What Are Pineapple chunks and How Can I Use Them?

Wondering what to do with pineapple chunks? This guide covers how to pick them, cook them, store them, and swap them, plus 186 recipes to put them to work.

What are pineapple chunks?

Pineapple chunks are bite-size pieces of pineapple, most often the canned kind packed in juice or light syrup. They are the convenience form of pineapple: no coring, no peeling, ready to tip straight into a pan or a bowl.

Canned chunks are firmer and milder than fresh, and they have one quiet advantage. The canning heat kills the bromelain enzyme, so unlike raw pineapple they will not turn gelatin to soup or curdle dairy.

Cooking With Pineapple Chunks

Drain them first, and drain them well. The packing liquid is sweet and watery, and dumping it into a stir-fry or casserole thins the sauce and makes everything weep. Press the chunks gently in the can lid or a sieve, and save that juice for a glaze.

Their sturdiness is what makes them the kebab pineapple. Threaded between meat and pepper, they hold their shape over fire and caramelize at the edges, the move behind Hawaiian Turkey Kebobs.

In sweet-and-sour dishes the chunks are the visual payoff, suspended in glossy sauce alongside the protein. They carry Festive Sweet & Sour Chicken and smoky one-pots like Calypso Kielbasa.

For baking, fold drained chunks into quick breads or scatter them over a ham. They soften but keep their identity, which crushed pineapple cannot do.

Pairing and Common Mistakes

Pineapple chunks lean tropical and salty-sweet, so they sit happily next to ham, kielbasa, shrimp, and toasted coconut. A fruit salad like Magical Fruit Salad leans on that brightness.

The mistake to avoid is treating syrup-packed and juice-packed as the same thing. Syrup chunks add real sugar; if your sauce is already sweet, buy juice-packed or your dish tips into cloying.

The other slip is skipping the drain step on pizza or in a baked dish, which leaves a soggy center.

Substitutes

Fresh pineapple cut into ¾-inch pieces is the closest swap, but it is softer and its raw bromelain can curdle dairy or loosen gelatin, so cook it briefly if that is a risk.

Pineapple tidbits are the same fruit cut smaller; use them when you want the flavor spread through every bite rather than in big pieces. Canned mandarin oranges stand in for color and sweetness in a fruit salad, though they are more fragile.

Buying and Storage

Chunks come packed in 100% juice or in light or heavy syrup. For cooking, juice-packed gives you control over the final sweetness; reserve syrup-packed for desserts that want the extra sugar.

Unopened cans keep for 12 to 18 months in the pantry. Once opened, never leave the fruit in the open metal can.

Move leftovers and their liquid to a covered container, refrigerate, and use within 5 to 7 days. They also freeze well in their juice for up to 3 months, handy for smoothies.

Nutrition

Quick facts

Where to find pineapple chunks: Pineapple chunks are usually found in the canned goods section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group: Pineapple chunks are a member of the Fruits and Fruit Juices US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

In Chinese

菠萝块

British (UK) term

Pineapple chunks

en français

morceaux d'ananas

en español

trozos de piña

How much do pineapple chunks weigh?

Related

Fruits and Fruit Juices

Recipes using pineapple chunks

There are 186 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Pineapple Smoothie

Pineapple buttermilk smoothie blends frozen tropical fruit with tangy buttermilk for a frothy 5-minute breakfast or post-workout drink. High in fibre, low in calories, no banana required.

Crockpot Chicken Stew with Pepper & Pineapple

Crockpot Chicken Stew with Pepper and Pineapple recipe

Audrey's Oriental Chicken

Very fine chicken. I wouldn't call it oriental but it's not a problem. Quite good over rice with dry fried black sesame seeds. Thanks for my tasty lunch.. :)

Pineapple Vegetarian Fried Rice

Definitely a dish that is easy to make and impresses your family! Also a great way to use up your leftover rice.

Thai Chicken Curry With Pineapple

I love curry but I like it simple with lots of curry sauce. This is easy and delicious

Sweet & Sour Vegetables

The flavor was combination was excellent. Next time will add some whole dried chili peppers to give it a bit more kick. We served it over brown rice and could hardly stop eating it.

Waikiki Meatballs

These were delicious after a little bit of tweaking. I don't think I've ever made meatballs without some garlic, so I felt the need to add one large clove of minced along with a teaspoon of soy sauce, replacing the 1/2 teaspoon of salt, in the meat mixture...

Pineapple & Shrimp Tom Yum Soup

Excellent! Very authentic rendition of this classic soup. Very fresh and clean tasting with great flavor. It even beats the hot and sour soup from my favorite Chinese restaurant.

