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Home » Dinner » How To Cut A Pineapple

How To Cut A Pineapple

Created: May 25, 2020 Updated: September 3, 2022 by lyuba 8 Comments

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Learn how to easily cut a pineapple in just a few steps with this step-by-step instructional photo and video guide. Fresh pineapple is great to use in cooking, grilling, desserts, or just have it as a snack. 

Fresh cut pineapple is great to have as a snack or to add to recipes like Pineapple Fried Rice and Pineapple Salsa.

cut pineapple into chunks on a cutting board

Growing up, topical fruit like pineapples, coconuts, mangoes, and others, always seemed like an exotic treat. We didn’t buy them often and only when it was in season so it was a special occasion when mom brought home a pineapple. I’d feast of fresh pineapple slices all week long and it was wonderful.

Sweet, juicy, and slightly tangy pineapple is always a welcome addition to sweet and savory recipes. As good as it is for snacking, a burst of sweet and tangy flavors is perfect in a salsa, tropical fruit salad, in fish tacos, added to teriyaki chicken, or grilled with chicken. Recipes where to add this special fruit are truly endless.

Many people are intimidated by the tough exterior of this fruit like the spiky skin and sharp stalk. Even though it looks aggressive, don’t worry, a pineapple is actually very easy to cut and quite harmless. You will be able to get to the most desired sweetness inside within a few minutes. 

whole pineapple on a wooden cutting board with a knife next to it

How To Tell If Pineapple Is Ripe

There are three factors you want to look at and that’s the color, the feel, and the smell. Color of the pineapple and the tenderness is a little tougher to distinguish but the smell is a great indicator. 

Always try to choose a pineapple that is ripe, right now, at the store. Unlike many other fruit, pineapples do not continue to ripen after it’s been picked. So if it’s cut too soon, you won’t get it much more ripe at home. 

When it comes to the color, stay away from those that have too much green or too dark and orange. Those are either not ripe or over-ripe. The color you want to see is more of evenly golden yellow throughout. 

There is a couple of things you can look for when feeling the pineapple. If it’s hard as a rock, it is not ripe and it you feel soft and squishy patches, then it’s started to over-ripen. 

The smell is the best indicator whether the pineapple is ripe. Smell the bottom of the fruit and if it has a sweet and fruity aroma that you’re familiar with, that’s the one you want to get. If you don’t smell much at all or it’s starting to smell like it will turn into wine soon (fermented), then it’s not ripe or over-ripe.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Lay the pineapple on its side and use a large, sharp knife to cut the top and the bottom off. Make a cut about 1/2 inch or a little less off the top and the bottom. 

pineapple laying on the board with top and bottom cut off next to it and a knife
pineapple standing on the board with part of the skin cut off and cut off parts behind it

Step 2: Stand it up on the bottom cut side and slice the outer skin layer off. Start at the top and cut down along the shape of the pineapple. Try not to cut too deep so you can save as much of the sweet flesh as possible. Slice off the “eyes” that are deep and brown. Tiny lighter ones are fine to leave. 

pineapple without the top, bottom, and skin on the cutting board with cut-off pieces behind

Step 3: Keep the pineapple standing and slice it lengthwise down the middle to create two halves. Cut each half, lengthwise, down the middle to create quarters. 

slicing a whole pineapple without the skin in half
pineapple halves without the skin on the board with a knife next to it

Step 4: Locate the thick core at the corner of each quarter and slice it off. 

slicing the core off the pineapple quarter with other quarters around

Step 5: Chop the pineapple quarters into 1-inch chunks. You can make them thicker or thinner as you wish. If planning on making salsa or fruit salad, dice it into small pieces. 

cutting pineapple quarter into chunk with a knife
horizontal view of cut pineapple chunks in a mount on a cutting board with a knife next to it and a black plaid towel

Slices or Halves

If you want to make ring slices then the cutting method is a little different. Follow step 1 and 2 but instead of cutting in half, slice it width-wise, into circles. Then, use a cookie cuter that is about 1 or 1 1/2 inches in diameter to cut out the core from each slice. 

Cut each ring in half if you wish to create ring halves.

The ingredients for pineapple salsa are placed on a wooden cutting board.

Storing Instructions:

Whole pineapple

You don’t have to cut the pineapple the second you bring in from the store but try to do it within a day or two. It will be just fine left on the counter for a day but if you want to keep it longer, store it in the refrigerator. You can keep the pineapple in the refrigerator for up to 3 days before cutting.

Sliced pineapple:

You should store cut pineapple in the refrigerator right away. Place slices or chunks of freshly cut fruit into an air-tight food storage container and refrigerate for 3 to 5 days. 

Freezing:

To freeze fresh cut pineapple, sped it on a parchment paper covered large rimmed baking sheet. Make sure to spread it in one even layer and try to leave a little space between the chunks. Place the baking sheet into the freezer for 2-3 hours. (Set the timer so you don’t forget it.)

After that, you can portion the pineapple chunks into freezer zip-top bags or store it in one large bag. Make sure to label, get as much air out as you can, seal, and place back into the freezer.

Pineapple chunks are placed in two ziplock baggies.

How To Use and Serve Fresh Pineapple

Like I mentioned earlier, the possibilities are virtually endless because it’s great in sweet and savory recipes. 

In Savory Recipes:

Add diced pineapple to teriyaki sauce and make chicken teriyaki with it. 

Pineapple Grilled Chicken Kebabs are wonderful as an easy grilled dinner. 

Use it in the Thai Pineapple Fried Rice.

Add it to various fish tacos or chicken tacos for a sweet and juicy burst of flavor. 

