In short, yes, pineapple can be frozen, but its high water content may cause some textural changes. Properly freeze ripe pineapple for use in smoothies, salads, and more!
Pineapple must be one of the most versatile fruits out there. Its sweet, slightly tart flavor and firm texture make it easy to incorporate across a large variety of dishes—sweet, savory, cooked, raw, breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even dessert.
With so many uses, pineapple is a fabulous fruit to have on hand at all times.
Being fresh produce, however, pineapple doesn’t last all that long, especially once it has been cut. A great way to extend the shelf life of pineapple is to keep it in the freezer.
Here is an easy guide to freezing pineapple.
Can Pineapple Be Frozen?
Yes. Pineapple freezes quite well, although there may be some textural changes to the fruit due to its high water content.
As the liquid freezes, ice crystals form which cause damage to the cell walls. This results in some textural changes and a less firm texture once the frozen fruit thaws.
Frozen pineapple does, however, make a great snack or addition to fruit salad and smoothies. Once thawed, pineapple will have a similar texture to the canned product but is still suitable for use in baking, cooked dishes, smoothies, salad, and stir-fry.
Only freeze fully ripe pineapple. Overripe pineapple should not be frozen as this will have a very poor texture, color, and off-flavor once thawed.
It is equally important to keep the pineapple protected from contact with air and moisture during freezing to prevent freezer burn and the formation of large ice crystals.
How To Freeze Pineapple
Step 1: Clean
Using a sharp knife, cut the top and bottom of the fresh pineapple to remove the spiky leaves and base. Shave off the outer skin and spikes carefully and completely so that you are left with the large smooth pineapple flesh only. If desired, you can core the pineapple too. A pineapple corer makes this pretty easy.
Step 2: Cut
On a cutting board, cut the pineapple into the desired size pieces either in small chunks or slices. Unless you require pineapple rings for a specific recipe, bite sized pieces will be the easier option for use after freezing.
If the pineapple is very juicy, lightly dab it with a paper towel or a clean dish towel to remove excess moisture before freezing.
Step 3: Flash-freeze
Place a piece of parchment paper or wax paper on a baking tray. Spread the pineapple pieces (or slices) out in a single layer on the covered cookie sheet. Make sure the pieces do not touch each other to prevent them from sticking together.
Place the baking sheet in the freezer until the pineapple chunks are frozen.
This flash-freezing process prevents the pineapple from freezing together in one large clump and makes it easy to remove only the amount you need instead of having to thaw and use the entire batch.
Step 4: Pack
Once completely frozen, remove the baking sheet with frozen chunks from the freezer. Pack the diced pineapple into resealable freezer bags. Seal the bags ¾ of the way, and then press out the remaining air before closing them completely. Alternatively, use freezer safe containers.
Step 5: Label and Freeze
Label the bag (or freezer safe container) with a permanent marker writing the date of freezing to keep track of how long the pineapple has been stored in the freezer.
How To Defrost Frozen Pineapple
For a firm texture, keep the pineapple frozen when adding to a fruit salad or as an icy snack. You can also use frozen pineapple chunks by adding them straight to smoothies.
When cooking with pineapple in stir-fry or sauces, you can add it from frozen, or thaw it in the refrigerator for about an hour. To speed up the defrosting process, place the sealed freezer bag in a bowl of room-temperature water.
Types of Pineapple
More than 37 varieties of pineapple are grown across the world, varying in size, shape, color, sweetness, acidity, and fiber content.
Certain types are more resistant to disease and are suitable for commercial transport, while others are tender and don’t fare well over long-haul shipping.
Most pineapples can be grouped into 4 classes namely: Smooth Cayenne, Red Spanish, Queen, and Abacaxi.
The spiny and tall Abacaxi pineapples are very sweet and almost translucent in color. They are, however, not popular as commercial products due to their delicate nature.
Queen pineapples are best eaten fresh with their dark-yellow color, sweet aroma, and small core.
Smooth Cayenne pineapples are known for their large size and juicy yellow flesh while Red Spanish pineapples are orange-red in color.
Regardless of the type of pineapple, the riper it gets, the sweeter it tastes with some pineapples featuring a somewhat tart or acidic flavor. If not eaten in their raw, natural form, pineapples can also be canned, dried, juiced, cooked, or crystallized.
FAQs
How long does pineapple last?
A whole ripe pineapple can last up to 5 days, whereas once the fresh pineapple is cut, it will last 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator kept in an airtight container.
You can store frozen pineapple for 6 months in the freezer. Although it is possible to keep it frozen for longer than this, the quality will start to deteriorate over time.
How do you know if pineapple has gone bad?
The whole pineapple that has gone bad will display dead, brown, shriveled leaves, and the outer skin will develop brown soft spots and start to excrete some sticky juices. Mold may also appear and the odor will change from sweet to somewhat sour.
Can you freeze pineapple juice?
Yes, pineapple juice freezes well. Remember to leave some headspace open at the top of the freezer-friendly bottle or container for the expansion of the liquids on freezing.
Can you freeze canned pineapple?
Canned pineapple can be frozen but it should be decanted into freezer-friendly packaging and never frozen in the can itself. Follow the same procedure as you would to freeze fresh pineapple and use it within 2 months of freezing for the best quality.
Crushed canned pineapple can be frozen in airtight freezer-friendly containers, zip lock bags, or in ice cube trays to form blocks. Once frozen, remove the crushed pineapple cubes from the ice tray and store them in a resealable freezer bag to avoid freezer burn and protect them from contact with air.
Does freezing destroy pineapple enzymes?
Yes, freezing pineapple can destroy some of its enzymes due to the formation of ice crystals that damage the cell structure. However, frozen pineapple can still be used in various dishes and retains its flavor.
Conclusion
Frozen pineapple can be used in smoothies, sorbets, eaten as a snack, added to fruit salad, used for jams, sauces, and baking. In savory applications, the pineapple can be added to stir-fry, curry, pizza, salads, and marinades.
With so many ways in which to use deliciously sweet and juicy pineapple, do not hesitate to make use of bulk purchase deals and pop the yellow goodness in the freezer for safe-keeping.
By freezing extra pineapple, you can save money, prevent food waste, and always have a sweet and healthy snack on hand.
As a qualified Holistic Nutritionist, Helga has also combined her passion for good food and healthy living in wellness coaching. After years practicing in the catering and hospitality industries, Helga now focuses on sharing her knowledge and experience with others through writing about food tips, cooking advice, wellness, global food trends, and travel.
