Food & Cooking Recipes Ingredients Fruit How to Cut a Pineapple, Whether You Want Rings, Spears, or Chunks Follow these our simple steps to cut the prickly tropical fruit the right way. By Teri Tsang Barrett Teri Tsang Barrett Teri is a southern California native who left it all to work in magazines in New York City. A graduate of the University of California at Berkeley, she completed the Culinary Arts program at the Institute of Culinary Education, skipped out on music journalism for the food world and never looked back. She eats everything -- except for water chestnuts -- and does not believe in reduced-fat anything. Editorial Guidelines Updated on October 30, 2023 In This Article View All In This Article Picking a Pineapple Tools Peeling Cutting Rings Cutting Spears, Wedges, or Chunks What's not to love about the pineapple? This sweet tropical fruit has an almost citrusy sharpness and intense fruity perfume. It's wonderful in desserts and fruit salads and also works well in savory recipes, from salsas and marinades to pork and seafood dishes. If you've been too intimidated to buy a whole pineapple and cut it into rings, spears, or chunks, we're here to help. Follow these simple steps, and you'll quickly learn how to cut a pineapple. No more buying the fruit precut; soon you'll be able to impress friends and family by adeptly cutting a whole pineapple into neat, juicy pieces. Johnny Miller How to Cut a Mango Choosing a Pineapple Pineapples do not ripen once picked, so look for fruit that's heavy for its size, fragrant (it should smell sweet and slightly fruity), and golden in color. A bit of green is fine but pass over any fruits that are black or soft in spots. How to Tell if a Pineapple Is Ripe and Ready to Eat Tools You'll Need A serrated knife will make quick work of both the pineapple's tough outer skin and sweet interior flesh A sharp paring knife (or melon baller) to remove the "eyes" Chopping board How to Peel a Pineapple Follow these steps for peeling a pineapple in preparation for cutting it: Start by slicing off the leaves from the pineapple. Alternatively, use your hands to twist them off.Using the serrated knife, trim about 1/2-inch in on both ends of the pineapple to make it flat, then stand the fruit on one end.Following the contour of the fruit, slice off the skin, taking care to stay as close to the skin as possible. (The sweetest part of the fruit is closest to the skin.)If there are pineapple "eyes" revealed after peeling the fruit, use a sharp paring knife or melon baller to remove them, working in a circular motion. Save the pineapple top for a garnish, if appropriate. How to Eat Guava, the Fruit That Tastes Like a Cross Between Pineapple and Strawberry How to Cut Pineapple Rings Once your pineapple is peeled, follow these steps to cut it into rings: Lay the fruit on its side.Slice the pineapple crosswise into rounds, making them as thick or thin as you'd like.If you are serving pineapple rings, use a biscuit cutter or large icing tip to punch out the hard core from each slice. How to Cut Pineapple Spears, Wedges, or Chunks Here are the steps for cutting a pineapple into spears or chunks: Halve the peeled pineapple lengthwise through the core, then halve lengthwise again.Remove the fibrous center core from each section of the fruit.Lie the pineapple flat and cut into spears or wedges.For chunks, cut the spears into smaller equal-sized pieces. Updated by Kirsten Nunez Kirsten Nunez Kirsten Nunez is a writer who focuses on food, health, nutrition, and DIY. She has a master's degree in nutrition, and has been writing professionally for nearly 10 years for digital and print publications, such as Martha Stewart, Shape, Real Simple, Healthline, and SELF. She also creates original recipes, which have appeared on product packaging in stores. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit