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Thursday, April 14, 2016

No More Sticky Arms!

Over the past year or so I noticed a huge trend in the $.99 special sales on pineapples.  We love pineapple as much as the next guy but I hated dealing with the process of peeling and coring them. One day I was at Walmart and saw this plastic pineapple peeler/corer so I bought it.  It worked fine the first couple of times I used it and then it became a pain in the butt to use. It didn't cut well, it gunked up and required constant cleaning and finally it snapped in half while I was using it. I am not a big proponent of single use products so I resorted to my using a knife again.

When pineapples are a buck each I buy many of them and dehydrate them.  We grab the dried pineapple as a snack, it is easily totable and it tastes really good.  Pineapple + knife x 10 or more = lots of pineapple juice dripping down the arms and onto the countertop and floor.  One day I was looking at kitchen gadgets on Amazon and viola!  There it was, an inexpensive stainless steel solution so I pushed "buy" and a couple of days later I was the proud owner of my new gadget. I rarely mention specific items, nor do I have any affiliation with anyone or any business connected with this, but this morning as I was prepping 7 pineapples I thought I might share a little pineapple love.

            If you love fresh pineapple, or if you process fresh pineapple this is the tool for you.


Whack the top off of the pineapple. Put the pineapple in a container to catch the juice  Insert the cylinder into the core and begin turning while pushing gently.  Continue turning in a clockwise motion until you hit the bottom of the pineapple.  Grasping the handle pull gently (twisting slightly) until the pineapple pops out. (Save any juice and drink it or mix it in a beverage of your choosing)



The pineapple is now spiral sliced and all you have to do is start separating it.  How blooming easy is that?



I generally take a spoon and scrape the inside of the pineapple shell for the remaining bits of pineapple still in it. I don't get but a couple of tablespoons per pineapple but when you are processing several it adds up.  Since it is very mushy, I freeze it in ice cube trays, store them in zippy bags and use it in adult beverages during the summertime.



And if you are nerdy like I am you can root the pineapple tops for a cool plant.  I have just planted one that I rooted.  I have 2 in the process of rooting and I have seven drying for a couple of days before I try to root them.  I don't think they will all root, but if I am lucky I will get 3-4  maybe. I am the black plague of plants so you have to be very hale and hearty to live with me.  Meanwhile I like the idea of rooting a pineapple top in an old pineapple salsa jar.  It will work or it won't, but it will be cute in the process no matter what happens.








12 comments:

  1. .99 cent pineapples!?! In Canada the lowest they ever go is about $4. I wish - they are so tasty! I love the idea of planting the top, the next time I buy one I will try that.

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    1. About every 6 weeks at least one store has them for that. This week 2 stores here have them on sale. I stock up each time. The dehydrated stuff disappear about as quickly as I can dry it (so I have to wrap it in freezer paper and label it squash, which is how I hide things in the freezer.)

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  2. Clever. My partner's mother not only rooted a pineapple top, she got a pineapple from it the following year. Not a happening thing here.

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    1. Wow! I am only hoping to keep them as a plant throughout the summer. Not hoping for anything else.

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  3. I've got a pineapple on the counter right now that needs cutting. Wish I had your device. I have rooted my first pineapple top. I has a good set of roots, but is still in water. Did you do anything special when you planted it?

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    1. No, I did nothing but stick it in soil, which is why I expect little from it other than a green plant through the summer.

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  4. What a cute plant idea...I'm stealing!

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  5. Steal away! The plant itself it pretty cute.

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  6. Have you ever had cheese and pineapple in a toasted sandwich?
    I like the salsa jar, clever and subtle :)

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  7. I have had a grilled cheese and pineapple which I am guessing is very similar. I am so glad I dehydrated them. They are $1.98 each today

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  8. You make me want to shop and chop. Oh and dehydrate. Hmmmmmmm, I may need to get one of these. I don't have a lot of gadgets but I did find a cheap apple corer. It's too much fun. OK, the dehydrater is going to have to get some use.

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  9. My theory is when there are stellar buys, it is a message from The Big Guy to buy and dry. So right now I have dried onions, mushrooms and pineapple. A 3 pound bag of onions dried takes up only 3/4 of a quart mayo jar, but I did learn the hard way those suckers have to be dried outside or your house will smell like a pizza parlor for about a week. I am determined to make every mistake and misstep possible since I seem to be a school of hard knocks person.

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