut the pineapple in quarter and there was dipping sauce (dark soy sauce, sugar and red chilli) at the side for us to dip the pineapple in the sauce.
I think the sweetest pineapple were from Philippines and Sarawak.
Amy @ Simply Sugar and Gluten Free on January 4th, 2010
I have never seen anyone cut the eyes out that way. What a neat idea! I don’t eat much pineapple because it’s a pain to clean. I do clean my melons the same way - buy cutting off the ends and then trimming the skin. I might have to give your method a try.
TasteHongKong on January 4th, 2010
Mary, a salute to you. It is not an easy task to me, which I’ll try to leave it to the gentleman.
Drick on January 4th, 2010
love the spiral way of cutting out the eyes…just can’t compare fresh to canned……
Sook on January 4th, 2010
sometimes i struggle with cutting pineapples. I make my husband to cut it for me. I like the way you cut it and I definitely will try it that way. Thanks, Mary!
Jeena on January 4th, 2010
Happy New Year Mary!
You have been cooking up some real tasty treats. Great pineapple post.
Judy on January 4th, 2010
Your pineapple looks so juicy and delicious! I love pineapple and buy it often. We even have a pineapple plant (2 years old) that we grew from a pineapple top. No pineapples yet though.
Julie Lynn on January 4th, 2010
Perfect timing for this post. I have 2 pineapples sitting on my counter waiting to be cut. =) Thank you!
pigpigscorner on January 4th, 2010
I hate dealing with pineapples, so heavy and spikey! You did a great job!
Mary on January 4th, 2010
@Shirley - Enjoy cutting and eating your pineapples! I have just bought another 2 today, so we are going to have pineapples too
@Angie@Angie’s Recipes - Thank you very much. I can only handle a small pineapple. Yet to learn how to handle a big pineapple!
@Divina - You are sure one very lucky girl to have the maid to do it for you. Too expensive to employ one here.
@Anncoo - I really miss all those very sweet, juicy pineapples. Yes, Sarawak grows very sweet types of pineapples. I can’t wait to go back for lots of it. It used to be extremely cheap when we were young……one ringgit (about 20p?) for 10 pineapples!! It has of course increased in price but still very cheap.
@Amy @ Simply Sugar and Gluten Free - After a few practices you will find it’s easy to cut them. Hope you give a try soon. You can impress your friends with it
@TasteHongKong - My man doesn’t cut pineapples so I have no choice. I deserve a bigger portion each time
@Drick - It’s fun to cut pineapples. Hey, have a men’s pineapple-cutting competition when you have parties, only with this method…loads of fun. Make sure you win. We did that once…absolutely hilarious
@Sook - You are very lucky your hubby cut it for you. My hubby would rather not eat if he has to do it Hope you try out soon.
@Jeena - Thank you very much. Happy New Year to you, too!
@Judy - Hope your pineapple plants bear fruit soon. Nothing can be compared to those fresh pineapples ripe from its plants….mmmm. I really miss that.
@Julie Lynn - You are most welcome. Have fun cutting them and more fun eating them!
@pigpigscorner - Oh…I actually forgot that they are spikey. Now I think my palms are quite thick-skinned I always buy the smaller pineapples so they are not too heavy.
Blackswan on January 4th, 2010
Singaporeans love pineapples & we cut it the same way too. My mum loves Sarawak pineapples best but I’m not fussy
noobcook on January 4th, 2010
your pineapple looks so deep yellow and looks really sweet! I’m always so lazy and buy canned ones but fresh ones are so much better =D
Conor @ HoldtheBeef on January 4th, 2010
A ha! Very clever. I’ve never actually bought a whole pineapple as I didn’t think I could eat one before it went bad, but now I want to go buy one just to try cutting it up.
JOANNA SZANDROCHA re Australia Sydney on January 5th, 2010
Hope your pineapple plants bear fruit soon. Nothing can be compared to those fresh pineapples ripe from its plants….mmmm. I really miss that. I have never seen anyone cut the eyes out that way. What a neat idea! I don’t eat much pineapple because it’s a pain to clean. I do clean my melons the same way -
Mary on January 5th, 2010
@Blackswan - You make me miss Singapore. Holiday back home is always so rushing that we don’t have time to pop by Singapore. Hope to visit soon. Love all the food and the absolute cleanliness there.
