Everything to Know About Cooking and Shopping for In Season Pineapples

The best way to shop? With the seasons. So, every 2 weeks at Kitchen Stories, we’ll be highlighting a different in-season ingredient along with 3 new recipes. To market, we go!

No other fruit makes us dream about summer, long white beaches, and sunny days like the pineapple. Whether puréed in cocktails, topping sweet desserts, mixed in to savory curries, or blended into barbecue sauces—the sweet yellow fruit adds an unmistakable summery flavor.

Native to South America, pineapples spread from southern Brazil and Paraguay throughout the continent and eventually made their way to Central America, being cultivated by the Mayas and Aztecs. In the 15th century Christopher Columbus came across the fruit and brought it back with him to Spain.

What’s your favorite recipe with pineapple? Tell us in the comments, and upload a picture of your creations for all to enjoy!

1. Hello, My Name is Pineapple

From 250g/0.5 lb to 3.5 kg/7.5 lbs., yellow-orange to lightly green hued, the variety of pineapples has only become bigger and bigger over the years due to increased popularity worldwide and highly industrialized production.

In many grocery stores, you can get canned pineapple rings and chunks, pineapples like the “Kona sugarloaf” that have a white flesh and no woody core, the “smooth cayenne” variety with no spiny leaves, and even pineapples bred solely for ornament that are tiny in size and bright in color.

With nutrients like calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, and zinc the pineapple’s main vitamin packed punch comes from its high volume of vitamin C. And, despite its sweet flavor, it’s very low in calories, clocking in at just 55 kcal per 100 g.

2. When and How to Find the Perfect Pineapple

Even if you’re able to buy pineapples the whole year round—imported from countries like Costa Rica, Ecuador, Thailand and Ghana—they are actually in season from now until July.

The tropical fruit comes to Europe by plane or by ship, which can lead to big differences in quality. Pineapples that fly their way to Europe are harvested ripe and are often sweeter and fruitier in flavor. Shipped pineapples are often more sour, because they are unripe when picked.

3. How to Store Pineapples

Buy pineapples with a sweet fragrance, a firm skin, and some loose leaves. This tropical fruit doesn’t like the cold, so store the whole fruit at room temperature. A ripe pineapple will remain fresh for 2 – 3 days. Cut them up when ripe, and store in the fridge for up to a week.

4. How to Prepare Pineapples

Turn the green crown counterclockwise and remove it from the pineapple. Cut off the base and crown, and run the knife down the sides of the pineapple to remove the rind. Quarter the fruit with a knife from crown to base. Cut out the woody stem and cut into small chunks.

5. What to Make Next

All week long, we’ll be featuring new pineapple recipes on Kitchen Stories. Check back to see what’s new, and then try one for yourself! Here’s where to start: