What Is Pineapple juice and How Can I Use It?

Pineapple juice is easier to cook with than it looks. Here's how to choose, use, and store it, what to substitute, and 250 recipes to get you started.

What is pineapple juice?

Pineapple juice is the strained liquid pressed from ripe pineapple, sold as a golden drink in cans, cartons, and the small foil-topped cups kids drink at breakfast. Most of what sits on grocery shelves is pasteurized, which matters more than it sounds.

In the kitchen it does two jobs. It is a sweet-tart mixer for drinks, and it is one of the most aggressive meat tenderizers a home cook can buy, thanks to an enzyme called bromelain.

That enzyme is the whole story behind how you use it. Heat it or buy it canned and the bromelain is dead; use it fresh and raw and it keeps working, for better and for worse.

Cooking With Pineapple Juice

As a marinade, pineapple juice breaks down muscle protein on the surface of meat, leaving it noticeably more tender. The catch is time. Past about 2 hours on chicken or fish the surface turns mushy and pasty, so treat it as a quick marinade, not an overnight one.

It also carries sweetness and acid into glazes and braises, where the sugars caramelize and the tang cuts through fat. That balance is why it anchors sweet-and-sour cooking, from Hawaiian Sweet-And-Sour Meatballs to a weeknight skillet of Easy Pineapple Chicken.

On the drinks side it is the backbone of tiki and brunch cocktails, and it foams when shaken hard, giving a piña colada its lush head.

Pairing and Pitfalls

Pineapple juice wants a savory anchor. It loves salt and chile and a hit of smoke, which is why it works on grilled pork and ham far better than on delicate white fish. A Tuna Burger with Pineapple-Mustard Glaze shows the pattern: sweet juice, sharp mustard, salty fish.

The classic failure is gelatin. Raw or fresh pineapple juice will not set with gelatin because bromelain digests the protein that does the setting, so a jelly or panna cotta made with it stays soup.

The fix is simple. Use canned or bottled juice that has already been pasteurized, or bring fresh juice to a boil for a minute first; boiling denatures the enzyme for good.

The same trap appears in dairy. Stir raw juice into yogurt or a cream sauce too early and the enzyme and acid can turn it grainy.

Substitutes

For a marinade, any acidic tropical juice works in a pinch, though none tenderize like raw pineapple. Orange or mango juice brings the sweetness without the enzyme bite.

For sweet-and-sour balance, swap in equal parts orange juice plus a teaspoon of lemon to mimic the tart edge. White grape juice with a squeeze of lime gets you close in color and sugar.

In a cocktail there is no clean stand-in for the foam, but a splash of unsweetened pineapple drained off canned chunks does the job.

Buying and Keeping It

Read the can. "Unsweetened, 100% juice" is what you want for cooking; the cocktail-mixer versions carry added sugar and corn syrup that will scorch in a glaze.

Canned and shelf-stable juice keeps for a year or more unopened in the pantry. Once opened, refrigerate it and use it within 7 to 10 days, since it ferments faster than most juices.

If a recipe needs the tenderizing power, you have to use fresh or frozen juice and accept the shelf-life trade-off; the pasteurized stuff tastes great but tenderizes nothing. Freeze leftover fresh juice in an ice cube tray for marinades down the road.

Nutrition

Quick facts

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

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

In Chinese

菠萝汁

British (UK) term

Pineapple juice

en français

jus d'ananas

en español

jugo de piña

How much does pineapple juice weigh?

Related

Fruits and Fruit Juices

Recipes using pineapple juice

There are 250 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Barbecue Hamburgers

Barbecue hamburgers topped with a quick homemade sauce simmered from ketchup, pineapple juice, and onion. Pan-fried beef patties piled into soft rolls and spooned with a sweet-tangy barbecue glaze.

Fresh Garden Mint Ice Cream

Fresh garden mint ice cream made with crushed pineapple, real mint leaves steeped in sugar syrup, and a splash of creme de menthe. A cool, herby summer dessert that earns its garden name.

Blueberry Sauce

3-ingredient blueberry sauce thickens unsweetened pineapple juice with cornstarch, then folds in fresh berries. A no-sugar-added topping ready in 15 minutes.

