Hot Fruit How-Tos


How To: Prepare and eat a dragonfruit
Jaqueesha demonstrates how to prepare and eat a dragonfruit. To prepare the dragonfruit you will need a knife, plate and paper towel. Preparing a dragonfruit involves simply peeling it and cutting it into pieces. First, cut off the stem which is not edible. Then, peel off the outer purple part off of the fruit can stain the skin so be sure to wash your hands after you work with the fruit. Dragonfruit has the texture of a mango. Slice the dragonfruit in half lengthwise. Then, cut each dragonfr...

How To: Cut a mango to get the most fruit
How to cut a mango to get the most fruit

How To: Peel & slice an orange into a bowl
Otoro makes peeling oranges look easy. Step 1: Cut off the top and bottom edges of the orange.

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: Chop dried fruit
Use this quick and easy tip for chopping sticky dried fruit. The dried fruit can often stick to itself and become very difficult to chop into distinct pieces. This is important for baking cakes or other dessert recipes that require the ingredient.

How To: Open up a coconut in three different ways
This video is presented by Coco Joe from CocoJoesCoconuts. The video starts by demonstrating the technique for getting the coconut water from young coconuts. Coco Joe first uses a coconut opening tool by inserting it into the top part of the coconut and prying off the very top of the coconut. Next, he inserts the coconut opening tool directly into the top of the coconut resulting in a nice round opening. Joe then demonstrates the same technique with a 3 inch pocketknife. Finally, Joe demonstr...

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: Choose a perfectly ripe Tommy Atkins mango
Just because the grocery store sells produce, doesn't mean it's all good and ready to eat. Mangos are a particularly tricky fruit to get right… er… ripe. Tommy Atkins mangos the more common mangos, and are usually grown in Mexico (originally Florida). When choosing a Tommy Atkins mango, you need to look for a mango without bruising and with as much color as possible. Green is not quite ready yet. Red is excellent, but a beautiful mix of red and yellow is the best.

How To: Make orange supremes (slices of orange without membrane or pith)
Orange supremes are, as the name implies, supreme versions of oranges. Usually when you nom on an orange you get the thick pith and webby membrane that sticks all the orange slices together. While we don't mind getting all the extra fluff with our orange, when it comes to food presentation it's nice to get all that off.

How To: Carve a papaya in a flower design
In this video, we learn how to carve a papaya flower design. To start, you will want to take a sharp object and outline the drawing you want to make. Carve this onto the papaya, then remove the skin as you are making different shapes. If you want to do a large flower design, carve layers into the papaya to make the flower look more realistic. Take time to carve the different petals, stems, and other details. This is a fun way to make something beautiful with your food, and can double as a cen...

How To: Open a coconut to drink the milk
In this tutorial, we learn how to open a coconut to drink the milk. To start, you will need to grab a large bowl and place the coconut over it. Then, use a knife to hit it with the blunt side. Hit all around the coconut until you have cut an even edge around the middle of the fruit. You can also use a coconut to beat the knife into the coconut to open it up. From here, you can pour the milk from the coconut into a large bowl. Then you can drink it or use it in a recipe, enjoy!

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: 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: Make a beautiful fruit basket
If you're looking for a fabulous gift, why not check out this tutorial with Martha Stewart and see what to do to create a beautiful fruit basket. Bananas, apples, peaches, grapes, cherries, oranges, pineapple, kiwi, tangerines - any fruit you want! Of course, make sure you're picking fresh, ripe and in season fruit so your gift can be enjoyed right away! And, you'll want a basket. Typically, these are made from wicker, but you could get creative and choose some other kind of basket as well!

How To: Eat a fig without getting sore lips or a sore tongue
Do you love figs but don't love how the fruit's shell sometimes pinches and irritates your lips and tongue when you eat it? Then take a gander at this video to learn how to consume figs without any bodily injuries.

How To: Carve a watermelon baby stroller filled with fruit
This watermelon baby carriage is just waiting to get rolled into a baby shower! When traditional gifts like baby bibs and ginormous baskets of diapers and pacifiers won't cut it, this stroller is all that and then some. Carved out of a single piece of watermelon, the stroller comes equipped with wheels, a sun shade, and a handle for pushing.

How To: Keep your peeled or sliced apples fresh with Betty
A few minutes after your peel or slice apples, they start to turn brown. In this tutorial, Betty invites you into her kitchen and shows you how to make lots of apples in advance and keep them fresh and colorful for hours. Yum!

How To: Open a coconut with a sharp stick in the ground
In this video, we learn how to open a coconut with a sharp stick in the ground. You will want to start off by pushing the coconut into the stick, breaking apart the outer shell until you get to the middle. Depending on how experienced you are, this can take just a few minutes or it can take a while. Be careful not to push your hand into the sharp stick, as you can severely injure yourself. When the coconut comes out of the shell, you can clean it off and use it for food, or use the shells as ...

How To: Make Thomas Keller's cured preserved lemons at home
In this clip, learn how to make a yummy concoction that comes straight from Thomas Keller. This batch of cured preserved lemons is easy to make and can be used in a ton of other recipes. So, follow along with Chef John and make this easy ingredient.

How To: Eat green mangoes in the Vietnamese tradition
In this tutorial, we learn how to properly eat green mangoes the Vietnamese way. The ingredients you need are: washed cold green mangoes, a peeler, a plate, sugar, a spoon, a bowl, and fish sauce. First, peel your mango until it's all the way free of the skin and cut the mango into slices. Now, in your small bowl you will pour in fish sauce and add in sugar, then mix together. Now, you can dip your mangoes into the sauce and eat as much as you like! This is a delicacy in Vietnam and how they ...

