Here’s the easiest way to cut a pineapple, whether you want rings or chunks! Need tips on how to choose a ripe pineapple or how to store it? I’ll answer those questions too!

Walk to the produce section of your grocery store and I’m sure you’ll see those big tubes of precut fruit screaming “convenience!” and calling your name. As you get closer, you’ll probably notice slimy, cut weeks ago, little pieces of fruit that have the biggest, rotten old price tag.

One of the worst offenders? Pineapple. I used to buy precut pineapple all the time, thinking how in the world do you cut all those prickly prickles off a whole pineapple? “No way am I messing with that!”

Well guess what? Once I cut one pineapple and found out how easy it was to slice and dice, I will never go back to those precut, sad little pieces again. Save yourself a couple of bucks and bite into juicy, fresh pineapple in just 5 minutes. Use in a Mango Smoothie, in a big Burrata Salad, or at breakfast with your morning Over Easy Eggs and Cold Brew Coffee.

Watch How to Cut a Pineapple

Step-By-Step: How to Cut a Pineapple

Here’s how to easily cut a pineapple! All you need is a sharp chef’s knife, a cutting board, and if you want, a cookie cutter or reusable water bottle for rings. The full details, and video to help guide you, are in the recipe card! Let’s do this:

• Trim the top and bottom. Cut off the top and the bottom of the pineapple.

• Remove the skin. Cut off the very outside of the pineapple, which is the skin.

• Remove the eyes. You might notice there are little brown eyes left on the pineapple flesh. Use a paring knife to scoop out the eyes. Or run your knife along the outside of the pineapple and shave off an extra thin layer.

• For pineapple rings, place the pineapple on its side and cut into slices.

• After slicing, use a 1 inch cookie cutter or the mouth of a reusable water bottle to remove the core in the center each slice.

• For pineapple chunks, slice the pineapple lengthwise into quarters. You’ll see the quarters each have a bit of core. Cut off the core.

• Slice each quarter into chunks!

How to Tell if a Pineapple Is Ripe

Never pick an unripe pineapple again! Here are the biggest clues:

• Color: if the pineapple has a golden hue, that’s a good sign that the pineapple is ripe. If the pineapple is totally green, it’s likely too early to pick.
• Firmness: pick a pineapple that has a slight give but is still firm. If it’s mushy, the pineapple is overripe. Rock hard? It’s underripe.
• Smell: get your nose up on in there! Sniff the base of the pineapple. It should smell sweet and fragrant. If there’s no smell, it’s probably underripe. If it smells sour, it’s overripe and fermented.

How to Store Pineapple

A whole pineapple should be cut within 2 to 3 days from purchasing, if stored at room temperature. Stored in the fridge, it can last up to 5 days.

Once cut, store the pieces in an airtight container for 3-5 days depending on how ripe the pineapple was when cut.

You can freeze the pineapple slices and chunks too! Place them in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Once solid, transfer them to a freezer-safe container. They will last for up to 6 months for smoothies or other recipes!

Learn How to Easily Cut Other Fruit!

• How to Cut a Cantaloupe
• How to Cut a Watermelon