Freezing pineapples preserves their flavor, and frozen pineapple is great for smoothies, juice, and frozen drinks. Use these five tips for freezing and storing pineapples to make the most of this tasty tropical fruit.
1. Select Fresh Pineapple
Select a ripe, sweet, and fresh pineapple for the best flavor. Look for pineapples that have a golden color, emit a sweet aroma from the base, and feel slightly tender when squeezed.
Avoid pineapples with brown spots or mold. Opting for pineapples at their peak ripeness ensures you’ll freeze and store fruit that tastes amazing later.
2. Core, Peel, and Slice the Fruit
Before freezing, remove the pineapple’s leafy crown, then peel it, core it, and slice it into rings, chunks, or spears. You can do each of these steps by hand using a sharp chef’s knife, but the fastest and safest way is to use a pineapple corer.
Juicernet’s commercial pineapple corers quickly peel and core the fruit, working precisely to preserve the greatest amount of edible fruit. We offer a freestanding pineapple corer on wheels, a tabletop model, and the Piñabar self-serve pineapple peeling, coring, and spearing machine.
3. Blanch the Pineapple
Blanching is optional, but many find it helps maintain the fruit’s vibrant color, texture, and flavor. Bring a pot of water to boil to begin the blanching process. Place the pineapple pieces in a wire basket.
Lower the wire basket into the boiling water and leave the pineapple in the water for two to five minutes. Then, remove the pineapple from the water and place it under cold running water to halt the cooking process. Once the pineapple is completely cool, it is ready for the next step.
4. Freeze on a Baking Sheet
The next tip for freezing and storing pineapples is to freeze the fruit on baking sheets to prevent the pieces from sticking together. Cover the baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
Spread the individual pieces of fruit on the covered baking sheet to keep them from sticking together. Then, place the baking sheet in the freezer until the pineapple is completely frozen, typically one to two hours.
5. Store in a Labeled, Airtight Container
Remove the frozen pineapple from the baking sheet and transfer the fruit to a freezer-safe, airtight container. While fresh, ripe pineapple only lasts a few days, you can store frozen pineapple in your freezer for up to one year. Label the container with the date and contents to keep track of its freshness.
Airtight packaging is the best defense against freezer burn. Freezer burn looks like icy crystals on the surface of frozen food, and it forms when the outer layer of food loses moisture due to exposure to cold, dry air. It’s safe to eat freezer-burned food, but the damage significantly affects the texture and flavor of the food.
Quickly and safely peel and core pineapples with a commercial pineapple corer from Juicernet. Our equipment is easy to use and minimizes food waste, making it easier to prepare pineapples for freezing or immediate use. Shop with us today!
