How to Cut a Pineapple

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Debate today, will include a bill that will directly impact the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP). One of the major issues is the work requirement to receive Snap benefits. This requirement will delay SNAP benefits because of the increased administrative burden and therefore leave children hungry.  The second major issue is the limits on the variety of food options available to those receiving benefits. When you restrict the type of food individuals can buy, you make it even harder for kids and families to get food in the first place. The language doesn’t leave room for religious or medical dietary requirements, it is unclear what is defined as “healthy,” and will leave 2/3s of a grocery store ineligible to be purchased through SNAP. The majority party is prioritizing the wrong things. Iowa needs to be healthier, I agree with that, but not at the expense of families.  

Pineapple is a popular fruit, and when perfectly ripe, it offers a wonderful blend of sweetness with a hint of tartness. Here is how to cut it into slices, chunks, or spears. Snack away, or add it to a fruit salad, or see one of the fresh pineapple recipes below!

Woman holding fresh pineapple on cutting board.

How to Cut a Pineapple: Everything you need to know about buying, storing, cutting and cooking with pineapple!

How To Know if a Pineapple Is Ripe

The smell is your best indicator of ripeness. Turn the pineapple over and smell the stem at the bottom. If it smells perfumey and sweet, your pineapple is ready to go.

Pineapples don’t technically continue to ripen once they have been cut off the plant, but they will soften a bit and I believe they get a deeper sweeter flavor by sitting out for a bit. If you don’t smell a sweet pineapple scent from the bottom of the fruit, you can let it sit at room temperature for another couple of days, which should improve the texture and enhance the sweetness a bit. If there is no scent, it’s definitely not ripe. Give it the smell test in the store before you buy it!

The pineapple should feel heavy for its size; that means it’s got a nice amount of juice in it. It should also have a little bit of give when pressed, especially at the base and the top. Choose pineapples with healthy green leaves at the top.

If it smells sour or vinegary then it’s probably overripe and you should skip it. Also avoid pineapples with wrinkled skin, blemishes, or leaves that look past their prime.

How to Cut Up a Pineapple

  1. Slice off the spiky green top using a sharp, heavy knife.
Debate today, will include a bill that will directly impact the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP). One of the major issues is the work requirement to receive Snap benefits. This requirement will delay SNAP benefits because of the increased administrative burden and therefore leave children hungry.  The second major issue is the limits on the variety of food options available to those receiving benefits. When you restrict the type of food individuals can buy, you make it even harder for kids and families to get food in the first place. The language doesn’t leave room for religious or medical dietary requirements, it is unclear what is defined as “healthy,” and will leave 2/3s of a grocery store ineligible to be purchased through SNAP. The majority party is prioritizing the wrong things. Iowa needs to be healthier, I agree with that, but not at the expense of families.  
  1. Place the pineapple on its bottom and use the knife to slice downwards, removing the skin in pieces. Cut so you lose as little of the fruit as possible.

Kitchen Smarts

The sweetest, juiciest part of the pineapple is the outside part closest to the skin, so keep as much of it as you can while avoiding the dark hard “eyes.”

Woman slicing the outside off of a pineapple.
  1. Remove the eyes (little brownish-black spots) using a paring knife.
Woman using a knife to get all remaining skin off of a pineapple.
  1. Cut off the bottom of the pineapple.
Woman cutting the bottom off of a pineapple.
  1. Cut the pineapple in half from top to bottom.
Woman cutting a peeled pineapple in half.
  1. Remove the core from each half with a knife.
Woman using a knife cut out pineapple core.
  1. Slice the pineapple into long spears or cut it crosswise into half-circle slices.
Woman slicing fresh pineapple with knife.
  1. You can then cut the pineapple halves into slices or spears, or go another step and cut the pieces into cubes or chunks.
Woman cubing fresh pineapple on cutting board.

How to Cut a Baby Pineapple

Baby pineapples are possibly the cutest fruit around. They are often from South Africa and might be called Queen Victoria Pineapples. They are usually about 4 to 5 inches tall and about 3 to 4 inches in diameter and are often less acidic than their larger cousins. You can find them at specialty stores and online, sometimes sold by the crate.

Baby pineapples on green table.

You can cut baby pineapples in the same way you cut larger pineapples. The core is much more tender, though, so you don’t have to worry about cutting that out.

You can simply remove the bottom and the skin and leave the top on, then cut the pineapple into quarters.

Woman cutting baby pineapple with knife.

You might consider leaving the top leaves on, which makes for a fun presentation. People can pick them up by the leaves and eat them. Or think about using them as a garnish for cocktails or mocktails!

Sliced Baby Pineapple wedges on table.

How to Store Cut Pineapple

Cut pineapple should be stored in the fridge in a sealed container for up to 4 days. You can also freeze it in an airtight plastic zipper-top bag for up to 6 months. Do not store peeled or cut pineapple at room temperature.

Various sized pieces of pineapple on a cutting board.

How to Use Fresh Pineapple

Obviously, pineapple is excellent eaten straight up or added to fruit salads of all kinds. Fresh or frozen pineapple is great to have on hand for smoothies or to chop or puree and add to marinades to help tenderize the meat and lend some sweetness to the dish. Pineapple is lovely in fruit salsas, stir-fries, or to add to kebabs. Sliced pineapple is also wonderful on the grill.


7 Fresh Pineapple Recipes

Grilled pineapple slices on white plate at picnic.
4.67 from 3 votes

Grilled Pineapple

A simple brown sugar glaze transforms pineapple into a smoky, sweet grilled dessert — delicious on its own and amazing with a scoop of vanilla ice cream melting right into it!
View Recipe

Sweet and Sour Chicken
4.75 from 4 votes

Sweet and Sour Chicken

This pretty, sweet, and gentle old-school Chinese-American favorite comes together in 20 minutes. So easy and delicious, it rivals any restaurant's sweet and sour chicken.
View Recipe

Tropical Fruit Salsa / Photo by Cheyenne Cohen / Katie Workman / themom100.com
5 from 2 votes

Tropical Fruit Salsa

This will add color and crazy flavor to anything it’s served with.
View Recipe

Yellow bow with Pineapple Mint Jalapeno Salsa on table with chips and drinks.
5 from 1 vote

Pineapple Mint Jalapeño Salsa

Bright and refreshing, this fruit salsa is an intriguing condiment to use in all kinds of ways.
View Recipe

Pineapple Shrimp Fried Rice
5 from 2 votes

Pineapple Shrimp Fried Rice

The sweet brininess of the shrimp is a perfect match for pineapple’s sweet-sourness.  A simple and colorful stir-fried rice dish.
View Recipe

Woman holding green bowl with pineapple fried rice.
5 from 1 vote

Pineapple Fried Rice

For a vegetarian option, skip the shrimp and go with this easy, sweet, and savory Hawaiian-inspired fried rice, fragrant with garlic, ginger, and scallions. It's a great side dish for any Asian meal.
View Recipe

How to Make Fruit Salad
5 from 3 votes

Fruit Salad

A few little hacks gets you to the best fruit salad ever! (Totally customizable!)
View Recipe


About Katie Workman

Katie Workman is a cook, a writer, a mother of two, an activist in hunger issues, and an enthusiastic advocate for family meals, which is the inspiration behind her two beloved cookbooks, Dinner Solved! and The Mom 100 Cookbook.

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