How to Cut A Pineapple (Step-By-Step With Video!)

There are few things quite as good as biting into a slice of fresh pineapple, but finding the best hack for slicing a pineapple properly (like our hack for slicing a mango) might be something you haven’t yet have tried.

Whether you’re trying to slice your pineapple into chunks or rings, this style of slicing allows you to remove the prickly flesh and stone without having to own a pineapple corer – which just takes up more room in your kitchen utensil drawer.

There are so many uses for fresh pineapple chunks and rings like our Pineapple Upside Down Overnight Baked Oatmeal or Pineapple Fried Rice Pizza (already hungry?).

And we also tell you how to freeze your pineapple if you want to use it later in smoothies or frozen cocktails like a pina colada.

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How can you tell if a pineapple is ripe?

• touch it: A ripe pineapple should give slightly when squeezed. If it’s rock hard, it’s probably underripe, and if it feels mushy or gives a lot when pressed, it’s probably overripe.

• Check the color: Some green is okay on a pineapple, but pineapples turn yellow as they ripen, so you want a predominantly yellow color for the most ripe pineapple. Too ripe will start to look dark orange, so avoid that.
• It’s also good to know that pineapples don’t ripen much after you pick them (although they do soften a little over time), so look for one that’s already the ripest in the store.

• smell it: Your pineapple should smell fruity and sweet if you smell near the base of the pineapple. If you don’t smell anything, it may still be unripe, and if it smells sour or fermented, it’s probably overripe.
• Pluck the leaves: All those green fronds sticking out at the top not only look cool, they can help you tell if a pineapple is ripe. Pull on one of the leaves and if it comes out relatively easily, it’s a sign of maturity. If it feels like you’re going to have to wrestle it out, then maybe it’s not mature yet.

What is the best way to store a sliced ​​pineapple?

You can store a sliced ​​pineapple in an airtight container in the fridge and it will stay fresh for 3-4 days.

If you haven’t eaten it by then, simply toss the pieces in a freezer bag and freeze them to use in smoothies or frozen cocktails like pina colada (or pina colada popsicles!).

What is the best way to freeze pineapple chunks?

Once the pineapple is cut, spread it out on some parchment paper on a baking sheet or large plate in the freezer.

Freezing them spread out first will keep them all from forming one big frozen lump of pineapple. Once frozen, place them in an airtight freezer bag until ready to use.

Do I have to turn a pineapple upside down?

It’s an optional step, but if you want to make sure you’re getting the juiciest chunks of pineapple in every bite, you can slice off the top and place them upside down on a plate for 30 minutes before slicing further.

Since most pineapples are stored upright on a counter or display, this distributes the juice that’s at the bottom of the pineapple to the rest of the fruit, giving you juicier bites from the top and center as well.

What materials do I need to cut a pineapple?

• Sharp knife: You will need a sharp, non-serrated chef’s knife like this one to slice your pineapple, as serrated knives release more juice than non-serrated blades.

• Small paring knife: It’s optional, but a small paring knife is helpful for snipping out any small remaining dark spots after the skin has been cut off.

• cutting board: You’ll need a large cutting board that will fit your whole pineapple (and it’s especially helpful to have a non-slip cutting board that also fits in the dishwasher).

• (For pineapple rings) Small circle cutter set: A round cutter makes it easy to punch out the center core with a perfect circle, but you can also use a small knife.

How to cut a pineapple:

Cut top and bottom: Set the pineapple aside and cut off the top and bottom, leaving a pineapple cylinder.*

*Note: Optionally, between cutting off the top and bottom, turn the pineapple upside down and place the cut top on a plate for 30 minutes if you want the juice to drip onto the rest of the pineapple before slicing.

Cut off skin: Using your knife, trim the sides of the pineapple along the curves until all of the skin is removed.

The deeper you cut, the more fruit you’ll waste, but the fewer “eyes” (those little dark spots that are uncomfortable to eat) you’ll have to remove later.

Use a small paring knife to cut out any remaining dark spots before proceeding.

Option 1: Make pineapple cubes

• Halve the halves again: Lay the halves on their flat cut side and slice in half again, leaving you with 4 triangular pineapple wedges.

• Cut out the core: Place your wedge on the cutting board and slice down to snip off the top of your triangle, which has the pale white core section.

• To dice: Now you can cut the pineapple into strips and then into cubes that you need for your purposes.

Option 2: Make pineapple rings

• Slice the pineapple: Cut your pineapple body into rounds about 1/2 inch thick (or whatever thickness you like).

• Use a circular cutter or knife to remove the core: You can either use a small paring knife to cut the core out of each round part, or simply punch out the center with a perfect circle using a round cookie cutter for convenience.

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