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A bowlful of fresh pineapple chunks.
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5 from 1 vote

How to Cut A Pineapple

Don't be intimidated by the thick skin or tall prickly crown of a pineapple. This step-by-step guide will show you how to cut a pineapple into spears, chunks or rings in just about 5 minutes. There's nothing better than a juicy, sweet, fresh cut pineapple!
Prep Time5 minutes
Total Time5 minutes
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 75kcal
Author: Amy Nash

Ingredients

  • 1 fresh, ripe pineapple

Instructions

Wedges, Spears, and Chunks

  • Slice off the prickly top part of the pineapple with a large, sharp knife, about ½-inch from the top. Cut off the bottom part of the pineapple about ½-inch from the base.
  • Stand the pineapple on it's freshly cut top and slice away strips of the spiky skin following the pineapple's shape. If there are a lot of brown eyes left on the fruit, you can trim them away with a sharp paring knife. If you want to cut your pineapple into rings, you could turn it on its side and slice ½-inch rings at this point.
  • Slice the pineapple in half vertically through the core, then cut it in again to create 4 wedges. Cut off the triangular tip of core from each quarter piece.
  • Slice each quarter into 2 or 3 spears, then into chunks. Enjoy!

Rings

  • Follow step 1 from above. If you have a large circular cutter, you can then slice it into discs and use the large cutter to remove the skin from each disc. Otherwise, remove the skin following step 2 from above and slice into discs.
  • Use a small circular cutter either 1-inch or 1 ½-inches in diameter or a sharp paring knife to remove the core from the center of each disc to create pineapple rings.

Notes

  • Yield: One pineapple yield about 4 cups of fruit. This is typically enough for 6-8 people.
  • Storage: An uncut pineapple can sit out on the counter for 2-3 days, but once you have cut your pineapple it is usually best to cover and refrigerate it for up to about 5 days, although it can sit out on the counter for a day or two.
  • Freezing: Scatter the pineapple chunks on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper so they are in a single layer. It's best if the pieces aren't touching each other either or they will freeze together. Freeze for 2-4 hours until solidly frozen, then transfer the frozen pineapple chunks to a resealable airtight bag or container for longer term storage up to 12 months. 

Nutrition

Calories: 75kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 0.2g | Saturated Fat: 0.01g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.02g | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 164mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 87IU | Vitamin C: 72mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 0.4mg