How to Can Pineapple

Canned pineapple is great to have around the kitchen. It is far more delicious than canned fruits or vegetables of other types. Canning pineapples is easy enough for anyone to do, though some may need guidance at first. Canning pineapple at home can save you some money and allow you to store the fruit for use when it would not otherwise be available.

Most canned pineapples bought from the store are overly sweet and loaded with preservatives. Canning pineapple at home allows you to control what ingredients you add and gives you peace of mind because you know exactly how the pineapples were prepared. Canning pineapples can seem a little intimidating for most people, but worry not! This blog post will guide you step-by-step, and you will be an expert in pineapple canning in no time!

How to Buy Pineapples

When you plan to buy produce for preservation purposes, the very first important step is buying the right product. The same is true when you are buying pineapples for canning. Here are a few tips to help you make the right choice the next time you are at the grocery store.

• Look for pineapples with nice golden color, especially around the bottom of the fruit. When pineapples are ripe and are kept standing up, the natural sugar in the fruit settles at the bottom, giving the fruit a golden color.
• Select a pineapple that has a little give when you squeeze it. YOu don’t want to select a pineapple that is too firm as that means the pineapple still needs to ripen, and an overly soft and pushy pineapple will mean that it is either overripe or on its way to going bad.
• This simple hack can help you make a perfect fruit choice every time. Try to pick up the pineapple by just the top center leaf. If the leaf snaps off, it’s a ripe pineapple. If you can pick up the pineapple entirely without the leaf breaking off, the pineapple may still be underripe.
• Give the pineapple a sniff! The pineapple is full of flavor if you get a sweet citrusy and pineappley fragrance!

Fresh pineapple is quite perishable and will last on the counter for maybe 3 – 5 days once it is ripe. If you are not using the pineapple immediately, you may be able to extend its life for a couple of more days by storing it in the refrigerator in a perforated bag.

How to Cut the Pineapple for Canning

1. Before you start cutting the pineapple, wash it with cold water to make sure it is clean. Lay the pineapple on its side on a cutting board. Then, using a sharp knife, cut its top and bottom.
2. Now, stand the pineapple up on its cut base and cut it half, creating two halves.
3. Every pineapple has a core that runs straight through the center. This core can be tough to eat, so you can remove it when cutting your pineapple. Line the knife at the edge of the core for each half and slice it downward and inward.
4. Next, cut each pineapple half into half so that you end up with a pineapple that has been quartered and cored.
5. Slice it right down the center for each quarter until you hit the skin. Next, rotate the quarter 90 degrees and make ½ inch slices all the way through.
6. As the final step, run your knife right between the pineapple skin and the flesh to loosen up all the pieces, and this will result in perfect pineapple pieces without any cores. If you notice any “eyes” you want to get rid of, use a small paring knife to core them.

If you want to make this process of cutting pineapples even simpler, simply use a pineapple corer.

Supplies for Canning

Pineapples

You will need an average of 21 pounds of pineapples to prepare a 7 quart batch of canned pineapples. You can cut the pineapples into as large or as small pieces as you want for canning them.

Canning Jars

The canning recipe below yields 7 quarts or 14 pints of canned pineapple, so you will need 7 quart-sized jars or 14 pint-sized ones. Make sure you use heavy-duty canning jars that can withstand the canning process. Get the canning jars, rings, and lids ready by washing them with hot soapy water. Sterilize the lids in hot water for 3 – 5 minutes and leave them in the water until you are ready to use them. Keep the jars warm until you are ready to fill them.

Canning Liquid

When canning pineapples, you have a choice to either can it using plain water or using a syrup. Depending on the sweetness of the pineapples you are using, you can decide which canning liquid to use. For a plain canning liquid, place a kettle of water on the stove and let it come to a boil. For a sweet canning liquid, a light syrup serves well. Combine 9 cups of water with 2¼ cup of sugar to make the light syrup. Let the syrup come up to boil on the stove so that the sugar is well combined. Keep the syrup warm until you are ready to use it.

Hot Pack vs. Cold Pack

Pineapples can be canned using a hot or cold pack. Most canning recipes use a cold pack where the pineapple pieces are added to the canning jars directly, and the canning liquid is poured over them. In our canning recipe, we will be using a hot pack where we cook the pineapples in a sweet canning liquid to absorb the flavor well before transferring them to canning jars and processing.

Water Bath Canning Pineapples

• In a large stockpot, add all the cut pineapples. If you are using ripe pineapples, they will release a lot of their liquid when you cut them, so make sure you preserve all that liquid as well and add it to the stockpot.
• Place the stockpot on the stove on gentle heat and add your prepared hot canning liquid to it. Add enough canning liquid to submerge all the cut pineapple pieces in the liquid.
• Let the pineapples cook in the canning liquid for 10 minutes. This step will ensure that the pineapples absorb the sweet canning juice and are well heated when we add them to canning jars.
• While the pineapples are cooking, get the pot you will be using as a water bath canner ready. Fill it halfway with water and place it on the stove so that the water can come up to a boil.
• When you are ready to fill your jars, use a jar funnel and ladle the pineapples into the jars. You will need to maintain ½ inch of headspace on the pint-sized jars and 1 inch on the quart-sized jars. Make sure you add enough canning liquid to the jars so that the pineapples are all immersed.
• Use a debubbler to remove any air bubbles that may have formed. If needed, you can add a few more pineapple pieces or canning liquid to maintain the headspace recommended.
• When all the jars are filled, use a damp paper towel to clean their rims. Using a magnetic lid lifter, place the lids on the canning jars before twisting the rings until they are just “finger-tip” tight.
• Place your ready jars in the canner using some jar tongs. Take care that none of the jars touch each other in the canner. When you have added all your jars, top off the water in the canner so that the jars are at least an inch underwater.
• Let the water in the canner come up to a roaring boil before you cover it, and let the pineapples process for the time recommended as per elevation. You will need to process the pineapples for at least 15 minutes when using pints and 20 minutes when using quarts. Below is the recommended processing time recommended by the National Center for Home Food Preservation.

• Once the processing time is up, turn off the burner and open the lid to the water bath canner. When the steam has settled, carefully extract the processed jars of pineapples from the canner using a pair of jar tongs.
• Set the hot jars on an oven rack where they can cool down to room temperature. Let the jars cool for at least 24 hours before you touch them. As the jars cool, you will hear the signature “pop” of the lids sealing shut on your jars.
• When the jars have cooled, remove their rings and wipe them with a damp cloth to clean them. Test the seals to all your jars before you label and date them. These prepared jars are now ready to be stored in your pantry!

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does canned pineapple last?

Canned pineapple can last 18-24 months in your pantry when canned and stored correctly. Once opened, store the jar in the refrigerator and use it within a week. Ensure you keep the jars in a cool corner of your pantry away from direct sunlight and any dampness. Also, make sure you don’t stack your canned jars too high, a maximum of two layers. Check on your canned produce periodically to ensure they are still sealed properly, and there are no traces of mold or spoilage. If any seals have broken, it is best to discard the jar as you don’t know how long it has been unsealed.

How to test the seal on your canned jars?

You can perform a simple tapping test to check the seal on your canned jars. Use a spoon to knock the lid gently. If the lid does not react to you knocking on it, the seal is good, and you can store the canning jar. However, if the lid on the jar springs up, it has not been sealed properly. In such cases, store the canning jar in your refrigerator and try to use the pineapple within a week. Do not test the seal while the jars are still hot. Wait for the jars to cool down completely before you test their seals.

How to use canned pineapple?

Canned pineapple has a wonderful sweet and tangy taste that works in everything from appetizers to desserts. You can incorporate your canned pineapples in several dishes, including salads, cakes, and if you are a fan of pineapple on your pizza, that too! Be as creative as you like, and you will have several ways to use your canned pineapples.

Is canned pineapple healthy?

While canning does reduce some of the minerals and vitamins that you would find in fresh pineapple, it does not eliminate them completely. Store brought canned pineapple is high in sugar and calories, which is where home canning pineapple comes in handly. By canning pineapple at home, you can control the additional sugar content in the pineapples, making them much healthier to consume.

Conclusion

Canned pineapples are a great way to preserve this delicious fruit for use when they are not in season. Canning pineapples at home ensures that the preserved food is free from any additional preservatives making them safer to consume. The canning process is super simple, and you can customize the process as per your preference. Give this canning recipe a try, and we are sure you will be preserving pineapples for your family for a long time to come! If you liked this canning guide, you might also enjoy some of our other guides here.