A good ripe pineapple is a godsend for the PP-lover
These amazing fruits have been known in Russia since the 18th century. Before the revolution, they were actively grown in greenhouses, even near St. Petersburg and on the Solovetsky Islands. But after the 1917 revolution, eating these healthy fruits along with hazel grouse became signs of the bourgeoisie, who had reached their last hour. Of course, there was no talk of any cultivation of this crop or the development of new varieties.
Currently, interest in pineapples is returning; they are available in stores and markets both fresh and canned. Be sure to include them in your diet if you are losing weight! Bromelain contained in exotic fruits promotes weight loss. It is difficult to describe how bromelain works in simple language, but if you regularly eat pineapples, then a reduction in volume due to a decrease in the amount of fat is guaranteed:
- Metabolic processes are accelerated —food, especially those containing fats, is digested faster and more fully. The fact is that pineapples with their bromelain do not burn old fat reserves, but prevent the appearance of new ones;
- the detoxification trigger mechanism is triggered. Toxins and waste are removed ;
- Excess fluid is removed from all cells of the body. That is, you can notice a significant decrease in the numbers on the scales!
Calorie content of pineapple - 52 kcal (plus or minus, depending on the degree of ripeness), pineapple - 0.5 g of protein, 0.2 g of fat, 11 g of carbohydrates.
Many people don’t want to deal with fresh fruits because they don’t know what to do with them or how to choose.
Health benefits and harms
Pineapple is a unique product. It contains organic acids that stimulate the digestion process. The product reduces blood viscosity.
Pineapple contains the substance bromelain, which prevents the deposition of triglycerides. You need to be careful: the acids contained in the fruit negatively affect the condition of tooth enamel.
During the process of peeling and cutting the pineapple, the core is discarded. It is considered to be rough and spoil the taste of the product. However, those who want to lose weight should focus on this part. The core also contains the substance bromelain (and even in greater quantities than the pulp itself), which helps fight excess weight. Banana diet.
How to choose a ripe pineapple
Ripe fruits have a rich mineral composition and a lot of useful properties:
- they are rich in potassium, copper, iron, zinc, magnesium, calcium, iodine, manganese;
- vitamins - C, A, PP, group B;
- increase the enzymatic activity of gastric juice;
- help get rid of excess fluid;
- enhance fat digestion;
- improve metabolism.
Unripe pineapples “burn” the lips, irritate the stomach and intestines, and also have a strong laxative effect. Ripe fruits are deprived of these negative properties.
It’s easy to choose ripe fruit , for this:
- Look at its color - it should be yellow, and as little green as possible.
- The tips of the scales and the bottom of the fruit are dry.
- The fruit should be elastic, that is, slightly pressed, but return to its place. Green pineapples are hard. If the fruits are too soft, they are either overripe or have even begun to rot.
- Rotting will also be indicated by dark spots on the skin of the fruit.
- Be sure to smell it - the fruit should have a pronounced smell that cannot be confused with anything else.
- The sultan (that luxurious grassy tail) should be green and lush. If you hold it at the base and move it slightly left and right, it should rotate easily. Just don't overdo it - you can completely unscrew it.
- The leaves of a ripe pineapple come off easily; it is impossible to tear off the leaves of green ones individually.
How to properly remove the core from a pineapple
Removing the core is an important process because it affects the amount of pulp that will result. They do this in several ways.
The first option is to remove the hard middle without disturbing the integrity of the peel. It’s easier to do this with a special pineapple cutting knife, but not everyone has such a tool in the kitchen, so it’s enough to pick up a long and sharp kitchen knife.
The next option is to cut the fruit into discs and remove the middle from each one separately. If you only need to get the pulp (salad, canapés, baskets), you can follow the simplest path: cut the fruit into 4 parts and cut out the middle from the inside.
What you need to cut a pineapple
A ripe pineapple has been selected, now it needs to be peeled and cut. There is nothing complicated about this either. First, decide what you want to do with it. If you use it as an ingredient for various dishes or are going to calmly eat the fruit in the evening in front of the TV, you don’t have to worry too much. In this case, use the simplest method:
- Separate the sultan of the tops. Take the fruit in one hand, grab the tops at the base with the other and turn with a little effort. The tops will separate easily.