Sesame-Crusted Tofu with Spicy Pineapple Noodles

This dish was my dinner yesterday, and it was quite tasty. Loved the sweet, sour and salty flavor, and the well balanced texture.

Grilled Szechuan Chicken Salad

Didn't use pineapple, because I didn't have it on hand. But the chicken salad still came out succulent. My kids loved it. It was a great way to make my kids eat some veggies :)

Moist Raisin Pineapple Muffins

Moist pineapple raisin muffins sweetened with brown sugar and pineapple juice instead of milk, with a cup of plump raisins and a hit of orange zest. Half whole-wheat flour gives them a hearty, breakfast-worthy crumb.

Crockpot Flank Steak

An easy beef flank steak recipe for your slow cooker.

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.

Pina Colada Pound Cake

Pina colada pound cake folds crushed pineapple, shredded coconut, and coconut rum into a buttery bundt, then soaks the warm cake in a rum-pineapple glaze. Tropical dessert all year.

Asian Sweet & Sour Cod

Asian cod recipe. Asian marinated meaty cod with a crispy coating, colorful tender-crisp veggies, all glazed with a sweet-sour sauce.

Banana Nut Carrot Cake Squares

Banana nut carrot cake squares blend mashed banana, grated carrot, walnuts, and warm cinnamon-clove spice into moist sheet-pan bars sweetened with brown sugar and honey.

Teriyaki Beef Kebabs

I marinated the beef overnight. After grilling, I sprinkled the kababs with toasted sesame seeds. Yum!

Honey-Mustard Turkey Meatballs

These were so tasty. I'd make them again and again. I used bread crumbs instead of crackers and a red bell instead of a green bell. I could see trying this with different fruit juice and cheese combos! Make this, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Hawaiian Pork Chops

Meaty loin chops cooked in a tropical barbecue sauce, sweetened with pineapple. A taste of the islands.

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.

Grilled Mahi Mahi with Pineapple

Grilled mahi mahi with pineapple soaks white fish in a gingered pineapple-soy marinade, then chars alongside fresh pineapple slices on the grill. A tropical island-inspired dinner.

Pineapple Brown Sugar Glazed Ham

"Tastes best if you marinate your ham the day before cooking."

Bar-B-Q Shrimp

Grilled shrimp marinated in pineapple juice, lemon, and hot sauce for a sweet-heat kick. Thread on skewers for a crowd-pleasing appetizer or serve as a sizzling summer entree for 6 to 8.

Caribbean Banana Dessert

Vegan banana bread pudding baked in a water bath with citrus zest, pineapple juice, and soy milk. Egg-free and dairy-free, it chills into a firm, fruity tropical dessert.

Frozen Pineapple Salad

Frozen pineapple salad with a cooked custard base folded into whipped cream, pineapple, oranges, marshmallows, cherries, and chopped nuts. A vintage Southern potluck classic.

Bomba Colada

Frozen tropical cocktail with rum, pineapple juice, and coconut cream, rimmed in strawberry puree and coconut, then floated with dark rum. Five minutes to paradise.

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.

The Yellow Hammer Slammer

The Yellow Hammer Slammer recipe

Quick & Easy Ham Loaf

Microwave ham loaf cooks in 25 minutes flat, no oven needed. Ground ham, veal, and pork bound with milk-soaked bread crumbs, glazed with brown-sugar mustard and basted in pineapple juice for sweet-savory snap.

Pineapple Dream Cake

Pineapple dream cake made with pineapple juice in the batter and topped with a whipped shortening frosting folded with cooked pineapple. A fluffy, tropical two-layer cake.

Blender Sweet-Sour Sauce

Whip up this glossy sweet and sour sauce in minutes using your blender. Pineapple juice concentrate, brown sugar, vinegar, and green pepper make a thick, tangy glaze for roasted or broiled meats.

White Grape Swizzle

Bubbly white grape punch made with frozen grape juice concentrate, pineapple juice, and lemon-lime soda. A 3-ingredient party drink that serves a crowd and takes just 10 minutes to make.

Pulao for Stuffing Chicken

Indian pulao rice stuffing for chicken with curry powder, pistachios, raisins, pineapple juice, and chicken broth. A fragrant, jeweled rice that finishes cooking inside the bird.

Fruit Slush Mix

Frozen fruit slush mix made with orange juice, pineapple juice, and lemon juice. Freeze into cubes, then top with ginger ale for an instant fruity slush drink.

Raisin Spiced Ham Steak

Spice up your steak in a new way with this unique and tasty recipe that is stress free.

Dishwater Punch

A massive batch party punch mixing four flavors of Kool-Aid with pineapple juice and apple juice. Makes 45 cups of fruity punch with a funny name that kids and party guests love.

Fruit Mayonnaise

Fruit mayonnaise is an old-fashioned sweet-tart dressing made by thickening fruit juice and a little vinegar with egg, no oil at all. Spoon this glossy, tangy dressing over fruit salads or use it as a creamy dip.

Chicken Stefani

Chicken breasts soaked overnight in a bold marinade of pineapple juice, balsamic vinegar, garlic, and fresh herbs. Grill or pan-fry for a sweet-tangy crust with a kick of red pepper.

Ravishing Ramona

Ravishing Ramona is a 2-ingredient tropical cocktail: coconut rum and pineapple juice poured over ice. A breezy, no-blender highball that tastes like a beach vacation in one tall glass.

Island Barbecue Pork Chops

Island barbecue pork chops broiled with a tropical glaze of pineapple juice, vanilla, allspice, and garlic mixed into barbecue sauce. A Caribbean-inspired weeknight dinner with just 6 ingredients.

Summer Fruit Salad

Summer fruit salad with rice, strawberries, kiwi, grapes, banana, and pineapple tossed in a honey-yogurt-pineapple juice dressing. Light, low-fat, and ready in 25 minutes.

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.

Mrs. Swindell's Famous Fruited Iced Tea

Southern-style fruited iced tea with fresh orange juice, pineapple juice, and English breakfast tea sweetened with a homemade simple syrup. Best chilled overnight.

Caribbean Fruit Shake

Caribbean fruit shake blending banana, pineapple juice, and orange juice with ice into a creamy, dairy-free tropical drink. Add grenadine for a gorgeous pink color.

Three-Fish Teriyaki

Three-fish teriyaki marinates salmon, tuna, and swordfish in a pineapple-soy glaze with garlic, ginger, and rice vinegar, then grills the fillets and reduces the marinade into a glossy sauce.

Pina Colada

Classic pina colada blended with light rum, pineapple juice, cream of coconut, and crushed ice until foamy. A tropical cocktail that takes 30 seconds in the blender and tastes like a Caribbean beach.

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.

Mexican T Punch

Mexican T Punch blends tequila with cold tea, pineapple juice, honey, lime, cinnamon, and aromatic bitters. A batch cocktail with warm spice and tropical citrus.

Planked Salmon with Grilled Pineapple, Rhubarb & Habanero

Cedar-planked salmon smoked over alderwood, mopped with a sweet-tart-spicy glaze of grilled pineapple, rhubarb, and habanero. A Pacific Northwest cookout centerpiece.

Pina Colada Flip (Non-Alcoholic)

Non-alcoholic pina colada flip made with pineapple juice, cream of coconut, and club soda, topped with vanilla ice cream. A fizzy tropical drink ready in 5 minutes.

New Year's Party Mimosa

This recipe was a wonderful mix of fruity flavors that were not too sweet. I love mango and these are very very good!

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.

Pineapple Mint Tulip

Pineapple mint tulip is a non-alcoholic cocktail made with pineapple juice, powdered sugar, grenadine, and fresh mint rubbed inside the glass. A tropical, refreshing mocktail ready in minutes.

Raspberry Chicken Broth Fruit Soup

Savory raspberry soup with chicken broth, pineapple juice, and sour cream. Quick microwave recipe ready in 30 minutes, perfect for unique appetizers.

Pla Preeo Wan (Sweet & Sour Flounder)

Thai pla preeo wan, broiled flounder topped with a fresh sweet-and-sour sauce of diced pineapple, cucumber, tomato, ginger, and cilantro. Light, bright, and healthy weeknight fish.

All 250 recipes