How To Freeze Pineapple For Smoothies

Can you freeze pineapple to preserve for months, in order to use for smoothies and other recipes? It’s a rhetorical question, of course, you can. Rest assured, freezing fresh pineapple is quite a simple straightforward process and today we’ll learn how to do it properly.

So, if you bought more than you need and want to preserve this sweet tropical fruit for a longer period in order to avoid waste – you’re in the right place. Frozen pineapple can be used in smoothies and so many other tasty recipes.

Why Should You Freeze Pineapple?

Before we start with our step-by-step guide on how to freeze pineapple pieces, let’s have a look at some good reasons why you should consider frozen pineapple a part of your diet.

• Although available year-round, you’ll find the sweetest pineapples from March till August when they are in peak season. They are more easily found and of the best quality during this period. This is the best time to buy and freeze some.
• Secondly, if you stick to healthy eating, you will be blessed to have this highly nutritious and extremely juicy fruit close at hand. Loaded with vitamins and antioxidants, it can be the main ingredient of various delicious smoothies and pineapple desserts.
• Thirdly, it may be much cheaper to use frozen pineapple than buy it fresh throughout the year. So, next time you find pineapples on sale at an irresistible price, just buy a few and freeze them.
• And last but not least, freezing fresh pineapple helps reduce food waste. If you have fresh pineapple in your fridge, but you won’t have the chance to eat or cook it, then think no further. Cut it up and put it in the freezer, so that you don’t have to throw it away.

How To Pick A Good Fresh Pineapple

Always buy firm fresh pineapple instead of soft ones.

Also, pay attention to the leaves-they should be fresh and deep green.

Also, make sure to store it properly. If you don’t freeze it right away – keep the pineapple in a cool place rather than at room temperature. Make sure to use it up within 5-7 days. I find some pineapples go bad pretty fast.

How to Peel and Cut a Pineapple?

Once you’ve got your pineapple, you’ll need to transform it into bite-sized pieces before freezing it. So, if you don’t have magical powers, you will need to peel and cut the fruit into chunks first. It may seem like a challenge, but once you are familiar with the process, your worries will disappear. Here are the steps to follow:  

• Cut the top and bottom parts of the pineapple, so that you have two flat bases. Place the pineapple up, so that it stays stable with the flat side down.
• Then, cut along the hard outer skin from all sides starting from the top down. Try to do it as thinly as possible, so that you avoid wasting the flesh of the fruit.
• Once you remove the peel, you will see that there are small black spots all over the pineapple. These are leftovers from the peel that are hard and not really edible (or enjoyable, so use a knife to cut or scoop them out carefully.
• Now it’s time to slice the pineapple into cubes! To do this you will need to remove the core. I sometimes eat the core, but it can be very hard to chew and it’s not really sweet. So for sweet pineapple chunks – it’s best to remove it. I like to do so, by simply cutting around it from the top down. It’s simple and it works for me. However, if you do want perfect pineapple cubes, slice the peeled pineapple in half from top to bottom. Then slice again into quarters and cut out the core from each quarter.
• Finally, cut the long pineapple strips into bite-sized cubes that you can freeze.

How to Freeze Pineapple

Now that we’ve conquered the pineapple and have it in pieces, it’s time to freeze this sweet delicious fruit, so that we can use it for smoothies and other recipes.

Basically, pineapple freezes quite well although some textural changes are possible after thawing. The reason is that the ice crystals that form during the freezing process cause damage to the cell walls. But having in mind that most of the vitamins and minerals are preserved, this is a small price to pay. Plus frozen pineapple provides the perfect texture when blended in smoothies! So, let’s get started.

• Firstly, take out a baking sheet and cover it with a piece of wax or parchment paper.
• Then, arrange the pineapple chunks in a single layer. Make sure you leave enough space between the pineapple cubes. They shouldn’t be touching; otherwise, they will stick together in one large piece. If they’re stuck together once frozen, you won’t be able to take out the desired amount of pineapple pieces you need without having to thaw the entire batch. (although I do have a trick for that too – just bang the bag with frozen pineapple on the counter – it usually breaks off easily. I know, I’m a gentle soul.)
• So, after you have arranged the chunks properly, freeze them for 2-3 hours. 
• Once your pineapple chunks are completely frozen, place them in resealable freezer bags. Seal the bags halfway, then press to remove the air, and close them completely. Alternatively, you may keep the frozen pineapple chunks in freezer-friendly airtight containers.
• Place the bags in the freezer and store there. Try to keep opening the bags to a minimum, as this can slightly reduce the shelf life of the frozen fruit.

