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Home » Course » Appetizers

How to Cut Up a Pineapple

Published: Oct 26, 2019 · Modified: Jul 1, 2025 by Wendi Spraker · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

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How to Cut Up a Pineapple

FRESH PINEAPPLE IS THE BEST!!! Tangy, sweet, juicy PERFECT Pineapple is just moments away when you know how to cut up a pineapple. Never be a slave to highway robbery grocery store prices for cut fruit EVER AGAIN! 

We LOVE to use fresh pineapple in all kinds of recipes like fruit kabobs, fancy little drinks and with our holiday Ham! 

the bumpy sides of a pineapple

Why This Recipe Works..

Contents show
1 Why This Recipe Works..
2 Here’s How to Cut Up a Pineapple
3 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) about How to Cut Up a Pineapple
3.1 How To Cut a Pineapple Properly
3.2 Cutting Pineapple Hack
3.3 Can You Eat Pineapple By Pulling the Knobs Loose?
3.4 How Do You Know If a Pineapple Is Ripe?
3.5 Do They Make Tools To Remove the Pineapple Core?
3.6 How Long Can A Pineapple Sit Out?
3.7 How Much Fruit Does a Whole Pineapple Give?
4 Tips and Tricks for How to Cut Up a Pineapple
5 Here's How to Cut Up More Stuff in the Kitchen!
6 Ya’ll Help Me Out, OK?
7 How to Cut Up A Pineapple
7.1 Ingredients
7.2 Instructions
7.3 Notes
7.4 Nutrition
8 A VERSE TO SHARE
8.1 You May Also Love:
  • Saves MONEY.
  • Fast
  • Easy
  • No Special Tools
  • No OVERWHELMING amounts of pineapple. 

Here’s How to Cut Up a Pineapple

STEP 1. Cut the top off of the pineapple and then using your knife, begin cutting the skin off of the pineapple. Cut just under the bumpy outer layer. Use a curved motion to follow the curves of the pineapple. 

A knife cutting down the side of a pineapple

STEP 2. Look for the center core. Place your knife next to this and cut straight down to the base. 

a knife cutting down beside the core of a pineapple

STEP 3. Cut all the way around the pineapple cutting around the core. 

hand holding the core and knife removing the rest of the side pieces

STEP 4. Cut the outer pieces into strips and then into square chunks that are bite sized. 

cutting board with cut up pineapple on it

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) about How to Cut Up a Pineapple

How To Cut a Pineapple Properly

  • The best way to cut a pineapple is to use the kitchen tools you already own and efficiently remove the parts you can not eat!
  • You’ll want to remove the outer skin and the inner core, you can’t eat those. Then the rest is FAIR game! 

Cutting Pineapple Hack

  • There’s a hack that has gone around recently and you’ll see a lady pulling the individual knobs off of a pineapple holding onto the little hairs on the outside of the pineapple and then eating them.
  • That is definitely one way to do it, but you’ll need an extra ripe pineapple to achieve those results.
  • The best hack is to simply cut around the core! 

Can You Eat Pineapple By Pulling the Knobs Loose? 

Yes, you absolutely can!  However, you need an extra ripe pineapple to do this! 

How Do You Know If a Pineapple Is Ripe? 

  • I always smell the pineapple to see if it has a fresh fruity scent. Then I give it a squeeze. An over ripe pineapple feels mushy on the pineapple eyes. The pineapple should only have a slight give to it. The color should be a green/yellow with hints of orange gold.
  • Then, I look for little fruit flies. If those seem to be swarming around the pineapple, then it is probably too old. 
  • Finally, the leaves should be springy and green not dry and hard.

Do They Make Tools To Remove the Pineapple Core? 

Yes, they do! Here’s a link to one from Amazon (you can click the photo to go to Amazon to compare prices, I’m an amazon affiliate and this is an affiliate link and I earn a commission if you should purchase). That said, you are better off just using your sharp kitchen knife unless you eat a LOT of pineapples! 

. 

