36 Refreshing Ways To Use Fruit This Summer

We all love fruit because, like so few things in this world, it's both delicious and nutritious! But did you know it's also super useful for everyday situations, especially during the hot summer months? We're going to take you on an informative fruit safari filled with genius tips and tricks that will show you how to get the most use out of your favorites, such as pineapple, watermelon, lemons, and bananas. And to sweeten the deal, we're also throwing in some delicious smoothie recipes and practical summer ideas. It's fruit-tastic!

1. How To Tell If A Pineapple Is Ripe

Color Test: The more golden the skin, the riper the pineapple. 

Pull Test: If the leaves of the pineapple can be easily pulled off, the fruit is ripe. 

Squeeze Test: A ripe pineapple should feel soft, so if it feels hard, it's not ripe yet. However, if it feels mushy, it's overripe, so be careful.

Smell Test: The sweeter a pineapple smells, the riper it is. So if your pineapple smells really good, then you've got a tasty treat ahead!

2. Cut A Pineapple The Right Way

2.1. Cut off the stem and bottom edge.

2.2. Hold the fruit vertically and cut off the skin. 

2.3. Remove the remaining bits of skin by cutting them out diagonally.  

This is how the pineapple will look without skin:

2.4. Cut the pineapple in half vertically. 

2.5. Cut each half of the pineapple in half lengthwise.

2.6. Remove the hard core of the pineapple.

2.7. Cut the finished pineapple into pieces and enjoy!

3. Fruit Salad in a Pineapple Boat

3.1. With the skin and leaves still on, cut the pineapple in half vertically. 

3.2. Cut a grid into the flesh of the pineapple and remove the pieces from the skin with a spoon.

3.3. Fill the pineapple halves with a delicious assortment of mixed fruit.

4. Pretty Pineapple Parrot 

4.1. Cut off the top third of the pineapple. Cut out the flesh in the larger piece, dice it, and put the pineapple chunks back into the hollow piece. 

4.2. Trim the leaves of the pineapple with scissors.

4.3. Cut the flesh of the stalk into the shape of a hemisphere.

4.4. Cut a small piece of carrot into the shape of a bird's beak, fix it into the pineapple stalk using a toothpick, and give the bird eyes with two black peppercorns.

4.5. Stick two toothpicks into the bottom of the bird and stick it on top of the diced pineapple bowl. 

5. Individual Pineapple Chunks

Instead of slicing the pineapple, jiggle the stem until it comes out of the fruit. After that, you can easily break off  individual pieces from the top down for a mess-free snack.

6.–11. Tips To Picking The Perfect Watermelon

An unripe watermelon can ruin the whole experience, so it's best to just avoid in general, right? You might think it's impossible to know whether a watermelon will be any good until you cut into it, but that's definitely not the case! In fact, when it comes to watermelon, there are 6 reliable ways to know if you're picking out a winner or a "lemon." Get the full 6 Tips To Picking The Perfect Watermelon.

12.–17. Healthy Smoothies To Kickstart Your Day

When it starts to get too hot out to make breakfast, or you just prefer something lighter first thing in the morning, a smoothie is your best option. Not only do they taste great, they'll help keep you hydrated for the long day ahead of you. Plus, depending on which of the following 6 recipes you choose, you can expect plenty of other great side effects that will boost your health! Get the full recipes for the 6 Healthy Smoothies.

18.–21. Brilliant Summer Party Hacks

Summer is at its peak. The days are still long, the evenings are warm, and in general, everyday life moves to the outdoors. To make your time in the summer sun as comfortable as possible, here are some genius hacks to help you make the most of it. Summer just got a whole lot better! Get the full tips & tricks for the 4 Brilliant Summer Party Hacks.

22.–30. Everyday Uses For Lemons

You know the saying: If life gives you lemons, make lemonade! But why limit yourself to lemonade when there are so many other wonderful things you can do and make with lemons? In fact, the next time life gives you lemons, you can go ahead and make a cleaner, deodorizer, dessert, and so much more! Here are some great ways to get you started. Get the full tips & tricks for the 9 Everyday Uses For Lemons.

31.–36. Genius Things To Do With Bananas

Bananas are not only the most popular fruit in the United States, but the entire world! In fact, over 100 billion bananas are consumed worldwide each year. A large reason why the banana is so beloved is because of how versatile it is, which is why we're going to show some insanely useful ways to make sure get the most out of the amazing fruit. Get the full tips & tricks for the 6 Genius Things To Do With Bananas.

Now that our fruit safari has come to an end, you should know how to make the most of your pineapples, watermelons, lemons, and bananas. If you want to cool off during the hot days ahead, prepare one of the easy smoothie recipes or try out one of our helpful summer ideas. Thanks for joining us, and we hope you'll be back soon!

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