[auntj]

Hi ya'll,
i bought fresh pineapple today, which i have never done before. how do i know if it is ripe enough to slice? and is all i need to do is take off the outer layer? or is there more prep than that? thanks. have a great day. keep going strong.

[nationalparker]

I feel the bottom of mine and when I'm able to depress it just a bit, I take a SHARP knife and hack off the top and the bottom, then cut down the sides, not being TOO careful to get all the little brown dimples out. Then cut a thick column of pineapple, so that it goes almost to the outside edge of the core... Then I work my way around and cut off columns and cut into pieces. When I'm doing the small piece cutting is when I get rid of the small pieces of the otuside that made it in there. It probably takes me about 3-4 minutes to cut it up.

Or if you're feeling ambitious and have a nice fruit salad, you can slice it in half vertically if it's a good looking one and cut out the flesh/core carefully and use that as a "boat" for chicken salad or something. It takes me longer to do that, but boy, it sure looks pretty HUGE, though! I end up hacking the pieces up when I do that, and using them in the salad. It's kinda hard to get to the bottom of the flesh inside the fruit, if that makes any sense.

[nationalparker]

http://video.about.com/thaifood/How-...apple-boat.htm
here's a video on making that. It also tells you when it's ripe - a bit diff from the way I was brought up - but I"m sure it works!

[pointspluspioneer]

Pul out the inner most leaf at the top, if it comes out easy it's ready, if tough wait a day or 2!

[auntj]

Thanks. i think i have one that is ripe and one that needs to wait another day or two. i depressed the bottom and pulled out the leave. one has more gold color than the other one. another question.. have any of you tried to root the top leaf part? even if it doesnt produce fruit, would it root and make a plant. would i root it in water or soil? thanks. have a super day.
julie

[Rana]

Yes! I've had pineapple plants that grow great here.

You cut the head (with the leaves) and leave about 1 inch (generous) of "flesh". You can store this in water for a while before planting. If you're ready to plant, put it in soil and for the first few weeks, water water and water. Do not leave it outdoors, it needs warmth.

They grow to be very big. Mine even gave me two fruit and produced a bunch of little baby plants.

[auntj]

thanks, rana. i am going to plant it and see what it does.

[kaplods]

I always buy the supersweet hybrids ("Gold" is usually on the label), because I discovered that they're less of a gamble than other varieties. They're always sweet enough to be delicious the day I purchase them. Also, being less acidic, I have less of a problem with chapped lips and acid burned tongue. Also, the cores seem smaller and more tender, sometimes even completely edible.

[auntj]

that is what is on the label..del monte gold. extra sweet pineapple. i had some at supper. it was delicious.