I did my first show since I received my pineapple wedger on Saturday. I wasn't planning on using it at all, but she just happened to have bought this pineapple which was pretty green. We tried it out, and it was very difficult -- hard to not groan when you try to make it look so easy (LOL). I did explain to everyone some of the things to look for in a ripe pineapple. Two were sold, amazingly, after my faulty demo.

 

Could you share some of those tips on picking a good pineapple? I just know not to pick one that is too green, anything else?

Thanks!

 

You want to make sure that the outside of the pineapple is yellow in color (in the eyes). You can also pick off a leaf from the top. It it easily comes off, it is ripe. Also smell is the best way, but you won't want people to see you sticking your nose up to the skin :0

 

Jackie's right - look for yellow. They're called "golden pineapples" for a reason. Get the one that's got the most yellow of all the pineapples in the bin. It'll not only be ripe enough to make cutting easier, it'll be sweeter when you eat it.

 

I used my pineapple wedger Saturday for the first time...made that fabulous pineapple salsa. It was so good. All of my counters are tall and I am short, so I had to actually put the cutting board on the floor and get on my knees to make it work. It worked great. I had no problems cutting the pineapple...but I can't put my cutting board on my hosts floor, so I am trying to figure out the best way to demo it. Maybe cut the pineapple in half and then do two seperate pieces instead of one big piece.

 

You'll want to check out the handout that's in the files called Pineapple Wedger Tips. It's very helpful and is great to e-mail or hand out to guests who purchase it.

But yes, it's easier if you cut it in half because they won't be as tall and you'll get better leverage. Also, try using your table instead, it's not as high as your countertops (typically). I think someone also mentioned putting it in her sink.

 

Thanks Ladies! These are some great tips!! Specially the one about pulling on the leaf.... that is good to know! Have any of you tried using it on a cantaloupe?

 

Yes, cutting it in half makes it so much easier to cut!

 

What a great idea!!!

 

A friend from Thailand told me that when you bring a pineapple home from the store you should stand it upside down while it is continuing to ripen in your house, which apparently makes it juicier? Anyway, I always do that and they are great!

 

Do you remove the leaves somehow? Doesn't it fall over?

 

I've set one of our silicone potholders in my clean kitchen sink, then cut off the two ends of the pineapple, and set the pineapple on the potholders to use the cutter. I
had to do that for my husband when I asked him to use the cutter for me. My one
shoulder was sore that morning, and I did not want to aggrevate it. We are not finding very many pineapples the right size to be cutting off the outside peel. So, my preferred method is to use our forged cutlery to cut off the outside peel, then use the pineapple
cutter on the whole peeled pineapple. I then place the individual, four wedges on a cutting board and complete the dicing.