Freshly Sliced Pineapple

Preparing fresh pineapple slices is easy if you follow this four-step process.

Step 1: Remove the crown and cut off the top and base.

Step 2: Cut off wide strips of the peel. Cut just deep enough to remove the skin; you'll remove the eyes in the next step.

Step 3: Remove the eyes by cutting narrow wedge-shaped grooves diagonally around the fruit, following the pattern of the eyes.

Step 4: Slice the pineapple into disks. Then use a coring tool or sharp paring knife to remove the tough center portion of each disk.

To cut into chunks: Using a sharp chef's knife, cut the whole pineapple lengthwise into halves, then quarters. Use a serrated knife to slice away the tough core, then run the knife between the fruit and the peel to separate. Finally, cut the fruit into chunks or fingers-sized portions.