There are few issues pretty much as good as biting right into a contemporary slice of pineapple, however discovering the perfect hack to chop a pineapple correctly (like our hack for slicing a mango) could also be one thing you haven’t tried but.
Whether or not you are attempting to chop your pineapple into chunks or rings, this manner of slicing permits you to minimize away the spiky flesh and core with out having to personal a pineapple corer —which can simply take up extra room in your kitchen utensil drawer.
There are such a lot of makes use of for contemporary pineapple chunks and rings like our Pineapple Upside Down In a single day Baked Oatmeal or Pineapple Fried Rice Pizza (hungry but?).
And, we’ll additionally inform you the best way to freeze your pineapple in case you are wanting to make use of it later in smoothies or frozen cocktails like a pina colada.
Love pineapple? Try these recipes:

How are you going to inform if a pineapple is ripe?
- Contact it: A ripe pineapple ought to give a bit when squeezed. If it’s arduous as a rock, it’s in all probability underripe, and if it feels mushy or provides quite a bit when squeezed, it’s in all probability too ripe.
- Examine the Colour: Some inexperienced is OK on a pineapple, however pineapples yellow as they ripen, so that you’ll need a principally yellow shade for the ripest pineapple. Too ripe will begin to look darkish orange in shade, so keep away from that.
- It’s additionally good to know that pineapples gained’t actually ripen a lot after they’ve been picked (though it should get just a little softer with time), so that you’re on the lookout for one which’s already the ripest of the bunch on the retailer.
- Scent it: Your pineapple ought to scent fruity and candy in the event you sniff close to the bottom of the pineapple. In the event you don’t scent something, it could nonetheless be underripe, and if it smells bitter or fermented, it’s in all probability overripe.
- Tug on the leaves: All these inexperienced fronds protruding the highest don’t simply look cool, they’ll additionally provide help to decide if a pineapple is ripe. Give a tug on one of many leaves and if it comes out comparatively simply, it’s an indication of ripeness. If it feels such as you’d need to wrestle it out, then it could be underripe.

What’s one of the simplest ways to retailer a minimize pineapple?
You’ll be able to retailer a minimize pineapple in an hermetic container within the fridge and it’ll keep contemporary for 3-4 days.
In the event you haven’t eaten it by then, simply throw the chunks right into a freezer bag and freeze to be used in smoothies or frozen cocktails like a pina colada (or pina colada popsicles!).
What’s one of the simplest ways to freeze pineapple chunks?
As soon as the pineapple is minimize, unfold it out onto some parchment paper on a cooking sheet or giant plate within the freezer.
Freezing them unfold out first will maintain them from all forming one giant frozen clump of pineapple. As soon as it’s frozen, add them to an hermetic freezer bag till you’re prepared to make use of.

Do I would like to show a pineapple the other way up?
It’s an non-compulsory step, however if you wish to be sure to get the juiciest bits of the pineapple in every chew, you’ll be able to minimize off the highest of it and sit it the other way up on a plate for half-hour earlier than persevering with to slice it.
As most pineapples are saved sitting upright on a counter or show, it will distribute the juice that has been sitting on the backside of the pineapple to the remainder of the fruit so that you get extra juicy bites from the highest and center as properly.
What provides do I would like to chop a pineapple?
- Sharp knife: You’ll need a sharp non-serrated chef’s knife like this to chop your pineapple as serrated knives will let loose extra juice than non-serrated blades.
- Small paring knife: It’s non-compulsory, however a small paring knife is useful to chop out any small remaining darkish spots as soon as the pores and skin is minimize off.
- Chopping board: You’ll need a big measurement slicing board that may suit your complete pineapple (and it’s further useful to have a non-slip slicing board that may go within the dishwasher as properly).
- (For Pineapple Rings) Small circle cutter set: A spherical cookie cutter makes it simple to easily punch out the center core with an ideal circle, however you can too use a small knife for this.



Easy methods to minimize a pineapple:
Reduce off the highest and backside: Place the pineapple on its facet and minimize off the highest and backside of it so you’re left with a cylinder of pineapple.*
*Notice: Between slicing the highest and backside off, that is when you’ll be able to optionally flip it the other way up, sitting the minimize prime on a plate for half-hour if you’d like the juices to drip all the way down to the remainder of the pineapple earlier than slicing.


Trim off the pores and skin: Use your knife to chop down the edges of the pineapple, following the curves, till all of the pores and skin is eliminated.
The deeper you chop, the extra fruit you’ll waste however the much less “eyes” (the little darkish spots which might be disagreeable to eat) you’ll need to take away later.
Use a small paring knife to chop out any remaining darkish spots earlier than persevering with.


Choice 1: Make pineapple cubes


- Reduce the halves in half once more: Lay the halves on their flat minimize facet and minimize in half once more so you will have 4 triangle-shaped wedges of pineapple.
- Reduce out the core: Stand your wedge up on the slicing board and slice down to chop off the purpose of your triangle which has the pale white core part.

- Reduce into cubes: Now you’ll be able to slice the pineapple into strips after which into cubes no matter measurement you want on your functions.

Choice 2: Make pineapple rings
- Slice the pineapple into rounds: Reduce your pineapple physique into rounds about 1/2″ thick (or no matter thickness you need).

- Use a spherical cutter or knife to take away core: You’ll be able to both use a small paring knife to chop out the core from every spherical part, or to make it simpler you need to use a spherical cookie cutter to easily punch out the center with an ideal circle.


In search of extra kitchen suggestions and hacks? Try:
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2 methods to chop a pineapple into chunks or rings
Directions
OPTION 1: Make pineapple cubes
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Reduce the pineapple in half: Standing the pineapple on its flat prime or backside, use your giant knife to chop the pineapple in half down the center of its arduous core. You’ll see a pale yellow fibrous core working the size of the pineapple and that’s what we’ll take away earlier than cubing.
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Reduce the halves in half once more: Lay the halves on their flat minimize facet and minimize in half once more so you will have 4 triangle-shaped wedges of pineapple.
-
Reduce out the core: Stand your wedge up on the slicing board and slice down to chop off the purpose of your triangle which has the pale white core part.
-
Reduce into cubes: Now you’ll be able to slice the pineapple into strips after which into cubes no matter measurement you want on your functions.
OPTION 2: Make pineapple rings
Notes
- Between slicing the highest and backside off, that is when you’ll be able to optionally flip it the other way up sitting on the minimize prime on a plate for half-hour if you’d like the juices to drip all the way down to the remainder of the pineapple earlier than slicing.
- You’ll be able to retailer a minimize pineapple in an hermetic container within the fridge and it’ll keep contemporary for 3-4 days. In the event you haven’t eaten it by then, simply throw the chunks right into a freezer bag and freeze to be used in smoothies or frozen cocktails like a pina colada (or Piña Colada Popsicles!).
- To freeze pineapple, as soon as the pineapple is minimize, unfold it out onto some parchment paper on a cooking sheet or giant plate within the freezer. Freezing them unfold out first will maintain them from all forming one giant frozen clump of pineapple. As soon as it’s frozen, add them to an hermetic freezer bag till you’re prepared to make use of.