Freshly sliced pineapple is a treat, but the fruit's prickly exterior may tempt you to reach for the precut varieties. You can use this quick-and-easy guide from Cooking Light Test Kitchens Professional Mike Wilson to enjoy the fruit fresh in next to no time.

Step One: Lay pineapple horizontally on a cutting board, and cut off the leafy top (the plume) and the base.

Step Two: Stand the pineapple upright, and cut down the sides to remove the rind. Try to remove as little of the flesh as possible.

Step Three: While the pineapple is upright, cut it into thirds by carefully slicing downward as shown to remove the fibrous core.

MORE ABOUT PINEAPPLES:

In Season: Pineapple
Tickle your palate with a taste of the tropics.

Pineapple Recipes
Browse more than 200 pineapple dishes