How Long Can A Pineapple Sit Out? 

Typically a store bought pineapple will be good for a few days if left out on the counter. I find that after 5 days they are usually too old to use.

How Much Fruit Does a Whole Pineapple Give? 

We don’t want to be overwhelmed with a TON of pineapple, right? A whole pineapple usually yields a few cups of cut up pineapple chunks. So, it’s well worth the price and the flavor is AMAZING! 

Pineapple spikey top

Tips and Tricks for How to Cut Up a Pineapple

  • You’ll find that pineapple is QUITE SLIPPERY when you start cutting it. Be very careful with a slippery pineapple and a sharp knife. 
  • You can also cut the bottom off of the pineapple to make it flat to start cutting.
  • Make sure you get all of the core out of the pineapple because it is tough and not edible. 
  • Bamboo kabob sticks are usually available at the grocery store.

PRO TIP: Pineapple is TERRIFIC grilled on the grill! Just paint the pineapple kabob with butter, sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon and a pinch of cayenne. You won’t be sorry!

Here's How to Cut Up More Stuff in the Kitchen!

Quarter an Onion

How to Dice and Onion

How to Cut an Onion for Kabobs

Ya’ll Help Me Out, OK? 

Please leave a 5 STAR COMMENT in the comment section below. It helps others find the recipes at Loaves and Dishes.

a knife cutting down beside the core of a pineapple

How to Cut Up A Pineapple

FRESH PINEAPPLE IS THE BEST!!! Tangy, sweet, juicy PERFECT Pineapple is just moments away when you know how to cut up a pineapple. Never be a slave to highway robbery grocery store prices for cut fruit EVER AGAIN!
5 from 1 vote
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Course: Side
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cutting a pineapple, how to cut up a pineapple
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 75kcal
Author: Wendi Spraker

Ingredients

  • 1 Pineapple

Instructions

  • Cut the top off of the pineapple and set it aside.
  • Cut the bottom off of the pineapple and set it aside.
  • Set the pineapple upright on its now flat bottom. Using a large sharp chef’s knife, cut down the sides of the pineapple to remove the bumpy exterior crust. Repeat all the way around.
  • Looking down at your pineapple, observe the round core in the center. Cut through the pineapple just to the right of the core. Slice all the way through the pineapple.
  • Turn the pineapple 45 degrees and repeat this cut. Repeat this until you have removed all of the pineapple meat from the core. Set the core aside.
  • Cut the pineapple pieces you have into long 1” strips and then cut into 1” chunks. A few pieces you may need to cut in half thickness-wise.

Notes

  • You’ll find that pineapple is QUITE SLIPPERY when you start cutting it. Be very careful with a slippery pineapple and a sharp knife.
  • You can also cut the bottom off of the pineapple to make it flat to start cutting.
  • Make sure you get all of the core out of the pineapple because it is tough and not edible.
  • Bamboo kabob sticks are usually available at the grocery store.
PRO TIP: Pineapple is TERRIFIC grilled on the grill! Just paint the pineapple kabob with butter, sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon and a pinch of cayenne. You won’t be sorry!

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
How to Cut Up A Pineapple
Amount Per Serving
Calories 75 Calories from Fat 9
% Daily Value*
Fat 1g2%
Saturated Fat 1g5%
Sodium 2mg0%
Potassium 164mg5%
Carbohydrates 20g7%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 15g17%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin A 87IU2%
Vitamin C 72mg87%
Calcium 20mg2%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Tried this recipe?Mention @loavesanddishes or tag #loavesanddishes!

A VERSE TO SHARE

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 

Amen

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Comments

  1. Wendi Spraker says

    November 15, 2019 at 8:27 am

    5 stars
    aggregate recipe rating test

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Welcome!

Hi! I'm Wendi and I believe that food made with love and passion has power. It can bring people together AND carry them home. I'll show you how to get amazing flavor from simple dishes. Your family and friends will exclaim, "WOW! Amazing! I NEED this recipe!" Join me and nourish your body and soul.

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