I love fresh pineapple but could never abide the mess when trying to chop one up. The juice runs everywhere, removing the core is a chore I hate and as for removing all those prickly bits on the skin - need I say more! However, all this is a thing of the past since my sister gave me a pineapple corer from Lakeland. It claims to peel and slice a pineapple quicker than opening a can. And whilst I think it is one of the best kitchen gadgets I have ever come across, I don't know that I would agree with that claim.

It is a very simple gadget to use and actually comes in two pieces. The first piece is the handle which clicks into the second piece, namely a hollow plastic tube. The tube has a spiral cutting disc near the bottom edge and a serrated edge in the middle of the tube. Firstly you need to cut the top of your pineapple. Do not do as I did on my first attempt and cut the bottom off as well. If you do, you will have a lot of pineapple juice to clear up afterwards! Once you have removed the pineapple top, line up the serrated teeth in the hollow tube with the core of the pineapple. Now turn the handle clockwise, whilst pushing down at the same time. I would suggest you have the pineapple on a low work surface or table as this makes it easier when you are pushing down into the pineapple. As you turn the handle, the core goes up inside the hollow tube and the spiral cutter slices the pineapple at the same time. Once you feel you have reached the bottom on the pineapple, withdraw the corer and you should have one long spiral piece of pineapple that you can now separate into individual slices or chop into chunks. If I am going to store it in the fridge, I usually pour some of the juice from the pineapple shell in with the fruit as this will help to stop it drying out. Alternatively, if you like to drink pineapple juice, pour yourself a glass.

As the outer shell is intact except for the top, it can be used at a dinner party as a novel way to serve a dessert or cocktails.

Cleaning the corer is simple. Just unclick the handle from the tube and push the core from the centre of the tube. It can then be hand washed or put in the dishwasher as it is dishwasher safe.

It is currently on sale on the Lakeland website for £6.36 and in my opinion, it is money well spent. It is such a simple device but so effect. I wish someone had invented this a long time ago and saved me all those years of heartache trying to cut up a pineapple. I can't praise this gadget highly enough.