The question of How to Cut Pineapple is an age old question that we’re giving you three solutions for! Because fresh cut pineapple in the heat of summer simply can’t be beat.
The Best Way To Cut A Juicy Pineapple
Rounds, spears, or chunks, you decide! No matter the shape, we’ve got easy steps to guide you through the process. It’s cheaper than pre-cut pineapple from the grocery store and yields so much more fruit than using a pineapple corer. And if you’re a fan of fresh fruit and saving money, check out our post on how to cut a watermelon and mango.
What You Will Need
- whole pineapple – We usually let this set out on the counter for a few days until the centermost leaves easily pull away from the fruit.
- sharp knife – A sharp chef’s knife will make this process so easy as pineapples have a tough outer skin.
- cutting board – Any variety will do.
When Are Pineapples In Season
While you can sometimes find this fruit year round, it’s naturally harvested between March and July.
How To Pick A Ripe Pineapple
Look for a pineapple that is more yellow than green, as green pineapples aren’t quite ripe. Then give it the good ‘ol smell test at its base. You should easily be able to smell a pineapple aroma. Lastly, if the innermost leaves on the top of the pineapple can easily detach when pulled, it’s probably ripe enough to eat!
Recipes To Make With Pineapple
Check out our favorite pineapple recipes to keep handy all summer long.
How To Cut Pineapple
No matter how you want your pineapple to look at the end of cutting, this is how you’ll start for all three options. Lay your uncut pineapple down on its side on a cutting board. Use a sharp knife to cut about a half inch off the bottom of the pineapple. Then cut off the top of the pineapple. Toss both the pineapple top and the bottom in the garbage.
A good and ripe pineapple’s flesh should be a bright golden yellow color.
Next, place the pineapple on a cut end on the cutting board. Then position your knife where the yellow flesh meets the pineapple skin and make a cut in a downward motion to remove the outer peel. Just be sure to follow the shape of the pineapple on the way down. Repeat this process as you work your way around the pineapple until only the remaining yellow fruit is remaining.
How To Cut Pineapple Spears
Keep the prepped pineapple upright and make a cut down the middle of the fruit vertically, which will split it in half lengthwise. Repeat this process again so that you end up with a quartered pineapple.
Stand each quarter piece on an end and cut down the hard, pointed inside corner to remove the core. Repeat this process with all four quarter pieces.
Take one of the quarter pieces and lay it flat on the cutting board, with the rounded side on the cutting board. Then cut the piece lengthwise so that you have three pineapple spears. Continue this process with each quarter piece.
How To Cut Pineapple Chunks
Follow the instructions for how to make pineapple spears. Once you have your spears, hold three pineapple spears together on a cutting board and make 1 inch cuts perpendicular to the previous cuts moving from one end of the spears to the other. This will result in small pieces of pineapple. Repeat this process with the remaining pineapple spears.
How To Cut Pineapple Rounds
After removing the top, bottom, and rind of the pineapple, lay the pineapple on its side on the cutting board. Then cut the pineapple in half inch thick circles all the way down to the end of the pineapple.
Now place each circle on the cutting board and carefully cut around the tough core with a pairing knife. Then pop out that center piece and you have yourself a pineapple round!
How To Use Cut Pineapple
We love using sweet pineapple in fruit salads, to add a bit of sweetness in green smoothies, or simply for snacking during a hot summers day.
Recipe FAQs
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Did you learn how to easily cut pineapples today? We would love it if you would take a minute and leave a star rating and review – it is also helpful if you made any substitutions or changes to the recipe to share that as well. THANK YOU!
Don’t forget to check out my Instagram and TikTok account for some behind-the-scenes action! Or give me a follow on Facebook or see what I am pinning on Pinterest!
Fruit Forward Recipes You Might Like
How to Cut Pineapple
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: How-To
- Method: Counter Top
- Cuisine: American
Description
A quick and easy tutorial that teaches you how to cut a pineapple into chunks, spears and circles. Perfect for meal prep!
Ingredients
- 1 whole pineapple
Instructions
- Lay a whole pineapple down on a large cutting board. Use a sharp knife to cut about a half inch off the bottom end. Then cut off the top of the pineapple and discard.
- Place one cut, flat-side of the pineapple on the cutting board. Position the knife where the yellow flesh meets the outer rind and make a cut down the outside of the pineapple removing the rind, following the contour of the fruit. Repeat this process as you work your way around the pineapple until you have only the yellow inside remaining.
Spears
- Leaving the pineapple standing vertically, make a cut down the center splitting it in half lengthwise.
- Keeping each half standing vertically, cut in half lengthwise again creating two quarters. Repeat with the other half of pineapple to create a total of 4 quarters.
- Stand up each quarter on the cutting board and cut down the pointed inside corner to remove the core. Repeat with all four quarters.
- Take one of the quarters and lay flat on the cutting board.
- Make 1/2 inch slices lengthwise so you have 3 pineapple spears.
- Continue this process with the other pineapple quarters, until they are all cut into spears.
Chunks
- Leaving the pineapple standing vertically, make a cut down the center splitting it in half lengthwise.
- Keeping each half standing vertically, cut in half lengthwise again creating two quarters. Repeat with the other half of pineapple to create a total of 4 quarters.
- Stand up each quarter on the cutting board and cut down the pointed inside corner to remove the core. Repeat with all four quarters.
- Take one of the quarters and lay flat on the cutting board.
- Make 1/2 inch slices lengthwise so you have 3 pineapple spears.
- Holding the 3 pineapple spears together on the cutting board, make 1 inch cuts perpendicular to the previous cuts moving from one end of the spears to the other. This will result in pineapple cubes. Repeat process with remaining pineapple.
Circles
- After removing the ends and outside rind, lay down the pineapple horizontally on the cutting board.
- Using a sharp knife move from one end of the pineapple to the other cutting the pineapple into 1/2 inch circles. Move down the entire pineapple until it is all cut.
- Now place each circle on the cutting board and carefully use a small, paring knife to cut around the inside core of each piece. Continue this process with all the pineapple circles until all of the core pieces have been removed and discarded.
Notes
- Storage: keep cut pineapple in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 oz
- Calories: 38
- Sugar: 7.4 g
- Sodium: 0.8 mg
- Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 9.9 g
- Protein: 0.4 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Leave a Rating & Comment