Picking and Cutting Fruit: Tips from Chef Malena

Tips from the expert! How to pick and cut fruit:

How to cut a whole melon:

• This works for any melon. Cut the ends off the melon so that it can stand up. Work in small sections and peel the outside of the melon. Start from the top and work towards the bottom, keeping the knife close to the skin so you don’t lose a lot of fruit. Go back over any missed spots.
• Cut down the middle and scoop out the seeds. Lay it flat side down then cut slices, flip around, and cut the other way to make chunks / cubes. Try to keep the slices together while you flip it.
• You can also cut the melon into layers by cutting parallel to the cutting board. This provides a more uniform cut. Then, just cut straight down, flip the melon, and cut straight down again.
• Another option is to cut in slices and feed into the slicing attachment of food processor.

How to pick a good melon:

• Like any fruit, smell it. If it smells sweet, it might be more ripe and good than one that doesn’t smell as sweet. Look at the outside to make sure it doesn’t look like it’s been dropped.

How to cut a pineapple:

• Cut off the top and try to take off as little flesh as possible. You can use the top for a centerpiece of you would like!
• Cut straight down to remove the skin from one side, flip the pineapple around, and then cut a strip of skin off on the opposite side.
• Cut straight down the center of the sides with the skin still on it. Lay it down flat and remove the rest of the skin. This way you can see what you’re doing and take the least amount off. This also provides a much more uniform piece and more yield (more pineapple left).
• Go over and cut off any spots that were left behind. Cut down the center, tilt the knife at an angle, and then take out the core. [You CAN eat the core by itself if you would like but it’s a little chewy! You can also juice this at home – there’s a lot of good juice in the core.]
• At this point, you can slice the pineapple or make tidbits: cut in half, slice it, then cut into tidbits.

How to pick a good pineapple:

• Look for one that’s more golden than green. Smell it; it should smell like a piece of pineapple that you would want to eat.

How to wash leafy vegetables:

• Wash them in a large bowl or in a sink. Feel for the bottom every time you change the water, and once the water is clean (not dirty or grainy), then the herbs / leafy greens are clean.

How to pick a citrus fruit:

• Pick one that feels heavy for its size.