Hot Fruit Posts
How To: Prepare and eat an avocado
On the subject of avocados, do you know how to properly prepare and eat the fruit? Compare your techniques to those of Mike's in this video. Learn how to properly prepare an avocado for eating with a little guidance from this instructional.
How To: Make plantain empanadas
If you like empanadas, then this plantain version is sure to hit your recipe box. Fried foods aren't generally good for you, but you can't exactly not fry empanadas. And don't try to substitute bananas for the plantains. Otherwise those would be banana empanadas and not plantain empanadas!
How To: Properly cut pineapples
In this video you will learn a simple and fast way to cut a pineapple into small chunks. Begin by cutting off both the top and bottom of the pineapple. Then cut the pineapple in half from top to bottom, rotate the pineapple 45 degrees and cut again so that you have eight long wedges. Take each wedge and set it on the cutting board skin side down. Cut in two small pieces but don't go all the way through the skin. Finally, pass the knife along the bottom of the wedge removing the skin. Repeat t...
How To: Cut and peel a butternut squash
In this tutorial, we learn how to cut and peel butternut squash with Shauna. First, you will need a butternut squash and a sharp knife. Microwave the squash for about 1-2 minutes so it's a little bit softer, then chop off the top and bottom of the squash. You will now be able to place the squash easily on a cutting board and peel it with a peeler. Once done, you can cut the squash in half and you will be able to slice it or chop it until you have whichever size you need. Last, scoop out the m...
How To: Seed a pomegranate quick and easy
In this video, we learn tips on how to seed a pomegranate easily with Nicki Sizemore. First, cut off the crown of your pomegranate to expose the seeds. Then, score the pomegranate from end to end and a few places around it. Next, soak the fruit in cold water for 5 minutes. While keeping it under water, break the fruit apart into large chunks. Next, just use your fingertips to remove the seeds. Since you are working in the water, your fingertips won't get stained. Remove the large pieces then ...
How To: Pick a good pineapple and cut it
Frederic Patenaude demonstrates selecting and cutting a fresh pineapple. To select a fresh pineapple, he discusses that the color is not a great indicator. Instead he suggests looking at the bottom of the pineapple to make sure the base is yellow, indicating ripeness. He also smells the pineapple to make sure it smells ripe. he also checks for bad spots, softness or leakage around the whole fruit. He communicates that any tests with leaves are also not indicators. One way to cut a pineapple i...
How To: Cut a mango to get the most fruit
How to cut a mango to get the most fruit
How To: Section an orange
This video shows you how to section an orange. For this you will need the following: an orange, a sharp knife, a bowl, and a pairing knife. To get started, cut off the top and the bottom of the orange with a really sharp knife. This will give you a flat surface. Cut away the hull of the orange with a pairing knife. Simply, work your way around the orange with your knife.
How To: Dry fruit from your garden
Curtis Smith of Southwest Yard and Garden show viewers how they can dry fruit from their garden. First, you need to wash your hands before handling your fruit. To wash your hands you want to remove any jewelry, wet your hands, lather your hands and rub them together for 20 seconds and rinse. Dry them on a clean towel so you don't recontaminate. You can dry fruit in your oven if you don't have a dehydrator by setting your oven on the lowest setting, 150 degrees F, and leaving the oven open unt...
How To: Prevent a banana from ripening too quickly
This video gives tips on how to keep a banana from ripening too quickly. Bananas are popular because they're inexpensive, they're tasty and they are relatively easy to get locally. The banana in the demonstration has a few brown spots but is reasonably fresh. A fresh banana will still be sweet. If a banana ripens too quickly it gives a fermented taste. Then you have to throw it away, which is like throwing money away. How do you keep a banana from ripening too quickly? Put it in the fridge. D...
