You can grill, sautée, roast, bake or blend them, but there really isn’t much you can’t do with a pineapple. This mighty meal time hero is an easy, delicious way to create a sweet and savory balance in meat and veggie dishes like chipotle chicken kebabs or BBQ chicken pineapple kebabs. Plus, they are perfect for whipping up classic, crowd-pleasing desserts like Pineapple Upside-down Cake and Pineapple Watergate Salad.
Despite their deliciousness pineapples can be a little visually intimidating, but don’t let the spiky texture, pine-cone looking exterior scare you! We've got tips to help you pick a good pineapple, how to tell if a pineapple is ripe, and how to cut a pineapple.
What Makes a Good Pineapple?
If you’re planning to buy a pineapple whole and uncut, it's important to pick a pineapple that is ripe. You want one that tastes good and is full of flavor. Once picked, pineapples do not ripen so it's important to pick out the perfect pineapple. So, if you are buying your pineapple from the supermarket you want to pick one that is at peak ripeness.
Avoid pineapples that are dry or have dry leaves, look old and wrinkly, have bruises or soft spots, or have a fermented aroma.
How to Pick a Ripe Pineapple
Feel: A ripe pineapple has a firm shell and should give a little bit when you give it the squeeze test. It should not be hard when squeezed, nor should it be soft. Give the fronds a little tug to make sure they're firm.
Smell: Sniff near the stem side and your pineapple should have a sweet, tropical fragrance. If there’s no scent, it's not ripe. If there's a vinegary or alcoholic smell, it's past it's prime.
Weight: Pineapples contain water so the heavier the pineapple, the juicier the flesh, and the more delicious your pineapple will be.
Color: Ripe pineapples can be yellow but some green isn’t necessarily bad. The bottom should be an orange or golden yellow color. The crown should be a bright green.
When is The Best Time of Year to Find a Ripe Pineapple?
In most markets pineapples are available year round, but peak season is March through July. That's when you can expect to get the best-tasting pineapples.
How to Ripen a Pineapple
Pineapples do not ripen or become sweeter on their own once picked. But, there are a few things you can do to help increase the sweetness of your pineapple.
Store it upside down: Cut the top of the pineapple off and turn it upside down. Cover and store the pineapple in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. This is a popular Hawaaiian method based on the theory that all the starch is stored in the base of the fruit. Storing it upside down helps the sugar in the base circulate more quickly throughout the rest of the fruit.
Store it with other fruits. Placing your pineapple in a fruit basket with apples, bananas and/or mangos will increase sweetness because these fruits give off ethylene gas, a gas that helps ripen fruits.
How Long do Pineapples Stay Ripe
Pineapples will last on your countertop for about 1-2 days. To extend the life of the pineapple you can store it in your fridge for 3-5 days.
How do You Store a Pineapple?
Counter: Pineapple will ferment if left at room temperature for too long. Do not store at room temp for more than 2 days. If you plan to keep it longer, it's best to refrigerate or freeze it.
Refrigerator: Ripe whole pineapples will keep in the fridge for three to five days. Store cut-up pineapple in an airtight, non-metallic container in the refrigerator up to a week.
Freezer: Freezing is best for pineapple chunks. Lay pineapple chunks on a tray to freeze overnight. The following day scoop them into an airtight freezer-safe storage bag. This two-step process prevents the pineapple chunks from clumping together and becoming a frozen pineapple brick.
How Do You Cut a Pineapple?
Our favorite way to cut a pineapple is with a pineapple cutter. That affiliate link will take you to one just like we have. These simple tools make peeling, coring and slicing very easy. But if you don't have a pineapple cutter you can still cut a pineapple.
If you don't have a pineapple tool, follow these easy instructions:
- Use a sturdy, sharp serrated knife to cut off the base and the crown.
- Slice off the shell by cutting in a downward motion, being careful to slice far enough in to cut off the eyes, which are woody. Alternately, you can dig out the eyes using the tip of a peeler or a knife. Discard the outside.
- Cut the pineapple in half vertically.
- Turn the pineapple halves flat side up. Take one half of the pineapple and line your knife up with the outside edge of the fibrous core. Slice at an angle down and inward toward the center on either side of the core, making a "V" cut to remove the core. Repeat on the other half of the pineapple.
- Cut the halves in half lengthwise.
- Make ½ inch widthwise slices down the length of the pineapple to create wedges. Adjust the thickness depending on your use (e.g. thicker cuts for kebabs.).
- Optional: Use a small round tool to cut the center out of the pineapple.
Tip: If you don't want to do the cutting, ask your grocer to do it! Many grocery stores will peel and core pineapple on demand for you since they have to machinery to cut their own.
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