- Now pinch off the segments - they are easily separated from the core. You can eat them right away.
For culinary use:
- after separating the tops, cut off the bottom;
- place it on a board, cut off the peel, capturing the eyes;
- if there are still eyes left, remove them in any convenient way;
- cut into 4 parts;
- remove the core;
Do you feel bad about throwing it away? Don't! It can also be used in healthy nutrition recipes. Until you figure out which ones, put it in the freezer. Do you want a life hack on how to use the core? Add to pp-uzvar during cooking - the aroma of the drink will be brighter!
- cut into pieces of the desired size.
Don't be afraid to cut off the excess. The core and eyes are hard, they should not be eaten - no pleasure.
Another simple cutting method:
- separate the sultan;
- cut off the top and bottom parts;
- cut the fruit into rings;
- Cut off the peel from each ring, like potatoes;
- Use the sharp tip of a small knife to cut out the core of each piece.
This method is recommended for use when pineapple is needed in rings.
What you need to peel a pineapple
When choosing this fruit for your holiday table, you can take the easy route and buy the canned version, but nothing beats the sweet aroma of freshly cut fruit. That is why it is worth spending a little more time and choosing a suitable product that will decorate the table.
In order not to purchase an unripe or spoiled fruit, which is unlikely to please you with its juicy amber-yellow pulp, it is important to know a few rules that indicate the ripeness of the fruit:
- hard skin, slightly springy when pressed;
- heaviness of the fruit;
- absence of soft areas and dark spots;
- You can pull out one or more feathers from a pineapple without much effort;
- If you bring the fruit to your nose, you can feel a pronounced subtle and sweet aroma.
When wondering how to properly peel a pineapple, it is worth remembering that for quality work you will need convenient tools:
- 2 sharpened knives (the thinner the layer of peel, the more vitamins are retained on the surface of the fruit);
- board for cutting food (it can be either wooden or plastic);
- knife for peeling potatoes.
Bromelain, which is found on the border between the peel and the pulp, is very beneficial for the body due to its ability to break down fats. However, it also has an unpleasant side; its contact with the mucous membrane can cause a burning sensation and irritation. That is why to peel the fruit and cut it into pieces, you need to use 2 different knives.
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Tools for cutting pineapples
If you rarely buy pineapples, then ordinary knives will suffice for cutting. But in the case when these fruits are included in your diet on a regular basis, it is worth acquiring special tools. They will make your work easier and allow you to cut pineapples quickly and beautifully.
for extracting pulp :
- the first one simply helps to separate the pulp from the shell;
- the second additionally cuts the fruit into rings - convenient.
These devices are good because they keep the shell of the fruit intact, allowing it to be used in the future for serving.
By the way! If you want to save the sultan, cut out the flesh from the bottom.
process pineapple beautifully :
- peeling knife (by the way, it can be used as a regular vegetable peeler for other vegetables and fruits);
- a knife for spirally cutting out eyes with a solid tape (the eyes of a pineapple are arranged in a spiral, so they can be easily removed with a solid tape from bottom to top);
- tweezers for removing eyes (they help to easily remove eyes from the pulp, the peeled fruit in this case takes on an original appearance with holes reminiscent of a honeycomb).
If you do not have such tools, all this can be done with two knives - large and small. The first one is used for cleaning, the small one with a sharp tip is used to remove eyes. For the spiral method, oblique cuts are made, for the point method, conical cuts are made. After cleaning, the pulp is cut into neat pieces.
How to clean at home with a knife?
Pineapple often causes panic in people, frightening them with its hard, thorny skin. There is no difficulty in how to peel a pineapple at home with a knife. You will need two sharp knives, a vegetable peeler, and a potato peeler with a sharp end. There are different methods of peeling a pineapple, each of which deserves attention and leads to excellent results. Before peeling a pineapple, it is best to rinse it with water to remove any contaminants.
How to properly peel a pineapple if it is to be used for salad or cut into small cubes:
- Place on a board or table.
- Cut off the bottom and leaves.
- Unfold the pineapple like a barrel.
- Using precise movements, remove all peel.
- Using a potato peeler, remove the eyes point by point.
- Cut the fruit in half lengthwise, and each half into several more pieces.
- Before cutting the pineapple into small pieces, cut off the hard middle at an angle.
The peeled pulp is cut into pieces of the required size and used for its intended purpose. This method is economical and leaves the least amount of waste. Options for fruit salads with mango.
Pineapple peeler
How to properly peel a pineapple to serve in slices:
- Remove base and top.
- Place the fruit on its side and peel off the skin, moving in a spiral.
- Run the knife along the eyes to the right and left of them, holding the blade at an angle.
- Remove the triangular strip with spikes.
This method of removing blackheads will allow you not to lose a lot of juice during the cleaning process.
It is convenient to use the “Thai way” of how to peel a pineapple at home. The peculiarity of the technique is that it is not necessary to cut off the tops immediately: it is convenient to hold the fruit by them during the cleaning process. The sequence of actions will be as follows:
- Cut off the bottom.
- Place the pineapple on the board.
- Cut the skin thinly, holding the fruit by the leaves.
- Cut out the black eyes by cutting them with a knife on both sides diagonally, trying to capture several points at a time.
Gradually a spiral pattern forms. Then the fruit is cut into 4 parts and the core is removed. If the fruit is very large, then it is cut into 6 - 8 sections before slicing.
If you use pineapple leaves as a handle when peeling, your hand will be protected from juice and will not slip.
If you do not plan to use the whole fruit, then this method will do:
- Before peeling a pineapple at home, you need to cut off a few rings.
- Remove the peel with a knife.
- If there are any eyes left, remove them with a potato peeler.
Another method on how to quickly peel a pineapple, which will take just a few minutes:
- Cut off the top.
- From the inside, cut the flesh halfway along the skin along the circumference, holding the knife strictly perpendicular to the base.
- Cut off the bottom.
- Cut through the second half of the pulp.
- Remove the resulting cylinder from the peel.
The disadvantage of this method is that there is a lot of waste, but there is no need to cut out the tenons. It is important that the knife blade is long enough to go through the entire length of the fruit.
Peeling a pineapple is not a difficult task. Having studied all the ways to properly cut and slice a pineapple, you should practice a little, then everything will work out quickly and beautifully.
Cut and serve correctly
Options for serving pineapple depend on your imagination. This fruit goes well with almost all foods, especially those that taste dry. It will complement them and soften them with its juiciness.
In addition to being a separate dish, pineapples can be served:
- with other fruits, berries;
- cheese;
- in salads;
- with dried meat (remember, we prepared dried chicken breast - a great solution!);
- dry fish;
- with confectionery products;
- ice cream.
The easiest way to cut a pineapple beautifully for the table is to first divide the peeled fruit into rings, and then each ring into small segments, trying to make them the same. All that remains is to arrange these neat pieces symmetrically on a dish, add other fruits or berries to them, and decorate them.
You can make canapés with cheese, meat or fish. To do this, the fruit (already peeled) is cut into half rings, cubes or triangles.
Baskets made from pineapple shells can be used as serving items. To do this, a large fruit is usually cut in half and filled with pieces of pineapple, other fruits and berries, and a fruit salad prepared in advance. In this case, try to cut all the components into pieces of the same size.
The entire casing can be used as a keg. In this case, when removing the pulp, leave the bottom undisturbed.
Cutting the fruit beautifully: creating a fruit plate
After we have figured out the options for cleaning pineapple, the question arises: how to beautifully serve the sliced product and surprise your guests with the original design of this exotic dish? There are many ways to present juicy ripe fruit on a fruit plate with a bright and beautiful design. We will analyze one of them in detail:
- Wash the pineapple well under running water and dry it thoroughly with a towel;
- cut off the top with the leaves and put it aside for a while, we will still need it for further decoration;
- cut the ripe fruit into 5 equal parts;
- Carefully cut off all the peel from each cut part, try not to spoil it;
- place the pulp on a cutting board and use a knife to separate each piece with one longitudinal and four transverse cuts;
- take a large plate, arrange the peels in a circle in the form of boats and carefully place the resulting pieces back into their peels;
- place the green top in the central part of the plate;
- wash some cherries and cherries, prick them onto skewers, insert the skewers into each slice of juicy pineapple;
- Place pieces of other fruits and berries between the boats. The following will do the job perfectly: apples, pears, plums, bananas, kiwis and other delicious treats.
Show your imagination and create your own unique composition of a fruit plate. Feel free to experiment; on the Internet there are many options for various dishes that will become a real decoration for your table.
The easiest ways to cut a pineapple beautifully
If you are a patient, purposeful person, try making, for example, this parrot:
Carving an exotic bird is a bit complicated at first glance - the process is simple. But I won’t describe it in words; I’d rather share a good video instruction:
Pineapple boats look impressive. It seems laconic, not complicated, but very stylish, and most importantly - delicious! These will be a decoration for any buffet table.
By the way, proper nutrition and a healthy lifestyle are becoming more and more popular! Even office get-togethers and holiday celebrations are often spent at the table - fruits, cheeses, low-fat meat delicacies, seafood, fish delicacies. Whimsically cut exotic fruits are just the thing for such occasions!
Algorithm for how to beautifully cut pineapple for a festive table in the form of boats :
- remove the plume;
- cut the fruit into quarters;
- cut off the core;
- Using a knife, carefully separate the pulp from the peel;
- cut it into slices;
- move the slices - one to the right, the other to the left.
Based on the boats you can make the following birds:
This is also not a difficult process at all:
- the pineapple is cut into 4 parts along with the tops, which will be the bird’s tail;
- the core begins to be cut from the plume and is not cut to the end;
- Now all that remains is to bend it, forming a head, and secure it with a toothpick or skewer for canapés. You can place a grape inside.
Some tips and tricks
- If you receive an unripe fruit, you can “ripen” it. To do this, hang this fruit with the tops down and leave it in this form for a couple of weeks. It will ripen, but, however, it will not be as sweet as one ripened under natural conditions. Unfortunately, most pineapples, like other exotic fruits, are picked in an unripe state in order to survive transportation and storage.
- If you removed the top by twisting it, you can root it and try to grow your own pineapple at home. It's long, but not very difficult.
- The more yellow a pineapple is, the sweeter it is.
- If the fruit you like smells too strongly, it is better not to buy it - it is overripe or, even worse, fermented.
- The length of the sultan should not exceed 20 centimeters. The arrangement of leaves in the rosette should be symmetrical. One-sidedness indicates abnormal development of the fetus.
- You can determine ripeness, like a watermelon, by patting it. A ripe fruit makes a dull sound, “empty” - either green or shriveled.
- The scales of ripe fruits are flat or even retracted, while those of unripe fruits are convex.
- It is better not to eat unripe pineapples fresh. They are perfect for preparing meat dishes.
NatalyaYa - Natasha, mother of three wonderful children, an experienced housewife. I really like to please my loved ones with various delicacies. But looking good is also important to me. Therefore, I try to adhere to the principles of proper nutrition - this is the easiest way to keep fit.
Storage rules
In order for pineapple not to lose its taste, you need to be able to not only choose it correctly, but also choose the right storage conditions:
- The fruit should be stored at room temperature, approximately 15-18 degrees.
- You should not keep it in the refrigerator, as it can lose its aroma in it.
- It is not advisable to move it to a room where there will be a sharp change in temperature.
- The best storage container is a container with special holes.
- Pineapple can maintain its freshness for 12-16 days.
- It can absorb odors, so it should be kept away from foods with strong odors.
- Fruits should not be left in a sunny place.
- Stores sell a special knife that can be used to easily pull out the middle.
- It is not recommended to eat this fruit after eating meat.
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