• It would be a good idea to write the date of freezing on each bag with pineapple pieces. That is to know exactly how much time your fruit has spent in the freezer.

And that is it! You’ve just secured yourself a delicious ingredient for your smoothies for the next few weeks and even months.

How Long Can You Store Frozen Pineapple

After you’re done with freezing the fresh pineapple, the frozen cubes will last in the freezer for as long as six months. You may leave them even longer, but the quality will most probably start to deteriorate. 

How to Thaw Frozen Pineapple

Basically, you don’t need to thaw frozen pineapple. If you want to incorporate it in smoothies, for example, just throw in the icy chunks and blend.

In case you want to cook the pineapple in stir-fry or sauces, you may either use it frozen or thaw it at room temperature for about half an hour. Another way to thaw it is to leave the frozen pieces overnight in the fridge – in the morning you’ll have cool pineapple pieces that you can use to top your favorite breakfasts like overnight oats or yogurt bowls.

Health Benefits of Pineapple

Whether fresh or frozen, this tropical juicy fruit has amazing health benefits.

• Provides lots of healthy nutrients. Pineapples are low in calories, but high in nutritional value. 1 cup of pineapple chunks contains only 83 calories but is packed with vitamins and minerals. It is so rich in vitamin C that this 1 cup covers 88% of your daily needs.
• Is loaded with antioxidants. Antioxidants are molecules that fight oxidative stress, which is caused by free radicals. These radicals damage cells and cause chronic inflammation. They can also suppress our immune system. So, the frequent consumption of pineapples may reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes as well as some forms of cancer. This fruit is also famous for its anti-inflammatory and immunity-boosting properties.
• Helps with digestion. Without a doubt, you have heard of recipes that combine meat or poultry with pineapple. Although it may seem strange, there is a good reason for that. Pineapple contains enzymes that ease the digestion of meat.
• Strengthens bones. The ample content of manganese speeds up bone regeneration and as a result, improves bone strength. Just one cup of pineapple chunks provides you with 65% of your daily manganese needs.
• Improves eyesight. If you have weak eyesight, then it is advisable to include pineapple in your diet. That’s because recent studies show that regular consumption can slow down macular degeneration.

Frozen pineapple smoothies

Freezing fresh pineapple is a great way to preserve the fruit and turn it into the best ingredient for healthy smoothies ever! Sweet enough to replace bananas, this fruit is excellent for refreshing smoothie recipes without bananas.

Furthermore, when frozen, pineapple provides a wonderful consistency and makes the smoothies colder without the need for ice cubes. So, here are a few simple smoothie recipes to help you use your frozen pineapple cubes:

• Strawberry Pineapple Smoothie: Grab a few frozen pineapple cubes and blend them with plant-based milk and fresh strawberries. This makes the most delicious refreshing smoothie ever!
• Pina Colada Smoothie. For this one combine coconut milk with pineapple and orange juice. It’s as simple as that, it’s healthy and tastes like a virgin pina colada!
• Green pineapple smoothie. If you want to increase your iron and calcium intake, then blend the pineapple with some spinach, parsley or other green leafy veggies of your choice and some plant-based smoothies.

These smoothies work great as a snack or a quick energy booster, but can easily be turned into a healthy breakfast by increasing the calorie value. Just add two tbsp of nut butter or some soaked oats and have a great start to your day!

How to Use Frozen Pineapple Chunks in Recipes?

Pineapple is so versatile, that you can incorporate it into countless recipes other than smoothies. If you’ve been freezing bags of pineapple and need some ideas on how to use it other than for smoothies, these are just a few delicious suggestions to explore:

• Frozen Fruit Salad. Can you think of an easier and healthier dessert than a fruit salad? You probably have some leftover fruit in your fridge. Cut them into pieces and add the frozen pineapple chunks. Top with cream as well as chopped nuts for decoration. 
• Easy Sorbet. If you prefer just a pineapple dessert, then try this quick and delicious sorbet. All it takes is some frozen pineapple from the freezer and some freshly squeezed lemon juice.
• Chicken and Pineapple. Pineapple can be delicious not only in desserts but in main dishes as well. Moreover, it helps with the digestion of meat, which makes it particularly suitable for meat meals. So, let the frozen pineapple thaw overnight in the fridge or for 30 minutes at room temperature and use it in the recipe!

More Healthy Fruit Recipes:

• Flourless Oatmeal Blueberry Muffins
• Easy Strawberry Shortcake Cookies
• How To Pit And Freeze Cherries
• The Easy Way To Freeze Peaches: No sugar, no blanching
• How To Freeze Strawberries For Months