• How do you remove spines from 30 pounds of prickly pear fruits I just p

    From Andrew@3:633/280.2 to All on Thu Nov 23 13:39:51 2023
    Subject: How do you remove spines from 30 pounds of prickly pear fruits I just picked?

    A friend bought a home with a huge set of prickly pair trees and let me
    pick about 30 pounds of fruit https://i.postimg.cc/j596q0BW/pricklypear.jpg

    How do you most easiest get the spines off of them?

    In the store, they don't have spines.
    These DEFINITELY have spines. Lots.

    What's the trick to removing the spines before peeling the skin off?

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  • From David E. Ross@3:633/280.2 to All on Thu Nov 23 15:25:41 2023
    Subject: Re: How do you remove spines from 30 pounds of prickly pear fruits I
    just picked?

    On 11/22/2023 6:39 PM, Andrew wrote:
    A friend bought a home with a huge set of prickly pair trees and let me
    pick about 30 pounds of fruit https://i.postimg.cc/j596q0BW/pricklypear.jpg

    How do you most easiest get the spines off of them?

    In the store, they don't have spines.
    These DEFINITELY have spines. Lots.

    What's the trick to removing the spines before peeling the skin off?

    I have heard of singing. With long tongs or a BBQ fork, hold the cactus
    pear over a flame.

    --
    David E. Ross
    Climate: California Mediterranean, see <http://www.rossde.com/garden/climate.html>
    Gardening diary at <http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary>

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  • From =?UTF-8?B?8J+YjiBNaWdodHkgV2FubmFiZ@3:633/280.2 to All on Thu Nov 23 15:31:39 2023
    Subject: Re: How do you remove spines from 30 pounds of prickly pear fruits I
    just picked?

    On 11/22/2023 9:39 PM, Andrew wrote:
    A friend bought a home with a huge set of prickly pair trees and let me
    pick about 30 pounds of fruit https://i.postimg.cc/j596q0BW/pricklypear.jpg

    How do you most easiest get the spines off of them?

    In the store, they don't have spines.
    These DEFINITELY have spines. Lots.

    What's the trick to removing the spines before peeling the skin off?


    I have not done it myself. This is my thought experiment:

    I suggest you put a pile of them in a steel wok and use a blowtorch on
    high to briefly singe the fine hairy pricks. Use a steel spatula to turn
    the pile of prickly pears and then use the blowtorch to singe the pile
    again.

    I think if you singe the sharp tips of the pricks then the pricks won't
    be able to pierce your skin.

    You can use a blowtorch to singe just one fruit to see if it works
    before you try to singe a big pile of them in a wok (or a cheap steel
    bowl from a dollar store).





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  • From micky@3:633/280.2 to All on Thu Nov 23 16:52:03 2023
    Subject: Re: How do you remove spines from 30 pounds of prickly pear fruits I just picked?

    In alt.home.repair, on Wed, 22 Nov 2023 23:31:39 -0500, ? Mighty Wannabe
    ? <@.> wrote:

    On 11/22/2023 9:39 PM, Andrew wrote:
    A friend bought a home with a huge set of prickly pair trees and let me
    pick about 30 pounds of fruit https://i.postimg.cc/j596q0BW/pricklypear.jpg >>
    How do you most easiest get the spines off of them?

    In the store, they don't have spines.
    These DEFINITELY have spines. Lots.

    What's the trick to removing the spines before peeling the skin off?


    I have not done it myself. This is my thought experiment:

    I suggest you put a pile of them in a steel wok and use a blowtorch on
    high to briefly singe the fine hairy pricks. Use a steel spatula to turn
    the pile of prickly pears and then use the blowtorch to singe the pile >again.

    I think if you singe the sharp tips of the pricks then the pricks won't
    be able to pierce your skin.

    You can use a blowtorch to singe just one fruit to see if it works
    before you try to singe a big pile of them in a wok (or a cheap steel
    bowl from a dollar store).

    Good idea to do one first. I have the feeling this method might impart
    a propane taste to the fruit, although maybe not inside.

    By blowtorch, I assume you mean a propane torch, now a real blowtorch. https://www.etsy.com/listing/1185126001/vintage-brass-blow-torch-antique

    Everyone seems to think it's okay to call a propane torch a blowtorch,
    these days.

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  • From Robin Ware@3:633/280.2 to All on Thu Nov 23 22:44:40 2023
    Subject: Re: How do you remove spines from 30 pounds of prickly pear fruits I
    just picked?

    micky wrote:
    In alt.home.repair, on Wed, 22 Nov 2023 23:31:39 -0500, ? Mighty Wannabe
    ? <@.> wrote:

    On 11/22/2023 9:39 PM, Andrew wrote:
    A friend bought a home with a huge set of prickly pair trees and let me
    pick about 30 pounds of fruit https://i.postimg.cc/j596q0BW/pricklypear.jpg >>>
    How do you most easiest get the spines off of them?

    In the store, they don't have spines.
    These DEFINITELY have spines. Lots.

    What's the trick to removing the spines before peeling the skin off?


    I have not done it myself. This is my thought experiment:

    I suggest you put a pile of them in a steel wok and use a blowtorch on
    high to briefly singe the fine hairy pricks. Use a steel spatula to turn
    the pile of prickly pears and then use the blowtorch to singe the pile
    again.

    I think if you singe the sharp tips of the pricks then the pricks won't
    be able to pierce your skin.

    You can use a blowtorch to singe just one fruit to see if it works
    before you try to singe a big pile of them in a wok (or a cheap steel
    bowl from a dollar store).

    Good idea to do one first. I have the feeling this method might impart
    a propane taste to the fruit, although maybe not inside.

    By blowtorch, I assume you mean a propane torch, now a real blowtorch. https://www.etsy.com/listing/1185126001/vintage-brass-blow-torch-antique

    Everyone seems to think it's okay to call a propane torch a blowtorch,
    these days.


    Maybe the woke propane torch self identifies as a blowtorch.
    And maybe the blowtorch even has a preferred pronoun.
    Shitfire, maybe the blowtorch is even non-binary.

    Life is complicated today.

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  • From =?UTF-8?B?8J+YjiBNaWdodHkgV2FubmFiZ@3:633/280.2 to All on Thu Nov 23 23:53:37 2023
    Subject: Re: How do you remove spines from 30 pounds of prickly pear fruits I
    just picked?

    On 11/23/2023 12:52 AM, micky wrote:
    In alt.home.repair, on Wed, 22 Nov 2023 23:31:39 -0500, ? Mighty Wannabe
    ? <@.> wrote:

    On 11/22/2023 9:39 PM, Andrew wrote:
    A friend bought a home with a huge set of prickly pair trees and let me
    pick about 30 pounds of fruit https://i.postimg.cc/j596q0BW/pricklypear.jpg >>>
    How do you most easiest get the spines off of them?

    In the store, they don't have spines.
    These DEFINITELY have spines. Lots.

    What's the trick to removing the spines before peeling the skin off?

    I have not done it myself. This is my thought experiment:

    I suggest you put a pile of them in a steel wok and use a blowtorch on
    high to briefly singe the fine hairy pricks. Use a steel spatula to turn
    the pile of prickly pears and then use the blowtorch to singe the pile
    again.

    I think if you singe the sharp tips of the pricks then the pricks won't
    be able to pierce your skin.

    You can use a blowtorch to singe just one fruit to see if it works
    before you try to singe a big pile of them in a wok (or a cheap steel
    bowl from a dollar store).
    Good idea to do one first. I have the feeling this method might impart
    a propane taste to the fruit, although maybe not inside.

    By blowtorch, I assume you mean a propane torch, now a real blowtorch. https://www.etsy.com/listing/1185126001/vintage-brass-blow-torch-antique

    Everyone seems to think it's okay to call a propane torch a blowtorch,
    these days.

    https://www.google.com/search?q=blowtorch&tbm=isch

    A "blowtorch" is a generic term for that kind of torch. The fuel can be
    the traditional kerosene, or the modern butane, propane, MAPP gas, oxy-hydrogen, ...

    I think, for this application, a blowtorch with a large red flame (lower temperature) is better than a pinpoint white-hot flame. A large flame
    will be quicker in doing a large batch of prickly pears and won't damage
    the skin of the fruits that much due to the lower flame temperature.

    A large red flame can be achieved by turning the metal ring covering the
    air hole which controls the amount of air that can enter the torch to
    mix with the fuel.



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  • From =?UTF-8?B?8J+YjiBNaWdodHkgV2FubmFiZ@3:633/280.2 to All on Thu Nov 23 23:57:57 2023
    Subject: Re: How do you remove spines from 30 pounds of prickly pear fruits I
    just picked?

    On 11/23/2023 1:30 AM, rbowman wrote:
    On Thu, 23 Nov 2023 02:39:51 -0000 (UTC), Andrew wrote:

    What's the trick to removing the spines before peeling the skin off?

    Leather gloves. Rib them off.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKFHePTS0RI

    He uses a paper towel which seems redundant.


    It will be tedious rubbing 30 lbs of prickly pears one by one.



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    * Origin: Prometheus Society (3:633/280.2@fidonet)
  • From Bob F@3:633/280.2 to All on Fri Nov 24 00:50:57 2023
    Subject: Re: How do you remove spines from 30 pounds of prickly pear fruits I
    just picked?

    On 11/22/2023 8:25 PM, David E. Ross wrote:
    On 11/22/2023 6:39 PM, Andrew wrote:
    A friend bought a home with a huge set of prickly pair trees and let me
    pick about 30 pounds of fruit https://i.postimg.cc/j596q0BW/pricklypear.jpg >>
    How do you most easiest get the spines off of them?

    In the store, they don't have spines.
    These DEFINITELY have spines. Lots.

    What's the trick to removing the spines before peeling the skin off?

    I have heard of singing. With long tongs or a BBQ fork, hold the cactus
    pear over a flame.


    I sang to some for an hour, and even that didn't scare the spines off them.

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    * Origin: A noiseless patient Spider (3:633/280.2@fidonet)
  • From Ed P@3:633/280.2 to All on Fri Nov 24 01:48:40 2023
    Subject: Re: How do you remove spines from 30 pounds of prickly pear fruits I
    just picked?

    On 11/23/2023 7:53 AM, 😎 Mighty Wannabe ✅ wrote:
    On 11/23/2023 12:52 AM, micky wrote:


    Everyone seems to think it's okay to call a propane torch a blowtorch,
    these days.

    https://www.google.com/search?q=blowtorch&tbm=isch

    A "blowtorch" is a generic term for that kind of torch. The fuel can be
    the traditional kerosene, or the modern butane, propane, MAPP gas, oxy-hydrogen, ...


    Yes, it was born out of ignorance. By the same people that call every refrigerator a Frigidaire and many other wrong terms.


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    * Origin: blocknews - www.blocknews.net (3:633/280.2@fidonet)
  • From Andrew@3:633/280.2 to All on Fri Nov 24 06:21:18 2023
    Subject: Re: How do you remove spines from 30 pounds of prickly pear fruits I just picked?

    😎 Mighty Wannabe ✅ wrote on Thu, 23 Nov 2023 07:57:57 -0500 :

    He uses a paper towel which seems redundant.

    It will be tedious rubbing 30 lbs of prickly pears one by one.

    Thanks everyone for the good advice on removing prickly pear spines.

    It's interesting how he rubs them smooth with a paper towel & gloves.
    Time 300 seconds (rubbing) https://youtu.be/jKFHePTS0RI?t=300

    Even more interesting how he just bites into the results after that.
    Time 525 seconds (biting) https://youtu.be/jKFHePTS0RI?t=525

    I'm all done - it had to be ready for the Thanksgiving dinner!
    <https://i.postimg.cc/CLWfNS9P/pricklypear-peeled-and-ready.jpg>

    I'll explain later.

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  • From Andrew@3:633/280.2 to All on Fri Nov 24 06:32:23 2023
    Subject: Re: How do you remove spines from 30 pounds of prickly pear fruits I just picked?

    Bob F wrote on Thu, 23 Nov 2023 05:50:57 -0800 :

    What's the trick to removing the spines before peeling the skin off?

    I have heard of singing. With long tongs or a BBQ fork, hold the cactus
    pear over a flame.


    I sang to some for an hour, and even that didn't scare the spines off them.

    I rubbed. I sang. I singed. I screamed. And still, this is what my gloves looked like after I foolishly picked the prickly pears with just leather. https://i.postimg.cc/q7NzH8vN/gloves-with-prickly-pear-spines.jpg

    I even looked up how to spell singing... https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/singe

    What worked best, even on the gloves, was singing with the tongs. https://i.postimg.cc/tg0RV8zz/prickly-pear-singed-with-tongs.jpg

    Happy Thanksgiving!
    https://i.postimg.cc/ydG3JKKz/prickly-pear-results.jpg

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  • From Andrew@3:633/280.2 to All on Fri Nov 24 07:13:48 2023
    Subject: Re: How do you remove spines from 30 pounds of prickly pear fruits I just picked?

    😎 Mighty Wannabe ✅ wrote on Wed, 22 Nov 2023 23:31:39 -0500 :

    You can use a blowtorch to singe just one fruit to see if it works
    before you try to singe a big pile of them in a wok (or a cheap steel
    bowl from a dollar store).

    I removed the burner cover to the stove and singed them over the huge flame that shot up unexpectedly out of the middle hole of the oven burner.

    I cut off each end, and sliced a line down the middle about skin deep.
    Then with my hands I peeled the skin back which leaves a center portion.

    That's all for the party so the only thing I get to keep is the compost. https://i.postimg.cc/RF9Q4Kmn/prickly-pear-skin-compost.jpg

    Layers of... Browns : Greens : Reds : Browns : Greens : Reds : (and so on)

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  • From =?UTF-8?B?8J+YjiBNaWdodHkgV2FubmFiZ@3:633/280.2 to All on Fri Nov 24 09:41:36 2023
    Subject: Re: How do you remove spines from 30 pounds of prickly pear fruits I
    just picked?

    On 11/23/2023 3:35 PM, rbowman wrote:
    On Thu, 23 Nov 2023 07:57:57 -0500, 😎 Mighty Wannabe ✅ wrote:

    On 11/23/2023 1:30 AM, rbowman wrote:
    On Thu, 23 Nov 2023 02:39:51 -0000 (UTC), Andrew wrote:

    What's the trick to removing the spines before peeling the skin off?
    Leather gloves. Rib them off.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKFHePTS0RI

    He uses a paper towel which seems redundant.

    It will be tedious rubbing 30 lbs of prickly pears one by one.
    Then take them to a laundromat where you're not known, put them in a
    dryer, and give them 10 minutes on the low setting.


    If you are a reloader, you might already have a rotary separator, then
    you don't have to sneak into a laundromat to tumble a 30-lb bag of
    prickly pears

    Frankford Arsenal Platinum Series Wet/Dry Media Separator with
    Perforated Sifter and Mesh Media Strainer for Reloading https://www.amazon.com/Frankford-Arsenal-Separator-Perforated-Reloading/dp/B01B6S8JUC


    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UiC-1Sjrm0

    A commercial tuna operation probably uses something similar to the potato peeler. I've used on of those in the service. The old cartoon of GIs
    sitting around peeling potatoes by hand aren't accurate. We did crack eggs
    by hand. You get good after a fwe hundred dozen.




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  • From =?UTF-8?B?8J+YjiBNaWdodHkgV2FubmFiZ@3:633/280.2 to All on Fri Nov 24 10:22:28 2023
    Subject: Re: How do you remove spines from 30 pounds of prickly pear fruits I
    just picked?

    On 11/23/2023 3:13 PM, Andrew wrote:
    😎 Mighty Wannabe ✅ wrote on Wed, 22 Nov 2023 23:31:39 -0500 :

    You can use a blowtorch to singe just one fruit to see if it works
    before you try to singe a big pile of them in a wok (or a cheap steel
    bowl from a dollar store).
    I removed the burner cover to the stove and singed them over the huge flame that shot up unexpectedly out of the middle hole of the oven burner.

    I cut off each end, and sliced a line down the middle about skin deep.
    Then with my hands I peeled the skin back which leaves a center portion.

    After cutting it in halves, you can hold a half in your palm, and use a
    spoon of appropriate size to scoop out the soft core instead of peeling
    the skin. I eat kiwifruit that way, with a spoon. After I have scooped
    out the soft meat of a kiwifruit with a spoon in one shot, all that's
    left is the paper thin kiwifruit skin in my palm. It beats trying to
    peel the kiwifruit because peeling will tear the kiwifruit skin into
    many, many strips.


    That's all for the party so the only thing I get to keep is the compost. https://i.postimg.cc/RF9Q4Kmn/prickly-pear-skin-compost.jpg

    Layers of... Browns : Greens : Reds : Browns : Greens : Reds : (and so on)


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    * Origin: Prometheus Society (3:633/280.2@fidonet)