How to Cut a Pineapple in Under 5 Minutes

Do you love eating pineapples? You can easily find them in cans in your local grocery store in different cuts. There are pineapple rings, crushed pineapples, and pineapple chunks. They are all great for making dinner or dessert recipes. I mostly use pineapple rings for ham, upside-down pineapple cake, or just baked them for a delicious snack. But there is surely nothing better than fresh pineapples.

RELATED: Easy Pull-Apart Pineapple Hack (Works Every Time!)

Fresh sweet pineapples are great for snacking or for making your meals. They are also used for tenderizing meat. Did you know that? I didn’t. But the question is how do you cut them? Turns out, it’s actually easy. Let Evolving Table teach you how to cut a pineapple in under 5 minutes. It is super easy and fast to do. You will also learn how to know if the pineapple is ripe, so when you buy from the store next time, you’re sure you are getting the right one.

For pineapple recipes, check these out: Super Easy Pineapple Crisp Recipe, Crockpot Pineapple Coconut Spoon Cake Recipe, Mini Pineapple Upside Down Cake

How to Determine if Pineapple is Ripe

There are three key factors:

1 – Color

Look for a golden yellow hue. A little bit of green is fine, but if it is mostly green it will be hard and unripe. A brown one on the other hand is overripe.

2 – Firmness

Gently squeeze the pineapple. It should give a little bit if it’s ripe.

3 – Scent

If it’s ripe, it will emit a slightly sweet aroma.

Pineapple Cutting Techniques

Step 1:

Place the pineapple in a cutting board with a rim to catch the juices that may run off.

Step 2:

Using a sharp knife, cut off both ends about 1/2 off. Make sure it’s no more than one inch from the top and bottom.

Step 3:

Place it flat side down on the cutting board. Starting from the top, place the knife into the piece of the pineapple flesh next to the skin. Cut it in a downward motion following the curvature of the fruit.  Be sure to keep your knife completely in the flesh. Rotate and repeat the process around the entire circumference.

If you are fine to lose a little bit of pineapple, cut deep enough into the flesh to remove the majority of the dark eyes of the skin.

If not, use the small pairing knife to remove any remnants of skin. They are edible but best if removed.

Step 4:

Remove the core. You can either cut into cubes or rings.

For cubes, place the pineapple flat side down on the cutting board. Cut it in half lengthwise, then cut them in half again to get quarters. Slice about half an inch into the flesh at a slight angle to remove the core. Cut pineapple to sticks for snacking.

For rings, lay the peeled pineapple on its side. Cut it into 1/4 to 1/2 inch slices. Slice them thicker if using for snacks, thinner for recipes. Remove the core using a 1-inch cookie cutter. You can also use a small pairing knife.

How to Cut a Pineapple In Under 5 Minutes