How To: Skin and segment a pineapple
Rene S Frivaldo the "Chefingala" shows us how to cut and display two pineapples on a platter in less than 5 minutes. The top and bottom sections of a pineapple are first chopped off. The pineapple is then halved. The center on each half is then removed by cutting out a v-shaped wedge. The skin together with the eyes are then remove. Both the pineapple halves are then sliced into sections and placed decoratively on the platter. The pineapple crown is sliced lengthwise and placed as a decorativ...
How To: Clean and cut a whole pineapple
Chef Dan Bobo explains the proper way to clean and cut a whole pineapple, putting safety and cleanliness first. The first step is to wash the pineapple. Then, you can start cutting it: First, try to find the flattest side of it by rolling it over the table. Then, hold it firmly, make sure you keep your hand clear the knife and just cut the top of it. Discard the cut piece and repeat the same to cut the bottom of the pineapple. Now, you can use the new, flat surfaces of the pineapple to cut th...
How To: Cut a pineapple in an artistic and less wasteful way
This video showcases the skills of the demonstrator in cutting a pineapple in an artistic manner. He begins by removing transverse sections, one each from top and bottom with a sharp knife. He then cuts off the remaining skin vertically in eight thin sections to keep wastage to a minimum. He marks off oblique lines one above the other all along the periphery. He cuts off very thin and small oblique slices along the marked lines, rotating the pineapple slowly. The resulting shape is now like a...
How To: Properly cut a pineapple
In this video Sue demonstrates how to cut a pineapple quickly and easily .surely this method will help to cut a pineapple without any mess. At first she cuts off the top of the pineapple and then the bottom ,then she places the pineapple standing on its base and bisect into two half at the middle and again she cuts the half piece at the center to get quarters. Then she cuts the quarters core away ,then she begin to slit the fleshy part of the fruit without cutting the skin ,after that she run...
How To: Open a coconut with a large machete
Learn how to open a coconut and impress your friends. 1. With one hand, steady the coconut at the rounded end and tilt the opposite end downward. 2. Using a very sharp, large knife/machete in your other hand, hack at the pointier end of the coconut at a sharp angle. 3. Slowly decrease the angle of the coconut to create a notch in the husk. 4. Repeat this process to create a larger and larger notch in the husk until you have penetrated the husk and can access the inner fruit. 5. Use a slender,...
How To: Slice up a fresh pineapple
Brian demonstrates a simple method of cutting a pineapple in this entertaining video. He starts reviewing some pineapple research. Pineapples are named after pinecones! Brian also discusses the concerns of eating pineapple for people with certain health conditions. First twist and pull off the flower top of the pineapple. Then cut off the top and bottom of the pineapple so that they are both flat surfaces. Then cut off the skin of the pineapple, retaining as much of the flesh as possible. Use...
How To: Prepare dried prunes
In this video Genevieve Ko gives a few ideas for prunes and plums. She prepares dried plum muffins. She starts preparing the muffin by stirring egg, milk and melted butter with wholegrain muffin mix. Then chopped dried plum is added and mixed well. The batter is poured in a muffin tray and is baked at 375 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes. Then she prepares a great appetizer by placing a scoop of blue cheese on the dried plum and tops it with bacon. Finally she prepares Pork tenderloin that would ...
How To: Cut up a pineapple for a healthy snack
This is a video that demonstrates how to cut up a pineapple for a healthy snack. She places the pineapple on it's side and then cuts one end off and then the other. She then stands the pineapple up and cuts around until all the outer part of the pineapple is gone. She slices down the side of the pineapple in strips, turning it after each strip is removed. She then cuts the pineapple in half. She then cuts it again and removes the core, doing that to both of the larger pieces of pineapple. She...
How To: Cut a yummy pineapple in two ways
Maxine from Chew on That demonstrates how to cut a pineapple. You will need a cutting board, a serrated knife, and a vegetable peeler. A pineapple can be cut into either rings or chunks and there is a slightly different method for each one.
How To: Get the most juice from lemons and limes
Food editor Ian Knauer shows you how to maximize the juicing potential of your citrus fruits. Follow along and learn how.
How To: Turn your fresh tomatoes into crushed
Ian Knauer, food editor from Gourmet Magazine, is going to show you how to turn fresh tomatoes into crushed tomatoes in no time. First, you must take a fresh tomato and just slice it in half, now grab a 4 sided grater and start grating the tomato using the large holes. You should do this over a bowl because that's where all your crushed tomato is going to end up. You must grate the tomato (the skin should begin to peel) until your left with just the peel of the tomato left in your hand, which...
How To: Juice key limes
Gourmet food editor Melissa Roberts talks about key limes here. Key limes are much smaller than the conventional limes that you usually see at supermarkets. When they go out of season they become a little dry, their peak season being spring. They're picked off trees when they're dark-green but they're not ripe yet, they are ripe when they become pale green. As they are so small it can be tricky juicing them. A reamer can be used but it is better to use a citrus squeezer, there is a smaller on...
How To: Prepare a persimmon for eating
A persimmon is not ready to eat until it has a soft consistency like jelly or pudding, though the fruit can be harvested and brought inside while still hard, so long as the branch the fruit hangs from is picked along with it. One way to be sure that a persimmon is ready to eat, is to press a finger against the skin of the fruit. If a fingerprint is left, the persimmon is ripe and delicious. Once they start getting soft they go bad very quickly, so it's good to prepare them so you can eat them...
How To: Make edible fruit bouquets and arrangements
This video demonstrates how to make edible fruit bouquets and arrangements. you can use any fruit and chocolate. Start with a ceramic base. Also, you'll need a Styrofoam ball about 2 inches larger than the base, a hot glue gun, flower shaped cookie cutters, a pack of toothpicks, wire cutters. The video demonstration plans a layer of dates, topped by a layer of chocolate truffles, pineapple and then apricots. Begin by placing artificial leaves to the base, gluing them on. Then hot glue the Sty...
How To: Make a spring time fruit salad
In this video, Betty will show you how to make a colorful and healthy springtime fruit salad using strawberries, blueberries, and pineapple. In order to do that you need these ingredients: 2 cups of fresh strawberries, (washed & dried with paper towel) quartered. 2 cups of fresh blueberries, washed and dried. 2 cups of fresh pineapple pieces. Should be the same size as strawberry slices. 3 tablespoons Splenda (or sugar or other artificial sweetener) 1 carton strawberry glaze and
How To: Make delicious mango chutney
This is a very useful instructional video on how to make mango chutney. It is a very delicious dish which any body can make at home very easily. The ingredients required for this wonderful dish are ginger, sugar, herb leaves and mangoes. First you have to take the herb leaves and ginger in a pan. Now you have to add two cups of sugar to the mixture. Now you have to chop the mangoes into small pieces. You can remove the skin of the mango and use the rest. After chopping the mangoes into small ...
How To: Grill bananas and pineapples
Pineapple and bananas make a great complimentary dish to go along with pork or shrimp or many other items you are cooking. First you want to make a rum glaze. Start by melting down some butter. Add some dark rum, pepper, and some brown sugar to the butter. Then stir it up and set it aside. Take some bananas and cut off both ends of the banana leaving the skin on. Then cut the bananas in half length ways. Put them skin side down on a baking pan. Next take a pineapple and cut the top and bottom...
How To: Detect the freshness of a mango
The ‘Mango’ is a favorite fruit for most of us, undoubtedly. However, choosing the right mango is of utmost importance, if one wants to savor its taste to the best! This video shows how to check for the freshness and choose the right mango. Always pick up a mango which is reddish or pinkish all way round. It may have a patch of sunset yellow but certainly not green. It should feel soft when gently pressed. Most importantly, it should smell sweet like candy, especially at the base of the stem ...
