If you've never tackled a whole pineapple, it is really easy. They do sell specific gizmos that make the job "simpler", but I like using my favorite kitchen knife and wooden cutting board. While they look intimidating, it's a piece of cake to get into a pineapple.
Step 1: Cut off the green top. The chickens like playing with this. They nibble at the sweet stuff on the bottom, and crunch a bit on the green bit.
Step 2: Cut about a half-inch off the bottom. This helps the pineapple stand up straight on the cutting board.
Step 3: Cut down the side with your knife, slicing off the brown skin. Your pineapple may end up looking a little hexagonal, but its all good. The rabbits adore this part and nibble it away to nothing.
Step 4: Cut the pineapple into fourths. Stand one fourth on end, and slice the pithy core off from the middle. If you have come across any over-ripe spots, go ahead and chop these off. They can go in with the chickens, or the rabbits. Everybody loves a bit of pineapple as a treat!
Now all you need to do is cut it into slices. I find that for dehydrating purposes, cutting them about 1/4 inch thick lets you get a nice chewy final product. Otherwise, it goes more crispy--still good, but it winds up crunchy not chewy. While it isn't necessary, I do put my slices into a bowl of water with a slosh of lemon juice in it. It helps keep them from browning, if I have a lot of slicing to do, and it does perhaps help the final product stay golden yellow when it is dried.
I love mixing dried pineapple with dried tart cherries and a handful of walnuts, and perhaps a little sweetened flaked coconut. Its a wonderful tropical snack mix to eat while watching snowflakes drift down.
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