Everything you need to know about how to cut up a pineapple! Ripe, juicy, pineapples are delicious, available year-round, and they’re easy to slice with a few simple steps.
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The year I got married, my husband and I were lucky enough to win a trip to Hawaii! One of the places we visited was the Dole Plantation. They gave us a demonstration on how to cut up a pineapple in a few easy steps. Ever since, I’ve been cutting my tropical fruit like a professional.
Update: There’s a lot of info out there about how to cut pineapples, but this is the way that I’ve been doing it for years, and it works every time! I’ve updated this post with helpful step-by-step photos and instructions and a video so you can follow along with your own fruit.
How to Choose the Best Pineapple
Before you get to cutting, you want to select the best-tasting, ripest pineapple at the store.
When you’re shopping, choose a pineapple that’s firm and fresh looking. It shouldn’t have much give when pressed. The fruit should be mostly yellow, with a vibrant, fruity smell. However, avoid pineapples that smell too strongly, as these might be overripe. Dark spots are another sign that a fruit is too old.
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How To Cut Up a Pineapple
Equipment
- Knife
- Cutting board
Materials
- 1 Pineapple
Instructions
- Step 1: Gently twist off the top.
- Step 2: Slice off the top and bottom. This allows you to stand the pineapple up on your cutting board, which makes it easier to cut into equal pieces.
- Step 3: Cut the pineapple into quarters lengthwise.
- Step 4: Cut each quarter in half, so you have eight sections. Cutting it into eighths makes it easier to remove the skin without removing too much pineapple or leaving many eyes.
- Step 5: Slice off the core in the center and cut off the skin.
- Step 6: Cut into cubes. And dig in!
Video
The Best Way To Store Fresh Pineapple
Pineapples are picked ripe so if you’re not eating it right away you should refrigerate it. Otherwise, uncut pineapple can be stored on the counter.
After it’s sliced, cover the fruit and store in the refrigerator.
How to Grill Pineapple
We like to eat pineapple as an appetizer before dinner or as a refreshing side dish. We also love to toss it on the grill. Caramelized grilled pineapple is so sweet and juicy, plus there’s something so summery about fruit with grill lines.
To grill pineapple, slice it into cubes as shown above and thread the cubes onto metal skewers. Preheat a grill and brush the grates to ensure they’re clean (ash will cling to the pineapple otherwise).
Place the skewers on the grill on medium heat and don’t move them for 3 to 4 minutes to get nice char marks. Then flip and repeat on the other side. Remember to keep a close eye on the fruit to avoid burning.
Also, I’ll often grill the pineapple before cutting it into cubes, so I can skip using skewers. Just cut the pineapple into eighths and put it on the grill.
Favorite Fresh Pineapple Recipes
Pineapple is such a diverse fruit. It brings natural sweetness and tropical flare to both savory and sweet dishes. And since it’s available all year long, you’re never far from a festive and fruity dish.
Here are some of the best recipes to serve with pineapple:
Savory Pineapple Recipes
- Serve Pressure Cooker Kalua Pork from Pressure Cooking Today with grilled pineapple chunks for a Hawaiian feast.
- Or for a lighter take that’s just as flavorful, try Instant Pot Kalua Chicken.
- Hawaiian Barbecue Pork Tacos with Pineapple Cashew Coleslaw from Tidbits are a bit spicy, fruity, crunchy and satisfying.
- Mix chopped pineapple into a topping for Bruschetta Turkey Burger Sliders for a healthy and refreshing summer dinner.
- Make-Ahead Instant Pot Baby Back Ribs are cooked until tender in the pressure cooker and finished on the grill, where you can also char up pineapple skewers for a delicious one-ingredient side dish.
Sweet Pineapple Recipes
- Pineapple Coconut Bar Cookies are tropical sweets to brighten up any day.
- Pineapple Upside-Down Cake is the sticky-sweet and centerpiece-worthy fruit cake to showcase your baking chops.
- No-Bake Pina Colada Cheesecake Bites make a cute, fun and festive hand-held summer dessert for entertaining.
- Make a decadent Brown Sugar Rum Sauce from Cookin’ Canuck to turn grilled pineapple into a complete dessert.
More How To Tips You Might Like:
- How To Slice A Watermelon – three easy ways: bite-sized cubes, triangles without rinds, and hand-held wedges! Plus, how to choose the best watermelon and store it to stay fresh.