How To: Cut canned whole tomatoes
In this how-to video, Gourmet Magazine editor Melissa Roberts shows you a quick and simple way to cut canned tomatoes. This technique will help decrease the usual mess. For this, you need kitchen shears or very sharp scissors, and obviously a can of whole tomatoes. Melissa suggests OXO kitchen shears, which you can take apart for easy post-cooking clean-up.
How To: Eat fuyu persimmons raw and cooked
With the arrival of fall come persimmons. One of the kinds of persimmon called Fuyu persimmons, also called sharon, are in season from September through December. What you need to look out for is that they are firm and have a nice orange color overall with smooth skin. If a persimmon does not comply to this, let it ripen on the counter until it reaches a bright overall coloring and then just eat it or use it in a salad. There are two types of persimmons, the Fuyu is better suited to be eaten ...
How To: Hull a strawberry
With the use of a handy dandy straw you can quickly and easily remove the hull of a strawberry. You might still have to remove a couple leaves but by starting from the bottom of the strawberry and pushing the straw up through the top you should cleanly remover the middle.
How To: Cook guava shells
You might think cooking guava shells is a complicated task, but this video from Cooking For Bimbos will prove you wrong. You will be taken through the process step-by-step, starting with pre-heating the oven and taking the shells out of their can. Along the way, you will hear tips for how to make the shells tastier, what to pair them with, and more. So what are you waiting for? Watch this simple tutorial and you'll be on your way to preparing a delicious guava shell based meal in no time.
How To: Dry apple slices for crafts
Dry apples for that perfect project by following these steps. Apple aren’t just for eating. You can use sliced dried apples to add a little interest to your next craft project. Making the dried apple slices is half the fun and a great way to spend a lazy afternoon.
How To: Freeze peaches
Eat wonderful peaches all year long. Freezing fruit is easy and a great ways to preserve and retain nutrients. Freeze your peaches now and thaw them when you are ready to make a peach pie or smoothies. This is the perfect way to make the most out of your fruit.
How To: Core apples quickly
There is a very easy method to use that is much faster than coring the apples. You can use it to speed the process of preparing apples up so that they are available to you to make your favorite recipe whether it be an apple cake, an apple pie, or some other apple recipe. You will start by peeling your apples with a peeler. Then take a knife and cut the sides of the apple off basically squaring it off. Then take the side pieces that you cut off and slice them into smaller slices. Before long y...
How To: Peel a tropical mango
Peeling some fruits can be quite a nuisance. And some fruits are even impossible to peel, hence the watermelon. Mangos are something of the sort, you dont really 'peel' them persay but more of an extraction. Mangos are quite delicious but peeling can sometimes come with a little trouble. This video tutorial will demonstrate exactly how to peel a tropical mango with a creative approach. This is a great way to peel and cut a mango especially if you are making a salad, some juice, or anything in...
How To: Open a coconut with only a knife
Follow along as we learn how to open a coconut with only a knife. - Take the back of the knife and strike the coconut at the top. Make sure you are rotating the coconut as you do this, and continue striking.
How To: Easily crack a coconut
You will need a butcher's knife to crack the coconut. Notice the coconut has a seam in between the two "eyes" of the coconut. Hold it over a bowl with the seam running lengthwise along your palm. One tip should be facing you, and the other should face away from you. Take the knife in and strike the center of the coconut several times, while turning the coconut in your hand. It coconut will crack open neatly. If you follow the steps in this video, you should be able to crack a coconut easily.
How To: Peel a mango
Mangoes are not easy to peel. This technique shows how to preserve them in the freezer. Mangoes start off green and become purple and then finally orange. When they are brilliant colored, it's time to pick them or buy them. They have a clear almost sticky juice when they're ready. The central stone is flat and round. It's quite hard to remove. Use a thin flexible life to follow the contour of the mango. Lie it down on one of its flat sides. Then peel it in small sections, holding it still wit...
How To: Freeze apples
Freezing is a great way to preserve the nutrients and lengthen shelf-life of food. No need to waste extra apples from the fall. Freeze your apples to be used in a variety of ways at the date of your choosing.