Step by Step Guide How to Cut Pineapple Rings, Spears or Chunks

Follow Martha Stewart's simple steps to cut the prickly tropical fruit the right way.

Original article by Teri Tsang Barrett

Updated on October 30, 2023

In This Article

• Picking a Pineapple

• Tools

• Peeling

• Cutting Rings

Cutting Spears, Wedges, or Chunks

What's not to love about the pineapple? It's wonderful in desserts and fruit salads and also works well in savory recipes, from salsas and marinades to pork and seafood dishes. And, according to some poor, misguided individuals, as a pizza topping. If you've been too intimidated to buy a whole pineapple and cut it into rings, spears, or chunks, you're in the right place for help. Follow these simple steps, and you'll quickly learn how to cut a pineapple. Soon you'll be able to impress friends and family by cutting a whole pineapple into neat, juicy pieces.

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.

Tools You'll Need

• A serrated knife will make quick work of both the pineapple's tough outer skin and sweet interior flesh

• Avon Home 3 in 1 Fruit Slicer

• Avon Home Pineapple Corer

• Avon Home Cutting Board With Colander

Check out Avon's Home Collection Here.

How to Peel a Pineapple

1. Start by slicing off the leaves from the pineapple. Or use your hands to twist them off.

2. 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.

3. 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.)

4. If there are pineapple "eyes" revealed after peeling the fruit, use a sharp paring knife or your handy Avon Home 3 in 1 Fruit Slicer to remove them, working in a circular motion.

Bonus Entertaining Tip: Save the pineapple top for a garnish..

How to Cut Pineapple Rings

Once your pineapple is peeled, follow these steps to cut it into rings:

1. Lay the fruit on its side.

2. Slice the pineapple crosswise into rounds, making them as thick or thin as you'd like.

3. If you are serving pineapple rings, use a biscuit cutter or large icing tip to punch out the hard core from each slice. Or if you had that handy pineapple corer from Avon you wouldn't have to jump through all those extra hoops because you would have already used it to easily remove that pesky core.

How to Cut Pineapple Spears, Wedges, or Chunks

Here are the steps for cutting a pineapple into spears or chunks:

1. Halve the peeled pineapple lengthwise through the core, then halve lengthwise again.

2. Remove the fibrous center core from each section of the fruit.

3. Lie the pineapple flat and cut into spears or wedges.

4. For chunks, cut the spears into smaller equal-sized pieces.

Updated by

Kirsten Nunez

With some small changes and additions by Bruce Coffman. Don't sue me, Martha. Love you, gurl!