Peeling the Pineapple

• Lay the pineapple horizontally on a cutting board. Remove the base of the pineapple, cutting a half inch to an inch off to remove the fibrous bottom. Remove the leafy top, cutting a half inch to an inch into the flesh. Or, keep the top on to use the leaves as a handle while removing the skin. Stand the pineapple up, base down. Cut downward through the pineapple, removing as thin a layer of the exterior from the pineapple as you can to preserve the fruit. There should be “eyes” left behind.

Removing the "Eyes"

• The eyes that remain after removing the skin are arranged in diagonal lines down the sides of the pineapple. Line up a row of eyes and make a 45-degree-angle cut on one side, then on the other to remove several eyes in a single wedge at one time. Continue removing the eyes in this fashion, working your way around the pineapple until all the eyes are removed.

Cubes and Wedges

• Stand the pineapple up, base down, and quarter the pineapple. Remove the tough core from each quarter by removing the tip, slicing down in a straight line to remove a triangular wedge. The core of the pineapple is lighter than the surrounding fruit, so use that as a guide to make your cut. Lay a pineapple quarter down, core-removed side down. For smaller cubes, slice the quarter in half lengthwise. For larger wedges, do not dissect the quarter. Make evenly spaced crosswise cuts across the pineapple. Repeat with remaining quarters.

Pineapple Bowl

• A pineapple bowl makes a spectacular presentation for everything from desserts to entrees. Lay the pineapple down and make a lengthwise cut directly through the center of the pineapple, leaves included. Using a paring knife, carefully cut around the inside of the skin to release the fruit. Cut approximately a quarter inch or so away from the exterior to avoid cutting through the skin. Flip the pineapple over to let the fruit fall out. Use the bowl as desired.

Pineapple Rings

• Lay a peeled pineapple on its side. Make evenly spaced crosswise cuts of desired thickness across the pineapple to create rings. Continue until the entire pineapple has been sliced. Lay a slice out, one at a time, and press a small cookie cutter down through the center of the ring to remove the core. You can also remove the core by carefully circling the core with a knife. If necessary, trim the exterior of the rings to create more round-looking slices. Repeat with remaining slices.