- How To Slice A Peach – The best way to eat a sweet, juicy, ripe peach is with the juice dripping down your hands, but if you want to bake with them, you’ll want to slip off the skins and slice them up.
- How to Freeze Lemon Juice – I love to keep lemon juice in the freezer so it’s easy to use in recipes without having to buy lemons and juice them each time.
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jani lebaron
I love Hawaii and I love this post! One of my first food posts was how to cut a pineapple into rings. We visited the old Dole Factory when we first went over in ’58 (the year before statehood). I cut my pineapple the old fashion way;the way the Hawaiians had taught my mom back in the late 50s. Here’s the link to my post – your photos are much better! 🙂 http://www.janiserendipity.com/lets-cut-to-the-core-with-grilled-pineapple/
Kristen
What a helpful post!
Kitchen Belleicious
oh i am the worst at cutting a pineapple or any melon really. i think I lack patience- dare I say! What a wonderful tutorial and one we always can use!
Judee @ Gluten Free A-Z
Thanks I really needed that.. I always lose half of it and make a big mess.
Baker Street
Excellent tutorial, Barb! I didn’t know the one could twist the top off!
Claire @ Claire K Creations
Wow what a great prize to win!
I’ve never seen a pineapple cut like this before. I usually cut the top and bottom then slice off the skin while it’s still whole. Your method looks nice and easy!
Deb
Great tutorial! I use the same method, but cut the top off. I didn’t know I could twist the top off! Delightful photos!
Donna
Your method is the one I have always used, but it doesn’t make those nice “rings” with the holes in the middle. If I need rings, I make slices and then use a small cookie cutter to cut a circle out of the middle. Love your Hawaii memory!
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef
Pineapples and macadamia nuts grow well around here and that’s how we cut our pineapples too. One day I asked an crotchety old farmer how to tell if I pineapple was ripe. “Smell it,” he said, “If it smells like a pineapple, buy it.”
Barbara
lol sounds like good advice. How lucky to have local pineapples and macadamia nuts. I may have to come visit. 🙂
Jan
This is the way that I’ve cut pineapple for along time. But I wanted rings so I bought a pineapple gadget that works great! Pineapple from the grill is the best!!! Good post!
Barbara
Hi Jan – good to know the pineapple gadget works well. I’ve thought about picking one up when I want to do rings.
Annalise
So glad you told me about this method several months ago, it’s how I’ve been cutting pineapple ever since!
Barbara
Thanks for inspiring me to do the post!
Cooking on a Dime
We just got back from Hawaii! I missed a pineapple tour (if I had known before I totally would have booked to go, I love pineapple).
Love those photos. Way cute. 🙂
Lana @ Never Enough Thyme
This looks so much easier than the way I’ve always done it. I’d remove all the outside, then remove any leftover eyes, then cut into pieces. This makes a lot more sense. Thanks!
Rocky Mountain Woman
Love the pics of you and your husband! Ahhh…I remember being that young, kind of..
Great tutorial. I love sliced fresh pineapple on the grill!
Barbara | Creative Culinary
I need to cut a pineapple but I want rings which I know is impossible. Pineapple upside down cake with chunks is just wrong!
But this method is right on for most uses…I am so tempted to just ‘can’ my idea and use the pineapple for something else and get canned for my cake. Guess that’s equally wrong huh?
Barbara
Elise has a tutorial on cutting fancy rings http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/how_to_cut_a_pineapple/. A lot more work but pretty. Also my pineapple upside down cake https://www.barbarabakes.com/2010/06/pineapple-upside-down-cake/ looks pretty with slices and it’s easier to eat than rings.
Winnie
Awesome! I have stoppped trying to cut my own, and got the fresh in the produce section. I will try it this way. This tutorial is great as it is easy to follow. I love it grilled too, I grill up hamsteaks and pineapple together, it is a great combo.
Eliana
Awesome tutorial Barbara. I will have to give it a try the next time I cut into a pineapple.
Deborah
Love this tutorial, I’ve never cut a pineapple this way – I need to try it! And I love the pictures of you and your hubby! How fun!!
carrian
Dude, that is awesome! I totally skip so many steps, and your way is so much easier.
Rosa
A great tutorial! Thanks for sharing.
Cheers,
Rosa