How to Cut a Pineapple

The thought of cutting a fresh pineapple can seem daunting. After all, with that prickly-looking skin, where do you even begin? If you’ve ever wondered how to cut a pineapple, you’re in the right place.

Knowing the easiest way to cut a pineapple not only means you won’t have to miss out on the fruit’s tropical, refreshing taste. You’ll also get to enjoy the vitamin C and healthy antioxidants it contains. Pineapple makes for a delicious snack on its own or adds the perfect bit of natural sweetness to dishes.

Once you watch this video, you may never pass by a pineapple in the store again. That’s because choosing and cutting a pineapple are easier than you think!

When selecting a pineapple, you’ll be able to tell if it’s ripe if it smells sweet and appears golden in color (instead of green). You’ll know when a pineapple is ready to cut if you tug at one of the center leaves on the top and it easily comes off in your hand.

To peel a pineapple, you will need a sharp chef’s knife with a big blade. The blade should be long enough to cut through the entire width of the pineapple.

Start by laying the pineapple on its side on a cutting board. Cut off the top of the pineapple about ½ inch from the green stem. Then cut off the base about ½ inch from the bottom. You now have a sturdy block of pineapple for easy cutting.

Next, it’s time to get the tough exterior skin off. Peel the pineapple by shaving off thin slices about 1 inch from the outside of the fruit. Rotate clockwise as you cut. Once you’ve finished peeling the pineapple, go around and cut out any eyes you still see on the fruit using a small paring knife.

To cut a pineapple into cubes, stand the peeled fruit upright and slice it down the middle. Lay one half of the pineapple flat on the board and cut it in half again (so the pineapple is now in quarters). Do the same to the other half.

For each of the four pieces, slice off the core at an angle. This part of the fruit is very tough and is not suitable for eating. Then lay the pineapple quarters flat on the cutting board and slice each horizontally into strips. Turn the strips 90 degrees to cut across each strip to create cubes.

If you prefer circular slices of pineapple, lay the peeled pineapple on its side on a cutting board. Starting at one end, cut slices all the way through the fruit that are ¼ to ½ inch thick. After cutting the slices, use a 1-inch cookie cutter or a paring knife to remove the hard center core. 

Now that you know how to slice and dice a pineapple, why not use it in a recipe to add some tropical pizzazz! Here are some of our favorite pineapple recipes: