To date, deciding whether to have pineapple on a pizza is probably the most important question there is regarding the tropical plant.
(The answer, or course, is a resounding no. Pineapple does not, and never has, belonged on a pizza. You’re wrong if you believe otherwise.)
But now, prepare to have your mind blown, because it appears another question has emerged – just in time for Halloween.
Should we swap pumpkins for pineapples – yay or nay?
Let me explain. Somewhere, someone, has decided carving pumpkins is simply not scary enough and in their opinion, a pineapple should be used to create the utmost terror.
To be honest with you, they do look quite terrifying. I’m not sure if it’s the spiky exterior or the leafy tuft which resembles someone having been electrocuted, but the carved pineapple really does resemble something supernatural.
Admittedly, the spikes may prove difficult when you’re trying to get your groove on with the carving process. I’d probably advise you to wear some gloves to avoid any Halloween-related injuries.
However, when it comes to scooping out its insides, it beats the traditional pumpkin hands down. Usually the inside of the pumpkin either gets turned into a winter soup or – like in my house – it gets chucked in the bin.
@bestproductsdotcom/InstagramBut with pineapples the possibilities are endless. Make a fruit salad, blend it into a smoothie or get the party started by making your very own piña coladas! I know what I’ll be doing…
Everything else in the carving process is exactly the same as it would be with the jack-o’-lantern equivalent. You cut the top off, scoop out the insides and choose your spookiest face to carve into it.
Once it’s done, pop a couple of tea lights in there and voilà! Your very own spooky pineapple which you can place in the centre of your windowsill.
People have been taking to Instagram to show off their creepy creations:
As amazingly spooky as they look, there are some downsides to using the tropical fruit as a replacement pumpkin.
Whereas with a pumpkin you have full artistic license and can prepare the face in detail by drawing a design in pen before you begin carving, you cannot do this with a pineapple.
Martha Stewart says:
Due to it’s stickiness, drawing out a design on the pineapple with a marker doesn’t work that well so you will have to freehand.
Now, I don’t know about you, but carving without guidance would not end well for me. The pineapple would end up looking like it’d been butchered and I’d probably storm out of the room in a strop.
Martha also advises not to pick an overly ripe pineapple – otherwise, you would create a ‘sticky mess’ when carving, which is not ideal.
She also recommends using a pineapple corer (am I the only one who’s never heard of this?) to make the scooping process simpler. Anything to speed the process along, I guess?
Well, what are you waiting for? Happy carving people!
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A Broadcast Journalism Masters graduate who went on to achieve an NCTJ level 3 Diploma in Journalism, Lucy has done stints at ITV, BBC Inside Out and Key 103. While working as a journalist for UNILAD, Lucy has reported on breaking news stories while also writing features about mental health, cervical screening awareness, and Little Mix (who she is unapologetically obsessed with).