@noobcook - If I’m lucky, they are sweet but not always. I bought 2 yesterday and they were so sour 
I love the fresh ones so I hardly buy the canned one. Sometimes I use the canned ones for cooking sweet and sour dish.
Conor @ HoldtheBeef - Have fun and enjoy cutting and more fun in eating it! I actually enjoy going round and round cutting off the eyes.
@JOANNA SZANDROCHA - Hope you will give a try. It becomes easier after a few practices. Pineapples are so delicious that it’s worth all the effort.
joylicious on January 5th, 2010
I love that you posted this — I feel like pineapple is one of the fruits that are most difficult to cut! I love that you did such a pretty sprial formation to remove the little pits. I hope you had a wonderful holiday and new years with your family — I can’t wait for Lunar New Year!!!
Patty on January 5th, 2010
WOW! your pineapple was cut so professionally! I think my family would be blown away if I cut our pineapple like this - thanks for sharing!
Mary on January 5th, 2010
@Joylicious - Yes, it’s difficult to handle pineapple but it’s so delicious, so every effort to cut it is worth it. I love eating pineapples…very delicious and refreshing. Wishing you a great 2010, Joy! Me, too, can’t wait for the Chinese New Year…all the goodies…mmmm.
@Patty - Thanks very much. Give a try. It becomes easier after a few practices. You can soon impress your family
The Chickenless Chick on January 5th, 2010
What a beautiful presentation with the eyes cut out in spiraled rows! Thanks for sharing.
Mary on January 5th, 2010
@The Chickenless Chick - Thank you very much for comment.
Adino on January 5th, 2010
I cut pineapples this way too. I learned it by watching how they fruit stall aunty did it. However, it takes me half an hour to cut out all the eyes, and almost 20% of the fruit is gone!
cheah on January 6th, 2010
That’s how I do it too, but I dread it. I’ve tasted Sarawak pineapple and it was delicious, very juicy and sweet and I always eat it with some salt.
Mary on January 7th, 2010
@Adino - Keep practising…you’ll become an expert soon Iwas always amazed at how the stall aunty or uncle cut the pineapple. It took them minutes to do it! I found that the trick is to have a very well-sharpened knife. I can do it quite fast these days. This explains the number of pineapples that I have cut and eaten
@Cheah - Yes, Sarawak pineapples are very popular for it’s sweetness and juiciness. They may look green but oh…so sweet, juicy and delicious. Can’t wait to go back to eat pineapples. I also love it with a light sprinkle of salt. It adds to the sweetness and not so ‘cutting’ to the tongue.
kristy on January 7th, 2010
My mouthwatering once I saw those pineapples lining up there! haha… I love pineapples espeically Josephine/Sarawak pineapple. Gigantic, sweet & juicy! I’m lucky enough coz I always got free pineapples from my friends. They owned all kinds of fruits’ orchard. Envy or not? hahaha…
Mary on January 7th, 2010
@Kristy - Hey, of course I envy you now I must try to be your neighbour I think I’m going to stuff myself with lots of sweet, juicy pineapples when I go back for holidays this time, and lots of other local fruits….mmm.
Conor @ HoldtheBeef on January 11th, 2010
Mary, I did it! I did it! It worked a treat and my housemate was very impressed
Mary on January 11th, 2010
@Conor @ HoldtheBeef - I’m so excited to hear that. I can imagine all the excitement over on your side. So glad you tried it. I’m going to cut one soon later. Pineapple is just so delicious and refreshing.
Christine@Christine's Recipes on January 4th, 2010
Hi Mary,
You cut the pineapples so nice and beautifully!
We also have lots of sweet and juicy pineapples here. Only recently I dare myself to cut a whole pineapple and practice my cutting skills. It’s not easy for the first try though. But then, more practices I have, more beautiful pineapple slices I get.