Before you start cutting, make sure you select that perfect pineapple and that it is ready for the knife! You may feel silly doing this if anyone is around, but put your nose against the bottom of the pineapple. You should smell a distinct ripe, fruity scent. In addition to this, when you squeeze the pineapple gently with your fingers it should “give” a bit. If it is rock solid, give it a few days to ripen. If it is squishy, you may have waited too long.