Asian Chicken, Peppers, Pineapple & Rice

Quick and easy, great for a fast weeknight meal. Nice balance of flavours!

Quick & Easy Frog's Eye Salad

A delicious kind of salad made with mandarin oranges, pineapple chunks, flaked coconut and whipped topping.

Yogurt Mint Dip & Pineapple Relish

Two fresh mint condiments in one recipe: a cool yogurt dip with honey and orange zest, plus a zippy pineapple relish with whole grain mustard. Both come together in 15 minutes with zero cooking.

Sweet & Sour Kabobs

Grilled sweet and sour meatball kabobs loaded with pineapple, bell pepper, cherry tomatoes, and mushrooms. Brushed with a tangy steak sauce glaze and served over rice.

Fresh Fruit a la Gran Marnier

Layered fresh fruit cups with bananas, strawberries, peaches, pears, raspberries, and walnuts, soaked overnight in Grand Marnier and topped with orange-zest whipped cream.

Cherry Jubilee Salad

A retro molded Jello salad loaded with dark sweet cherries, pineapple chunks, and chopped pecans, spiked with red wine and nutmeg. Potluck royalty.

Pineapple Ecstasy

Pineapple ecstasy, a creamy low-calorie fruit-and-yogurt dessert with fresh pineapple, banana, and vanilla yogurt. Sweetened with sugar substitute, light enough for everyday indulgence.

Hawaiian Kabobs

Grilled Hawaiian kabobs with pineapple, bell peppers, mushrooms, and cherry tomatoes in a sweet soy-ginger marinade. A colorful vegetarian BBQ recipe ready in under an hour.

Fruit Compote in Rose

Fruit compote in rose wine: layered pineapple, peaches, pears, bananas, oranges, and grapes set in watermelon gelatin and rosé. Feeds 25 at a buffet.

Baked Stuffed Pumpkin

A whole pumpkin filled with spiced apples, pineapple, and walnuts, then baked until the shell is tender and the filling bubbles with cinnamon and nutmeg. A show-stopping fall centerpiece.

Bean Curd with Pineapple

Sweet-savory stir-fried tofu marinated in pineapple syrup, soy sauce, and dry sherry, then wok-tossed with crunchy bean sprouts. Vegetarian and ready in 30 minutes.

Jim's Sweet-Sour Yams

Jim's sweet-sour yams is a microwave side dish with canned yams, pineapple chunks, fresh kiwi, and raisins simmered in a glossy brown sugar glaze. Holiday table flavor without tying up the oven.

Pineapple & Cheese Salad

Pineapple and cheese salad with cheddar cubes, canned pineapple chunks, and mayonnaise over crisp lettuce. A retro no-cook side salad ready in 10 minutes.

Joyce's Delight

Creamy ambrosia fruit salad with mandarin oranges, pineapple chunks, coconut, mini marshmallows, and sour cream. A no-cook, make-ahead holiday side dish.

Oriental Sweet-Sour Meatballs

Sweet and sour meatballs with pineapple chunks, snow peas, and a tangy ginger sauce. Browned beef meatballs tossed in a glossy pineapple-vinegar glaze for a one-skillet dinner.

Sweet-N-Sour Stir-Fry

Vegetarian sweet and sour stir-fry loaded with snow peas, broccoli, enoki mushrooms, water chestnuts, bamboo shoots, and tropical fruit (pineapple, mango, mandarin orange) over rice.

Five Cup Fruit Salad

Five cup fruit salad with mandarin oranges, pineapple chunks, sour cream, mini marshmallows, and flaked coconut. A creamy, no-cook retro side dish that chills overnight.

Fruit Kabobs with Yogurt Dip

Fruit kabobs with yogurt dip: skewers of watermelon, pineapple, grapes, strawberries, and kiwi served with a creamy strawberry yogurt dip. A colorful, no-cook, healthy snack or party platter kids love.

Sweet & Sour Chicken

Sweet and sour chicken with pineapple, bell pepper, and brown sugar-vinegar sauce. Two methods included: slow cooker (8-10 hours) or oven (2 hours). Serve over rice.

Rumaki Hors D'Oeuvres Restaurant

Rumaki appetizers with bacon-wrapped water chestnuts, pineapple chunks, and bay scallops glazed in a sticky teriyaki-honey sauce. A retro party hors d'oeuvre ready in 30 minutes.

U-238 Punch

U-238 punch with rum, vodka, strawberry juice, orange juice, and pineapple juice loaded with fresh fruit. A potent tropical party punch that serves a crowd.

Sweet'N' Sour Chicken

Slow cooker sweet and sour chicken with pineapple chunks, brown sugar, red wine vinegar, carrots, and green pepper. A dump-and-go crockpot dinner that works with frozen chicken.

Sweet & Sour Chicken

Slow cooker sweet and sour chicken with pineapple chunks, bell peppers, and fresh ginger in a brown sugar-vinegar sauce. Includes oven method. Serve over rice.

Ginger Spicy Chicken

Spicy ginger chicken stir-fry with bell peppers, pineapple chunks, and picante sauce. A sweet-heat skillet dinner with fresh cilantro, ready in 35 minutes.

Smoked Sausage

Smoked sausage kebabs grilled with green bell peppers, pineapple, peaches, and scallions, brushed with a tangy apricot-Dijon glaze. A sweet-and-savory backyard skewer ready in 30 minutes.

Tropical Kabobs

Grilled chicken and pineapple kabobs brushed with soy sauce, served with a curried orange marmalade yogurt dip. A tropical-meets-Indian skewer dinner ready in 30 minutes.

Fruity Mary Punch (New Year's Eve)

Fruity Mary punch simmers red wine with brown sugar, apple, orange, pineapple, and star anise, then finishes with a splash of orange curaçao. A warm holiday mulled wine served in heat-safe mugs.

Don's Turkey Mystery

Don's Turkey Mystery: a one-skillet dish with leftover turkey, soy sauce, stewed tomatoes, raisins, and pineapple over vermicelli. Sweet, savory, and ready in 30 minutes.

Stirred Custard Sauce

Stirred custard sauce is a quick microwave crème anglaise with egg yolks, half and half, amaretto, and vanilla. Silky and ready to spoon over fresh fruit.

Breakfast Parfait

Simple 3-ingredient breakfast parfait with cottage cheese or yogurt, fresh fruit, and wheat germ. A 5-minute high-protein breakfast or snack for busy mornings.

Swordfish Kebobs

Grilled swordfish kebabs in a zesty lime-cilantro and pineapple marinade, skewered with cherry tomatoes, peppers and red onion. Meaty swordfish holds up on the grill for an easy summer dinner.

Shrimp& Scallop Kabobs From Fred Goslin

Grilled shrimp and scallop kabobs marinated in soy sauce, ginger, lemon, and garlic with pineapple and zucchini. A seafood skewer worth the 3-hour marinate.

Fruit Waffles with Pineapple Maple Syrup

Homemade pineapple maple syrup thickened with cornstarch, served over waffles with pineapple chunks, mandarin oranges, and raisins. A fruity waffle topping.

Cranberry-Pineapple Salad Mold

Cranberry pineapple gelatin salad mold with fresh cranberries, celery, and cherry-lime gelatin. A retro holiday side dish set in a bundt pan.

Smoked Sausage & Fruit Kebobs

Smoked sausage and fruit kebobs thread smoky pork with pineapple, peaches, and green pepper, then glaze everything with apricot Dijon for a sweet-savory grill skewer ready in about 10 minutes on the coals.

Sweet & Sour Chicken with Cranberries

Sweet and sour chicken with cranberries, pineapple, carrots, and bell peppers stir-fried in a tangy pineapple-vinegar sauce. Holiday twist on the classic, served over rice.

Quick Fruit Salad

Quick fruit salad with peach pie filling, mandarin oranges, pineapple chunks, bananas, and marshmallows. Make-ahead dessert salad overnight.

Pineapple Salsa Soup

Pineapple salsa soup: chilled tropical gazpacho with pineapple, cucumber, yellow pepper, jalapeno, and lime. Bright vegetarian summer starter, no-cook and ready to chill.

Lean & Free Sirloin Kabobs

Tender sirloin kabobs with pineapple and peppers in a sweet soy-maple marinade. Microwave method keeps it lean and fast, ready in under 90 minutes with just 8 minutes of cooking.

Turkey Kabobs

Grilled turkey breast kabobs with bell peppers, onion, mushrooms, and pineapple chunks. Basted with pineapple juice for a sweet, caramelized char.

Tamora Pudding

Tamora pudding made from blended papaya, fresh pineapple chunks, and orange juice, chilled until firm. A three-ingredient tropical fruit pudding with no dairy, no sugar, and no cooking required.

Sweet-Sour Franks

Slow-cooker sweet and sour cocktail franks simmered in chili sauce, currant jelly, mustard, and pineapple chunks. Retro mid-century party appetizer that holds warm in the crock for serving.

All 186 recipes