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How To Cut Pineapple Bowls

Published: May 30, 2019 | Last Updated: March 20, 2022 | Lisa 2 Comments
This post may contain affiliate links.

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Last Updated March 20th, 2022 at 02:05 pm by Lisa

A graphic on how to cut pineapple into chunks for a pineapple bowl also called pineapple boats.

Learn how to cut pineapples and create Bowls or Boats as they are also known. This kitchen tip is a game-changer, just follow the steps and you might not ever buy it cut at the store ever again.

There are so many recipes to try using this sweet tropical fruit. Make some pineapple fried rice, Shish Kabobs, or Huli Huli Chicken this summer. What a gorgeous way to serve fresh fruit for picnics, cookouts, or anytime...

Pineapples packed in a crate in a Lima Peru market 2018. Photo Credit ~ me!

Top Pineapple Tips

  • Be sure the pineapple has a sweet smell towards the base.
  • Green color indicates that it might not be ripe and was picked too early.
  • Use the "Press Test."  A sweet (and ripe) pineapple will yield slightly to pressure.
  • Make sure to avoid overripe pineapples. They usually have reddish-brownish skins and dark dried leaves that crumble when you touch them and have a fermented smell. Pass on that one, it will taste-off, and be mushy and overripe inside.

How To Make Pineapple Bowls

Step-by-Step

  1. Using a large knife cut the pineapple lengthwise and through the leaves into 2 halves.
  2. Next, use a small serrated paring knife, cut all the way around the edge leaving about ¾” of the outside edge.
  3. Cut the core out by cutting down both sides of the core at a slight angle inward in a "V" shape.
  4. Remove the core.

5. Discard as it is tough and inedible.

6. Slice into chunks by making a grid pattern of about 1" pieces. Be careful not to cut through the outer skin.

7. Use a large serving spoon, scoop out the pieces, save the juice ~ drink it or make a smoothie.

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8. Place the cut pieces back into the bowl.

Pineapple FAQ

How long does Pineapple last?


You'll want to be sure you refrigerate it after you cut it up, and then it may last up to 7 days in a sealed container.

How To Pick A Ripe Pineapple


First, smell the bottom for sweetness.  This is the first tell-tale sign to determine how sweet and ripe your pineapple will be.  Sugar comes from the bottom of the fruit, where it migrates to the top as it ripens.  The bottom is where it should be most fragrant, so put your nose there not on the crown with all the leaves.
If it smells sweet, like pineapple juice, it is ripe.  If you smell nothing, that means there is insufficient sugar and the fruit will not be sweet, and it has been harvested too early. 

Pineapples ripen very little after they have been harvested. So you don't want to pick one that is underripe, hoping it will get ripened later. Unfortunately, it won't.

What you want to look for is a yellow-golden color. 
As the fruit starts to ripen in the field, it starts from the bottom, the higher the yellow rises toward the crown, the more sugar (and sweetness) it will have!
 
Yellow on the bottom and green on the top will yield inconsistency in sweetness (i.e. some parts are sweet, other parts are not).  Ideally, you want the yellow color to rise all the way to the crown, which means the sugar is distributed evenly through the fruit.

A steel grocery cart filled with fresh ripe whole pineapples in a market.
Pineapples piled in a shopping cart in a Lima Peru market in 2018. Photo Credit ~ me!

More Pineapple Recipes

This Kahlua Ham Recipe has pineapple juice, grated ginger, honey, vanilla, Kahlua, a sprinkle of cinnamon, and orange zest/juice.

For summer grilling, make Huli Huli Chicken and serve in Pineapple Bowls.

Grill Shish Kabobs have a beef marinade made with pineapple and dark rum brushed on these bright colorful grilled skewers. Or whip up a summer dessert like Fruit Sorbet with no guilt or Pineapple-Coconut Madeleines are so great anytime as a treat. For Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, shake things up and make a new Cranberry Sauce with orange and pineapple as the co-star ingredients.

