This pineapple slicing technique by Ree Drummond is honestly brilliant

When Rhea Drummond aka The Pioneer Woman uploaded an Instagram video of herself cutting a pineapple, her devoted followers took notice. There was an overwhelmingly enthusiastic response with many people commenting that they too do it the same way she does.

Cutting a whole pineapple can seem intimidating to someone who has never done it before, but it’s actually a simple operation, especially if you’re up for it. With Ree Drummond’s five-step strategy, you can easily do what might otherwise be a daunting task.

Drummond’s tactic makes sense when you think about it closely. It works to remove the bad bits while retaining as much delicious fruit as possible to avoid going to waste. She begins by removing the outer, top and bottom rind before slicing the tasty meat into eight spears. Then she cores out each piece separately and cuts them all into bite-sized, ready-to-eat cubes.

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How To Chop A Pineapple Into Spears Or Cubes

In order for the fruit to stand on its own, the uneven base and spiny crown of the pineapple must first be removed. Because pineapples are difficult to cut through their thick, woody parts, use a sharp chef’s knife. The second step is to remove the prickly skin. Slice downward, starting just inside the peel and working your way up the fruit. Continue until the outer layer is completely removed.

In the third step, the pineapple will be divided into spears. Cut the pineapple in half from the top with a knife placed across its width. Next, turn your knife 90 degrees to the side and once again make a vertical cut across the bottom. At this point you should have four thick spears.

To split those spears in half, make two more cuts using the same top-to-bottom cutting motion. Remove the exposed core from these eight spears, which form the inner, hard core. These spears are now the ideal size to use as a cocktail garnish, grilled or soaked in rum.

If your goal is cubed pineapple, go towards the end Do the last action. Cut the spears into one-inch pieces, so you get cubes (well, like triangles), which are great for adding to smoothies, topping pizza, or making curry shrimp skewers.

Reduce Waste By Repurposing Pineapple Scraps

Ree Drummond received some helpful feedback from viewers on his video, including ideas for further streamlining the method. Some suggested, for example, that four large spears instead of eight should eliminate one step altogether. After extracting the core from these large pieces, they spear them into two pieces. Eight spears have the same effect, but the number of cuts required to handle the core is reduced by half.

Some reviewers advise against coring at all, saying that the center of a very ripe pineapple is just as sweet and delicious. Pineapples are very nutrient-dense, with their thick core containing beneficial vitamins and minerals. Pineapple is the only food that contains the digestive enzyme bromelain, which in a 2012 study by Hindavi, Biotechnology Research International, has anti-inflammatory and other therapeutic properties. Pineapple is also rich in vitamin C, manganese and antioxidants. The fibrous core can be used in stir-fries, smoothies, or steeped in water to make a pineapple-flavored infusion if you don’t want to consume it on its own.

There are even uses for crowns and other missing parts. Keep the pineapple crowns for a tropical tea flavored with ginger, cinnamon and honey. Instead of discarding the leaves and skins, incorporate them to increase flavor and nutrients. It’s a great idea to finely chop your pineapple and discard it later to maximize the amount of fruit available for consumption.

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