What Is Pineapple, canned, crushed and How Can I Use It?

If pineapple, canned, crushed has turned up in a recipe or caught your eye at the store, here's what you need to use it with confidence and how to choose it, cook it, store it, what to substitute, and 193 recipes to try it in.

What is pineapple, canned, crushed?

Crushed pineapple is canned pineapple shredded into a fine, pulpy mash, packed in its own juice or in syrup. It is the form bakers reach for when they want pineapple flavor and moisture spread evenly through a batter rather than landing in distinct bites.

Like all canned pineapple it is cooked during processing, so the bromelain enzyme is gone. That means it sets fine in gelatin molds and folds into cream cheese without curdling, unlike the raw fruit.

Baking and Cooking With It

Crushed pineapple is mostly water, and that water is the point in baking. It keeps carrot cakes and quick breads tender and moist long after they cool, doing some of the work butter or oil would otherwise have to.

How you handle the juice decides the result. Recipes that want a dense, damp crumb call for it undrained; recipes that already have enough liquid want it drained, or the batter loosens and bakes gummy.

You will find it folded into pies and bars like Easy Pineapple Pie and the gooey layers of a Better-Than-Sex Cake.

Cooked down with sugar and a little cornstarch, the pulp tightens into a glaze or filling that clings to ham, ribs, or a tart. The fine texture is exactly what you want here; chunks would slide off.

Pairing and What Goes Wrong

Crushed pineapple is at home with warm spices, coconut, cream cheese, and brown sugar, which is why it shows up in tropical breads like Hawaiian Macadamia Bread and in jellied salads such as Cherry Salad Supreme.

The usual mistake is the juice. Bakers drain it when the recipe wanted it in, or pour it in when the recipe wanted it out, and the cake comes out either dry or sodden.

When in doubt, drain it and add the juice back by the spoonful only if the batter looks stiff.

The second slip is reaching for syrup-packed in a recipe already sweetened for juice-packed, which pushes a dessert over the edge into sticky.

Substitutes

Drained pineapple chunks pulsed two or three times in a food processor give you a near-identical crush; do not puree them smooth or you lose all texture.

Pineapple tidbits chopped fine work the same way. For the moisture alone, unsweetened applesauce can stand in by volume in a quick bread, though you lose the tang and the tropical note.

Buying and Storage

Choose unsweetened juice-packed for most baking; it lets you control the final sugar. Heavy-syrup cans suit only the sweetest desserts.

Unopened cans keep 12 to 18 months in the pantry. Once opened, transfer the pineapple and its juice to a sealed container and refrigerate, then use within about 5 days.

It freezes cleanly for up to 3 months. Portion leftover crush into a muffin tin and pop out cubes as you need them.

Nutrition

Quick facts

Food group: Pineapple, canned, crushed is a member of the Fruits and Fruit Juices US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

In Chinese

菠萝罐头，粉碎

British (UK) term

Pineapple, canned, crushed

en français

ananas en conserve, écrasé

en español

piña, enlatados, aplastado

How much does pineapple, canned, crushed weigh?

Related

Fruits and Fruit Juices

Recipes using pineapple, canned, crushed

There are 193 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Smith's Banana Bread

Smith's banana bread is a fat-free whole wheat loaf with crushed pineapple, currants or apricots, fresh orange zest, and overripe bananas. A naturally sweet, dairy-free quickbread with no added sugar.

Earth Family Roasted Garlic Pineapple Dip

Roasted garlic pineapple dip blends cream cheese and Greek yogurt with sweet crushed pineapple, onion and a roasted garlic seasoning. A creamy, sweet-savory no-cook party dip for chips and crackers.

Lemon-Pineapple Sherbet

Lemon-pineapple sherbet made with just 4 ingredients: yogurt, crushed pineapple, frozen lemonade concentrate, and sugar. No ice cream maker needed for this bright, tangy frozen dessert.

Apricot Lite Jam

Apricot lite jam combines dried apricots with crushed pineapple and fresh orange for a tropical twist on a classic preserve. Less sugar than traditional jam, with citrus brightening the flavor.

Grilled Hawaiian Sandwiches

A tropical touch to a typical grilled cheese. A perfect quick fix for a week night meal.

Hawaiian Pound Cake

Hawaiian pound cake folds crushed pineapple and flaked coconut into a tender pound cake, then drizzles a tangy pineapple juice glaze over the warm loaf. Tropical comfort in every slice.

Blue Ribbon Carrot Cake

Carrot cake loaded with crushed pineapple, coconut, and walnuts. Soaked with hot buttermilk glaze straight out of the oven and finished with orange cream cheese frosting.

Pineapple-Topped Cocoa Cake

This moist cake is packed with chocolate flavor, and the pineapple topping adds extra delicious and refreshing fruitiness. Use half whole wheat flour and half canola oil to replace half white flour and butter to make it healthier but still rich and yummy enough to satisfy your taste buds.

Carrot Cake with Coconuts & Pineapple

The carrot cake was super moist and delicious, and the icing was buttery and creamy. Such an indulgence. I guess there are plenty of good-for-me stuff in the cake, so I shouldn't feel bad about eating one slice or two :)

Favourite Mandarin Orange Cake

Mandarin orange cake layers a fluffy box cake with crushed mandarins and juice, then frosts it with a no-cook whipped topping, vanilla pudding, and crushed pineapple filling. Easy retro potluck favorite.

Cherry Nut Dump Cake

The easiest cake you'll ever make: cherry pie filling and crushed pineapple topped with dry cake mix, melted butter, pecans, and coconut. Just dump, bake, and devour.

Pineapple Bundt Cake

Pineapple bundt cake with crushed pineapple folded into a buttery cake-flour batter and a sneaky hit of lemon extract to brighten the tropical flavor. Tender, moist, and gorgeous from the fluted pan.

Hawaiian Pineapple Banana Bread

Banana and pineapple make the bread taste super moist and flavorful. Lots of yumminess and goodness.

Hawaiian-Stuffed Chicken Breast

Made this Hawaiian stuffed chicken breast for dinner, didn't have herb stuffing mix, so I sliced up 1 slice of whole grain bread into 1/2-inch cubes, tossed with a bit dry Italian herb mix and a bit olive oil...

Carrot Cake Muffin Treats

Made these muffins along with the pineapple bran muffins. They were super moist and delicious too. There is no refined sugar added in this recipe, but the muffins were sweet enough because of the pineapples and raisins that also added some extra goodness as well. It did taste like a carrot cake but much lower fat and calories.

Coconut & Pineapple Cake

A moist yet delicious cake is made with whole wheat flour, pineapple, coconut, and, walnuts. It is super moist and packed with great flavour. Enjoy one slice or two without feeling guilty.

Another Morning Glory Muffin

Morning glory muffins loaded with grated carrot, apple, crushed pineapple, coconut, dried cranberries, and pecans. Warm cinnamon and a splash of pineapple juice keep these hearty breakfast muffins moist for days.

Carrot Cake (low-fat)

This carrot cake is outstanding, moist inside and creamy on top, I have no coconut chips left, so I didn't sprinkle coconuts on top. The cake is just delicious, but you have to be careful of the pineapple and juice, don't use more than recipe says, otherwise the cake won't work.

Buttermilk Carrot Cake

Buttermilk carrot cake with grated carrots, crushed pineapple, and walnuts soaked in a hot buttermilk glaze and topped with orange cream cheese frosting. Moist for days.

Pineapple-Bran Whole-Wheat Muffins

These muffins turned out deliciously moist, and pineapple definitely played the role. They were packed with goodness too. Whole wheat flour, brans, and pineapples made the muffins made the muffins very nutritious, they are perfect for breakfast to start the day or a snack for an energy boost.

Caribbean Rice

Tropical rice side dish loaded with mandarin oranges, crushed pineapple, toasted coconut, slivered almonds, and mango chutney. Ready in 30 minutes.

Light & Fluffy Better Than Sex Cake

Not sure who names this cake, but all I can say this cake tastes absolutely delicious. It's moist, fluffy, and soft. The cream on top adds extra creaminess and richness, it's a decadent dessert that everyone will ask for second piece.

Andre Black's Carrot Cake

Here is a recipe, developed young man here in the Detroit area. With this recipe, he won a $10,000 scholarship to Johnson and Wales College, which is considered a top-notch cooking school, located in Charleston, SC. This young man, Andre Black, spent 2 weeks developing this recipe, this cake was among the top 19 recipes chosen (out of 270) as winners. Andre was on the front page of the Detroit News yesterday, along with the recipe. The Detroit News food writer, Robin Mather says "For a Carrot Cake, this is a hell of a fruit cake." She found this cake suited to 3 - 8 inch layers.

14-Carat Cake with Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting

Absolutely amazing... I'm not a baker, but this recipe is foolproof. My husband's favorite is carrot cake and I made it for his 30th birthday with resounding compliments even from those who don't like it. One friend insisted I got it from a bakery!

Veggie Vomit

Veggie vomit is a Halloween gross-out lime jello salad with grated cabbage, carrots, crushed pineapple, and mandarin oranges. Kids love the gross name; the salad tastes great.

Fish in Sweet & Sour Sauce Wih Coconut-Rice

Fish and shrimp in sweet and sour sauce with pineapple, ginger, and soy, served over homemade coconut rice. A complete seafood dinner with bright Asian-inspired flavors.

Bette's Coconut Delight Cake

Tropical coconut poke cake soaked with cream of coconut and warm crushed pineapple, then piled high with whipped topping and shredded coconut. A potluck showstopper that starts with a box mix.

Jellied Cheesecake

No-bake jellied cheesecake with cottage cheese, crushed pineapple, whipped cream, and crystallized ginger on a graham cracker crust. A light, airy refrigerator dessert.

Yogurt Banambrosia

Sliced bananas, crisp apples, juicy oranges, crushed pineapple, and green grapes folded into creamy vanilla yogurt. A lighter spin on classic ambrosia that's ready in minutes and feeds a crowd.

Pineanna Nut Cake

Pineanna nut cake is a three-layer banana-pineapple cake with pecans and cinnamon, frosted with vanilla cream cheese frosting. A Southern-style hummingbird cake by another name.

Frosty Pina Coladas

Blended pina coladas made with cream of coconut, crushed pineapple, light rum, and milk, blitzed with ice until thick and frosty. A tropical cocktail in 15 minutes.

Yarborough Pie

Retro fruit pie with sour cherries, crushed pineapple, bananas, and cherry Jello in a graham cracker crust topped with whipped cream. A vintage no-bake dessert that brings the church potluck right to your kitchen.

Gelatin-Salad Supreme

Cinnamon red hots melt into this ruby gelatin salad layered with crushed pineapple and cherries, then crowned with a cooked, creamy dressing. A retro, sweet-tart molded salad for holiday tables.

Avocado Salad Jelled

Avocado jelled salad blends ripe avocado with cream cheese, crushed pineapple, and chopped pecans set in lemon gelatin. Vintage molded salad with creamy, sweet-tart flavor and pale green presentation.

Coleslaw (T)

Pineapple coleslaw with crushed pineapple, lime, celery seed, and Miracle Whip. The sweet-tart Hawaiian-style slaw that goes with pulled pork, fish tacos, or BBQ ribs.

Grilled Haole-Style Yams with Pineapple Butter

Grilled haole-style yams with pineapple butter made from crushed pineapple, margarine, and teriyaki sauce. A Hawaiian-inspired grilled sweet potato side with a sweet-savory tropical topping.

Pineapple-Raisin Jumble

Pineapple raisin jumble cookies with crushed pineapple, toasted almonds, orange zest, and raisins. A fruity, egg-free drop cookie with tropical flair.

Lemony Chicken Salad

Lemony chicken salad with a vintage twist: cubed chicken, crushed pineapple, and tarragon set in lemon gelatin and chilled until firm. A retro molded salad that's bright, light, and refreshingly cool.

Pineapple Carrot Coffee Ring

Pineapple carrot coffee ring with whole wheat flour, bran, sunflower seeds, raisins, and crushed pineapple bound by yeast and honey. A hearty, nutritious ring loaf for breakfast or brunch.

San Joaquin Glamour Salad

San Joaquin Glamour Salad stuffs a hollowed cabbage shell with ground cabbage, stewed figs, carrot, pineapple, and whipped cream dressing. A retro Central Valley showstopper from California's fig country.

Cheddar Fruit Drops

Cheddar fruit drop cookies with sharp cheddar cheese, crushed pineapple, and maraschino cherries. A sweet-savory cookie that balances tangy cheese with tropical fruit in every bite.

Molded Cranberry Relish

Molded cranberry relish with raspberry Jello, fresh cranberries, grapes, celery, and crushed pineapple. Served with a fluffy cream cheese and marshmallow whipped dressing. A retro Thanksgiving and Christmas centerpiece.

Hawaiian Macadamia Bread

Hawaiian macadamia bread folds crushed pineapple, shredded coconut, and chopped macadamia nuts into a tender quick bread. Tropical tea bread or breakfast loaf with island flavors in every slice.

Pineapple-Cheese Pie

No-bake pineapple cheese pie with cream cheese, sour cream, crushed pineapple, and lemon juice set in a graham cracker crust. A retro tropical cheesecake-style pie made entirely in the blender.

Orange Fruit Salad

Orange fruit salad layers lemon and orange jello with crushed pineapple, marshmallows, sliced bananas, and shredded cheddar under a creamy pineapple custard topping. Retro potluck classic.

Pina Colada Pie--Pastel De Pina Colada

Piña colada pie: a four-ingredient frozen graham-crust pie with piña colada yogurt, crushed pineapple, and whipped topping. The easiest tropical dessert in the freezer playbook.

Empanadas Decamote Conpina (Dessert Turnovers)

Sweet potato and pineapple empanadas in a flaky cream cheese pastry with shredded coconut. Tropical dessert turnovers baked until golden brown.

Lemon Snow Jello

Lemon Snow Jello with cream cheese, crushed pineapple, and whipped evaporated milk folded into lemon Jello. A fluffy, creamy retro gelatin salad topped with chopped nuts.

Aunt Bunny's Stuffing

Aunt Bunny's Stuffing combines apple, orange, pineapple, water chestnuts, and preserved ginger with raw sausage and 13 herbs and spices for a holiday turkey stuffing that's genuinely unlike any other.

Bristol Ice Box Cake

Bristol icebox cake: layers of vanilla wafer crumbs and a crushed pineapple-pecan-butter mixture, chilled overnight and topped with whipped cream. Vintage no-bake dessert.

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