  • Kahlua Pineapple Glazed Ham
  • Pineapple Coconut Madeleines
  • Pineapple-Orange Cranberry Sauce
  • Huli Huli Chicken
  • Shish Kabobs
  • Raspberry Lemon Sorbet

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A pineapple bowl filled with fresh cut chunks of pineapple ready to eat.
Print Pin Recipe

How To Make Pineapple Bowls

Learn how to cut pineapple bowls or boats the easy way plus how to use the chunks for recipes like shish kabobs, huli huli chicken or sorbet.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 4 pineapple bowls
Calories 226kcal
Author Lisa Hatfield
Cost $5

Equipment

Epicurean Non-Slip Cutting Board
Small Serrated Knife
Chef's Knife

Ingredients

Pineapple Bowls

  • 1 large fresh pineapple

Instructions

  • Using a large knife cut the pineapple lengthwise and through the leaves into 2 halves.
  • Next, use a small serrated paring knife, cut all the way around the edge leaving about ¾” of the outside edge.
  • Cut the core out by cutting down both sides of the core at a slight angle inward in a "V" shape.
  • Now remove the core.
  • Discard as it is tough and inedible.
  • Slice into chunks by making a grid pattern of about 1" pieces. Be careful not to cut through the skin.
  • Use a large serving spoon, scoop out the pieces, save the juice ~ drink it or make a smoothie.
  • Place the cut pineapple back into the bowl.

Notes

Top Ripe Pineapple Tips

  • Be sure the pineapple has a sweet smell towards the base.
  • A green color indicates that it might not be ripe and was picked too early.
  • Use the "Press Test."  A sweet (and ripe) pineapple will yield slightly to pressure.
  • Make sure to avoid overripe pineapples. They usually have reddish-brownish skins and dark dried leaves that crumble when you touch them and have a fermented smell. Pass on that pineapple, it will taste-off, and be mushy and overripe inside.

How To Store Pineapple Bowls

Keep chilled in the fridge covered with plastic wrap. Serve within two days.

Ripe Pineapple

Wondering how to pick a juicy pineapple ready to use that day?
First, smell the bottom for sweetness.  This is the first tell-tale sign to determine how sweet and ripe your pineapple will be.  Sugar comes from the bottom of the fruit, where it migrates to the top as it ripens.  The bottom is where it should be most fragrant, so put your nose there not on the crown.
If it smells sweet, like pineapple juice, it is ripe.  If you smell nothing, that means there is insufficient sugar and the fruit will not be sweet, and it has been harvested too early. 
Pineapples ripen very little after they have been harvested. So you don't want to pick one that is underripe, hoping it will get ripen later. Unfortunately, it won't.
What you want to look for is a yellow-golden color. As the fruit starts to ripen in the field, it starts from the bottom, the higher the yellow rises toward the crown, the more sugar (and sweetness) it will have!  
Yellow on the bottom and green on the top will yield inconsistency in sweetness (i.e. some parts are sweet, other parts are not).  Ideally, you want the yellow color to rise all the way to the crown, which means the sugar is distributed evenly through the fruit.

Nutrition

Calories: 226kcal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 0g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 4mg | Potassium: 493mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 44g | Vitamin A: 265IU | Vitamin C: 216.3mg | Calcium: 59mg | Iron: 1.3mg
Tried this recipe?Let's see it on Instagram! Follow us @Delicious.Table and tag us on your recipe photo with #delicioustable
Need ingredients or equipment to make this recipe? Shop Now Every cooking product recommended I own, use, and love how they perform in my kitchen. Happy Cooking! Lisa
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Delicious Table earns advertising fees from qualified purchases linking to Amazon.com
2.9K shares

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. rohit aggarwal says

    December 20, 2019 at 11:04 pm

    5 stars
    thank you delicioustable for giving me wonderful information

    Reply
  2. Kathy says

    March 05, 2018 at 1:50 pm

    5 stars
    I did a dry run of this in hopes of having a pineapple boat at Easter brunch and it was so much easier than I thought and turned out beautifully! Thank you for this great how-to Lisa!

    Reply

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