You won't even need a knife if the pineapple is ripe!
This Is How to Eat a Pineapple the Right Way
Updated Jan. 02, 2024
I thought coring and slicing was the only way to cut a pineapple—until now. If you haven’t been sniffing around TikTok or Instagram lately, you might not know about the technique making waves in the food community. It may be hard to believe, but pineapples are made up of berries, indicated by those spiky pieces. You can tear them out for easy snacking!
How to Eat a Pineapple
This video from @taste_of_home on TikTok shows how this trick works. It features a pineapple being plucked apart chunk by chunk with only a little help from a knife.
First, cut along the upper pineapple segments to remove the crown. (You can save the crown and use it to grow a pineapple.)
Then, roll the pineapple to help loosen up the segments. If the pineapple is nice and ripe, you’ll be able to pull out each segment. You can also use a knife to cut out the individual segments if the pineapple isn’t quite ripe enough. How clever is that?
@taste_of_home #howtocutapineapple for #snacking! 🍍You’ll want to bookmark this #pineappletrick ♬ Sunrise – Official Sound Studio
This is one TikTok food hack that really makes sense, along with how some people are soaking pineapple in salt water.
Why Didn’t We Know This?!
The internet is reacting, most singing the praises of learning how to eat a pineapple while others marvel at how long it took us to figure it out.
We sent people to the moon but we are just now figuring out how to eat a pineapple. #humans
— Jimmy G 🌎 (@thejmmyg) March 6, 2019
This nifty summer kitchen hack is pretty ingenious, but it does have its faults. Picking pieces out of a pineapple means you might get a mouthful of core, which can be pretty hard to swallow. But otherwise, this new way to eat pineapple is flawless. Just be sure to pick up a ripe pineapple at the store—sniff the fruit and choose one that smells sweet! Next, check out this easy pineapple hack by Ree Drummond.
More Delicious Ways to Eat Pineapple
Creamy Pineapple Fluff Salad
Guests of all ages will gravitate to this traditional “fluff” salad, chock-full of pineapple, marshmallows and cherry bits. —Janice Hensley, Owingsville, Kentucky
Pina Colada Grilled PineappleDuring a cookout with friends, I forgot about dessert. I had a fresh pineapple and coconut, so I improvised. Now I grill pineapple at every cookout. —Josee Lanzi, New Port Richey, Florida
Caramelized Pineapple SundaesWhenever we get a craving for a tropical escape, this super simple recipe whisks us away in no time. Vanilla's nice but drizzling the sauce over salted caramel ice cream and taking a bite is just pure paradise. —Elisabeth Larsen, Pleasant Grove, Utah
Frozen Pineapple-Kiwi PopsKiwi, pineapple, sugar and water are all you need to make these easy, breezy freezer pops.—Colleen Ludovice, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Southwestern Pineapple Pork ChopsThis quick entree will instantly transport you to the Southwest. Salsa plays lively counterpoint to the juicy pineapple-sweetened pork chops.—Lisa Varner, El Paso, Texas
Pineapple Pie with Coconut CreamYou’ll find pineapples and coconuts everywhere in the South Pacific, so we play them up in this creamy cool pineapple pie, dolloped with coconut cream. Divine! —Karen Naihe, Kamuela, Hawaii
Roro’s Pineapple CookiesMy memories of Christmas always include my mom's pineapple cookies. The kids called her Roro, and we still make them every year to keep her memory alive. You can substitute your favorite flavor of preserves for the pineapple. —Donna Scarano, East Hanover, New Jersey
Coconut-Pineapple Rhubarb BarsI make this crunchy, buttery dessert bar with homegrown rhubarb. For an added attraction, serve it warm with frozen yogurt or ice cream. —Raymonde Bourgeois, Swastika, Ontario
Grilled Peach & Pineapple SangriaGrill up fresh peaches and pineapple slathered in cinnamon butter and use them to make a refreshing summer sangria. I also like to add slices of grilled lemon and lime to drop in the glass for a citrusy boost of flavor. —Heather King, Frostburg, Maryland
Banana-Pineapple Cream PiesMy mother gave me this simple and delicious recipe years ago. The recipe makes two pies, so it's perfect for a potluck. I've never met anyone who didn't like it! —Robyn Appenzeller, Portsmouth, Virginia
Curried Chicken Salad with Pineapple and GrapesThis fun and flavorful beauty turns last night’s cooked chicken into a delightful salad that’s perfect for lunch. —Linda Bevill, Monticello, Arkansas
Pig Pickin' CakeA pig pickin’ cake is a southern delight that tastes like sunshine in every bite.
Fresh Fruit SalsaThis salad has all the bright colors and fresh flavors of summer. —Mary E. Relyea, Canastota, New York.
Pineapple Upside-Down MuffinsFor a modern version of upside-down cake, we use pineapple and a sweet batter to make fun muffins with a cherry on top. —Suzeanne Longwill, Ortonville, Michigan
Also, check out these healthy fruit snacks.
Scalloped Pineapple CasseroleMy family can't get enough of this sweet and satisfying side dish. This casserole disappears quickly whenever I prepare it.—Judy Howle, Columbus, Mississippi
Pina Colada Molded SaladMy gelatin ring gets a tropical twist from coconut, pineapple and macadamia nuts. It's a wonderful anytime treat. Now that I'm retired from teaching, I have more time for kitchen experiments. —Carol Gillespie, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
Pineapple Shrimp Fried RicePineapple shrimp fried rice is a quick one-bowl meal that can be customized with your favorite vegetables. You can even serve it in a pineapple!
Pineapple PieThis creamy pineapple pie uses canned fruit and whipped cream to create a rich, sweet filling that sits atop a flavorful graham cracker crust. It takes less than 10 minutes to make and will shine on any dessert spread.
Pineapple-Ginger Chicken Stir-FryI found the original recipe for this dish on a can of pineapple slices in the 1980s. After making it for a number of years, I lightened the ingredients and adapted it to a quick skillet meal. My family gave it a big thumbs-up, and we've enjoyed it this way ever since! —Sue Gronholz, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
Slow-Cooker Dump CakeOur crockpot dump cake combines the classic flavors of pineapple upside-down cake with the ease of slow-cooking. Just dump the ingredients in and let them simmer—it doesn’t get much better than that!
Pineapple Cheesecake-Topped CakeMy brother-in-law asked me to make a cheesecake version of pineapple upside down cake, and after many attempts, I created one. It’s a yummy twist on a classic.—Rebecca Everett, Kansas City, Missouri
Tropical Cranberry CobblerThe sunny island flavors of pineapple and orange go so well with the tart cranberries in this dessert. A scoop of vanilla ice cream makes it a tasty treat. —Jeanne Holt, St. Paul, MN
Pina Colada Zucchini BreadPina colada zucchini bread is a fun new take on the usual quick bread loaf. This recipe is filled with tons of summery flavors, from tropical pineapple and coconut to heady rum and vanilla.
Coconut-Pineapple Sherbet TorteI made up this torte one afternoon, and when I served it that night, it vanished within minutes. That's when I knew I'd struck gold. —Joni Hilton, Rocklin, California
Teriyaki Pineapple DrumsticksWe have a large family and throw big parties, so I look for ways to free my husband from the grill. Roasted drumsticks keep everyone happy. —Erica Allen, Tuckerton, New Jersey
Frozen Hawaiian PieCool summer pies are one of Mom's specialties. This version offers pineapple, maraschino cherries and walnuts that are folded into a fluffy filling. It's an easy yet tempting no-bake dessert. —Jennifer Mcquillan, Jacksonville, Florida
Cream Cheese-Pineapple PieI've made this pie many times for friends, relatives, guests, church suppers and bazaars, and I'm always getting requests for the recipe. I've lived on farms all my life—we used to have a potato farm on Long Island, and now my son farms his own land and manages mine here in Delaware, growing soybeans and wheat. —Elizabeth Brown, Clayton, Delaware
Big Kahuna PizzaA prebaked pizza crust and refrigerated barbecued pork make this tasty supper idea super fast and super easy. Cut into bite-sized pieces, and it can double as a great last-minute appetizer, too! —Joni Hilton, Rocklin, California
Pina Colada Icebox CakeThis icebox cake has all the flavors of a pina colada. It takes just one bite to escape to a tropical island! —Rachel Lewis, Danville, Virginia
Hawaiian WafflesI created this waffle recipe to recapture the memorable tropical tastes we enjoyed while visiting Hawaii. —Darlene Brenden, Salem, Oregon
Island Breezes Coffee CakeWith the island flavors, this simple pull-apart bread is perfect for a spring brunch. —Debra Goforth, Newport, Tennessee
Originally Published: March 11, 2019