In Sweet Recipes:

Make tropical fruit salad or add it to the classic fruit salad. 

Fruit salsa is wonderful with some diced fresh pineapple added. 

cup fresh pineapple chunks on a cutting board with part of a knife visible

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cut pineapple into chunks on a cutting board

How To Cut A Pineapple

Learn how to easily cut a pineapple in just a few steps. Fresh pineapple is great to use in cooking, grilling, desserts, or just have it as a snack. 
5 from 2 votes
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Course: Dessert, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: how to, pineapple
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 10 (10-12 servings)
Calories: 45kcal
Author: lyuba

Equipment

  • Large cutting board
  • Large sharp knife
  • Food storage container with an air-tight lid

Ingredients

  • 1 whole ripe pineapple

Instructions

Cut Off Top and Bottom:

  • Lay the pineapple on its side and use a large, sharp knife to cut the top and the bottom off. Make a cut about 1/2 an inch or a little less off away from the the top and the bottom.

Cut Off The Skin:

  • Stand it up on the bottom cut side and slice the outer skin layer off. Start at the top and cut down along the shape of the pineapple. Try not to cut too deep so you can save as much of the sweet flesh as possible. Slice off the “eyes” that are deep and brown. Tiny lighter ones are fine to leave. 

Cut Pineapple In Half and Quarters:

  • Keep the pineapple standing and slice it lengthwise down the middle to create two halves. Cut each half lengthwise down the middle to create quarters. 

Cut Off The Core:

  • Locate the thick core at the center corner of each quarter and slice it off. 

Chop

  • Chop the pineapple quarters into 1-inch chunks. You can make them thicker or thinner as you wish. If planning on making salsa or fruit salad, dice it into small pieces.

Cut Into Rings:

  • If you want to make ring slices of pineapple, then the cutting method is a little different. Follow step 1 and 2 but instead of cutting in half, slice it width-wise, into circles.
  • Use a cookie cuter that is about 1 or 1 1/2 inches in diameter to cut out the core from each slice.

Storing:

  • Sliced pineapple should be stored in the refrigerator right away. Place slices or chunks of freshly cut fruit into an air-tight food storage container and refrigerate for 3 to 5 days.

Freezing:

  • To freeze fresh cut pineapple, sped it on a parchment paper covered large rimmed baking sheet. Make sure to spread it in one even layer and try to leave a little space between the chunks. Place the baking sheet into the freezer for 2-3 hours. (Set the timer so you don't forget it.)
  • After that, you can portion the pineapple chunks into freezer zip-top bags or store it in one large bag. Make sure to label, get as much air out as you can, seal, and place back into the freezer.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 45kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 0.5g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.01g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.04g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 99mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 52IU | Vitamin C: 43mg | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 0.3mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @willcookforsmiles and tag #willcookforsmiles
collage of two images on cut pineapple on the board on top and bottom and title in the middle

LYUBA

ABOUT LYUBA

I’m Lyuba Brooke, mother of 2, the cook, recipe developer, photographer, and author behind willcookforsmiles.com. I share many classic and original recipes, cooking tips, and tutorials. My passion is sharing delicious meals for everyone to try. Read more...

509 shares

Filed Under: 4th Of July, Dessert, Dinner, How To

All images and text ©Lyubov Brooke for ©Will Cook For Smiles. Please do not use my images without prior permission. If using my posts in collections and features, please link back to this post for the recipe. Disclaimer: Nutrition information shown is not guaranteed to be 100% accurate as most ingredients and brands have variations.

Comments

  1. G says

    May 25, 2020 at 1:28 pm

    I love so many of your recipes! It is quite obvious that you love what you do. However, have you ever thought of having someone proofread your text? Those errors are a real distraction to otherwise superb content. Please think about it to move your blog to one of the best ever..

    Reply
    • lyuba says

      May 26, 2020 at 9:51 am

      Hi G! I must have really rushed through reading over this one. Thanks for letting me know!

      Reply
  2. G. Gower says

    May 26, 2020 at 9:58 am

    Thank you for your response. I am not trying to be rude at all, and I hope you can understand that. All the best!

    Reply
  3. Akshay says

    May 26, 2020 at 10:08 am

    5 stars
    I was always scared to do this on my own! Thanks for showing me there isnt anything to be afraid of!

    Reply
    • LyubaB says

      May 27, 2020 at 2:58 pm

      I am happy to have helped! Thanks for stopping by! 🙂

      Reply
  4. Produce Dude says

    November 4, 2020 at 6:44 pm

    5 stars
    Good advice. I usually will just cut around the core once I’ve skinned the whole pineapple, it gives me 4 coreless segments and I can throw the core in some mixed drinks.

    Reply
  5. Donna says

    March 14, 2021 at 11:33 am

    Hi Lyubab, Just wanted to say when pineapples are on sale I buy several at a time. Usually they are green but I leave them on the counter where they can get air and they will ripen. Also, don’t know if you know this but after the pineapple has ripened, if you cut off the top and turn upside down, let it sit for at 30 or longer it helps with the sweetness. I always let mine sit longer than 30. Thank you love your blog.

    Reply
    • LyubaB says

      March 15, 2021 at 10:26 am

      Hi Donna,

      Thanks for the tips for my readers and myself, I didn’t know that and will try it the next time I cut open a pineapple. 🙂

      Reply

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Well, hey there!

I’m Lyuba Brooke, mother of 2, the cook, recipe developer, photographer, and author behind willcookforsmiles.com. I share many classic and original recipes, cooking tips, and tutorials. My passion is sharing delicious meals for everyone to try. Read More.

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