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: 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: Make melon with proscuitto
This instructional video from Cooking for Bimbos shows step-by-step instructions on how to make an interesting hors d'oeuvres with melon and prosciutto. She has prepared long slices of fresh cantaloupe and long thin slices of prosciutto ham. She demonstrates how to take a slice of prosciutto ham and wrap it around the center of each slice of cantaloupe She then sprinkles salt and fresh ground pepper over each slice. This can be used as a simple side dish or an hors d'oeuvres and is very easy ...

How To: Select and cut a mango
Chef Allen Susser first tells us about many different kinds of mangos and that he uses them often in his cooking. He then demonstrates how to select a mango, and then properly cuts it. Learn tips such as signs when a mango is ripe and how to choose the right one, as well as various methods of cutting and preparing mangos for cooking. You will learn how to slice or dice a mango in just seconds with a few excellent techniques. Cutting and preparing mangos for cooking is easy after watching this...

How To: Pit and dice an avocado
Check out this short video tutorial from Rouxbe on how to pit and dice an avocado. This video will support your cooking experience and will provide you with additional relevant information during your culinary time pitting and dicing avocados.

How To: Peel and cut a pineapple
Get a taste of the tropics by learning how to prepare a delicious pineapple. Watch this video to learn how to peel and cut a pineapple.

How To: Make a grilled pineapple and ice cream dessert
Looking for great summer recipes? Then try this decadent and sweet dessert, serve it hot off the grill. Top off the grilled pineapples with vanilla ice cream or a rum sauce.

How To: Make spice roasted apples and pears with Gordon Ramsay
Watch as Gordon Ramsay comes into your kitchen to show you how to cook like pro. He'll show you how to make spice roasted apples and pears. The key to this recipe are the fresh summer pairs, make sure they are not too ripe. Make spice roasted apples and pears with Gordon Ramsay.

How To: Carve fruit centerpieces
In this great video clip series our expert, Karen Weisman, shows us a few great centerpiece ideas that are easy to make without costing an arm and a leg. All you need are a few melons, some extra fruit and a little bit of time and you will have a delightful centerpiece that accents the rest of the table and the food that is on it. She shows you how to make complex pieces like a peacock and a wishing well but also throws in some simpler ideas like a swan. Take these ideas, run with them and ma...

How To: Peel, Slice and Chop a Kiwi
We all know that Kiwis can be hard to cut, especially with that furry skin. But in this video, I'll show you the exact steps that you need to take in order to get it done right. The best part—you'll be using a spoon to peel it. Also, I hope that you feel like a boss while you're doing it.

How To: Open a Banana Like a Monkey
Sometimes when you have a really ripe banana or a green one it might become difficult to open it, or you break the banana when you open it. Bummer, I know! Well, all that headache and risk is over because I took a solution right from the animal kingdom. In this video, I will show you exactly how a monkey would peel a banana.

How To: Make Fruity, One-Ingredient Ice Cream
The secret to one-ingredient ice cream is froze fruit. Facts and Ingredients

How To: Make a flavorful, delicious applesauce
Applesauce isn't boring at all! This video shows you a few ways you can add some jazz to your applesauce. The key is in getting the right variety of apple, and making sure that your apples are fresh and ripe. Make a flavorful, delicious applesauce.

How To: Make a healthy dessert out of grilled pears
A great dessert for the next time you hold a BBQ - once the meat has been cleared away, gril up some ripe, juicy pears! Serve with some ice cream and whipped cream, and you have an easy, delicious and healthy dessert. Make a healthy dessert out of grilled pears.

How To: Make classic chocolate and caramel coated apples
Half snack, half dessert and completely delicious! All you need to make these are: Granny Smith (green) apples, caramel, chocolate melting wafers and your favorite chopped nuts. You will also need some lollipop sticks or bamboo skewers and a small hammer. Make classic chocolate and caramel coated apples.

How To: Make a unique appetizer out of bacon-wrapped bananas with apricot glaze
Bacon goes with everything... even bananas and apricots! This appetizer is sure to be a hit. For a recipe that serves six, you will need: 12 strips of thin cut bacon, 6 firm bananas, juice of half a lime, 1 cup of apricot or pineapple jam, and a dash of cayenne pepper or chili powder. Make a unique appetizer out of bacon-wrapped bananas with apricot glaze.

How To: Make a creamy, fruity ambrosia salad
A popular dessert salad, especially during the warm weather, is the ambrosia salad. This dish is a delcious mix of whippped cream, fruit and a few marshmallows for garnish. This video even shows you how to make your own whipped cream using a kitchen mixer! Make a creamy, fruity ambrosia salad.

How To: Carve a watermelon into a centerpiece shaped like a rose
The watermelon is an esthetically-pleasing fruit, but can be made even more so with some basic carving. Watch this video to learn how you can use a carving knife to turn a watermelon into a beautiful rose-shaped centerpiece that really takes advantage of the watermelons beautiful pink inside.

How To: Juice a pomegranate
In this tutorial, we learn how to juice a pomegranate. To do this, you will need a power juicer that can handle you juicing this fruit. Start off by cutting the pomegranate open and then scooping the seeds out of it. Once you do this, load the seeds inside of your juicer and turn it on. Then, you will hear the seeds start to become crushed inside. Place a cup underneath the spout of the machine and then finish loading up the seeds to the machine. When finished, you will have pure and natural ...

How To: Carve a watermelon into easy-to-eat cubes without making a mess
Watermelons are delicious and juicy, but they also cause a mess when you try to carve them most of the time. Not if you do it this way! Watch this video to learn how you can cube a watermelon without getting sticky juice everywhere.