I used to avoid buying whole pineapples because I wasn’t sure how to handle them. Pre-cut seemed easier.
But once I finally learned the simple steps, I never went back. It turns out, cutting a pineapple is much easier than it looks — and totally worth it.
It’s fresher, cheaper, and honestly, a little bit fun once you get the hang of it.
Let me show you exactly how to do it.
Start with the Right Pineapple
Before you grab your knife, it helps to know how to pick a good pineapple. You want one that smells sweet at the base.
If it has no smell, it’s probably not ripe. If it smells sour or fermented, it may be too far gone.
It should feel firm, but not rock hard. A tiny bit of softness is okay — that usually means it’s juicy inside.
And here’s a fun little trick: if one of the center leaves pulls out easily, your pineapple is probably ripe and ready.
Grab What You Need
You don’t need a fancy pineapple gadget or corer (though they can be fun if you have one). Here’s what you really need:
- A sharp chef’s knife
- A small paring knife for detail work
- A cutting board that won’t slip around
That’s it. Let’s cut.
How to Cut a Pineapple Now?
Alright, you’ve picked a ripe pineapple, gathered your tools, and you’re ready to jump in. Here’s exactly how to cut it — without making a mess or sacrificing half the fruit.
Let’s take it one move at a time.
1. Slice off the top and bottom
Place the pineapple on its side and carefully cut off about an inch from both the top (the leafy crown) and the bottom.
This step gives you two flat, stable surfaces and makes the fruit much easier to handle — especially when it comes time to stand it up for peeling.
2. Stand it up and peel the skin
With the pineapple standing tall, use your chef’s knife to slice downward from top to bottom, following the curve of the fruit.
Try to cut just deep enough to remove the tough, spiky skin while leaving as much juicy flesh behind as possible.
- Work your way around the pineapple in sections.
This part may get a little sticky, so keep a towel nearby for your hands or a cutting board.
3. Remove the eyes
Once the skin is off, you’ll notice small brown circular spots left behind — these are the “eyes.” They’re tough and not pleasant to bite into, so they’ve got to go.
Here’s the easiest method:
- The eyes usually run in diagonal lines around the fruit.
- Use a small paring knife to make shallow V-shaped cuts along each diagonal row.
- Keep your cuts tight and neat to avoid wasting good pineapple.
Yes, this step takes a bit of patience, but it’s worth it. By following the diagonal pattern, you end up removing all the eyes efficiently without chopping off chunks of perfectly good fruit.
4. Choose your cut: Rings, Spears, or Chunks
Now that your pineapple is cleaned up and eye-free, you get to decide what kind of cut you want.
For Rings:
- Lay the pineapple back on its side.
- Slice it into even rounds, about ½-inch thick.
- If you want to remove the core from each slice, use a small round cutter, biscuit cutter, or even a sharp knife to carve out the tough center.
For Spears or Wedges:
- Stand the pineapple back up.
- Cut it in half vertically, then cut each half in half again, giving you four long quarters.
- Lay each quarter flat and cut out the fibrous core — it’s usually visible as a slightly lighter section at the center.
- From there, slice into long spears, perfect for snacking or grilling.
For Chunks:
- Start with the spears you just cut.
- Slice each one into bite-sized cubes.
These are great for throwing into fruit salads, topping yogurt, or freezing for smoothies.
Store Your Pineapple
Fresh-cut pineapple can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container. It’ll stay good for about 4 to 7 days.
If you won’t eat it that fast (or if you cut up more than one pineapple), freezing is a great option. Just lay the chunks on a tray so they don’t stick together, freeze them for an hour or so, and then transfer them to a freezer bag.
They’ll keep for months and are perfect for smoothies, frozen treats, or fruity drinks.
Now, What Can You Do With It?
Once you’ve got a bowl of golden pineapple pieces, the fun part begins. You can:
- Add them to a fruit salad
- Grill the spears for a caramelized, smoky flavor
- Mix them into salsa with a little lime and jalapeño
- Toss them into smoothies, juices, or tropical cocktails
- Top off oatmeal or yogurt bowls for a tropical twist
Final Thoughts
Cutting a pineapple might seem intimidating at first, but once you do it once, you’ll see how simple it really is.
It’s one of those little kitchen victories that feels good — like finally learning how to crack an egg without getting shells everywhere.
And hey, if you mess up the first time? No big deal. Pineapple still tastes great, even if the pieces aren’t perfect. What matters is you tried — and next time, it’ll be even easier.