HOW TO...DEAL WITH FRESH PINEAPPLE

Extraordinary Pineapple Summerhouse at Dunmore, Scotland, once flanked by hothouses (1761–1776)
photo courtesy of www.buildingconservation.com

Frugal, low-sugar Pineapples are not native to the UK but they've been competitively grown and enjoyed here since the 1700's, when they were associated with great wealth and supreme gardening skills.  

Today, with pineapples available in supermarkets for £1 and under, there's no excuse for not indulging in this tangy, refreshing fruit. They are great on their own, in cakes, in cocktails and combined with many meats. 

67goingon50's Pineapple & Ginger Upside Down Cake 

67goingon50 nearly always has at least one big chunk of pineapple, peeled and cored, in the freezer waiting to be made into a yummy fruity cake, or tangy salsa to go with cooked meat or fish, or whizzed into a smoothie.

OK, it is a drag wrestling with the scaly skin and the tough inner core and, indeed, in working out whether the fruit is actually ripe.  But once you have learned how to approach pineapples without trepidation, going back to tinned will be less appealing. Photos below show how to proceed.    

Before you start, the best way of testing the ripeness of a pineapple is is to pull out one of spiky leaves from the centre of the tree-like fronds on top.  It should come out easily.  Another test is does it smell ripe?    

With the less expensive pineapples, it won't be until you get home and open up the fruit that you will learn how hard or soft the inner flesh is.  Sometimes you will be surprised at how tender and ready-to-eat it is; other times, you'll know cooking is necessary.

Cut off Top and Bottom 
Use Sharp Knife to Slice away
 Peel in Manageable Sections 

Remove Eyes via
V-shaped incision

Halve and then quarter pineapple.
Cut away & discard tough inner core

Tip:

For cooking instructions, go to Hot Pineapple Pudding

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Copyright: This recipe has been developed by B M Lee/ Bright Sun Enterprises and may not be reproduced without the author's written permission.