Making a Shell Container

The shell of a pineapple makes an impressive natural serving bowl that can be filled with diced pineapple flesh mixed with other fruits or ice cream. Removing the flesh in one piece following the technique shown here also allows you to cut perfect rings. To remove cores from slices.

1. Lay the pineapple flat on a cutting board. Slice off the plume with a chef’s knife and reserve it for serving.

   

2. Cut down between the skin and flesh, releasing the flesh all round while leaving a firm wall of skin.

   

3. Turn pineapple over; cut off the bottom to level it and help release the flesh.

   

4. Cut the pineapple with one hand. Push a fork firmly into the centre of the flesh and pull it out in one piece. To serve the pineapple flesh back in its shell, slice it crosswise, remove the cores and dice the flesh.