Pickled Pineapple is a surprising treat. Just add water, vinegar, salt and spices and sweet pineapple chunks are transformed into a wonderful tangy relish. Quick and easy.
What You Can Expect From This Recipe
This pickled pineapple recipe comes from my hometown in Kansas. A recipe from a series of cookbooks created from a compilation of recipes published each day in the local newspaper, The Hutchinson News.
This recipe was from the book which featured recipes from 1952-1955. Good old fashioned farm country cooking recipes.
With all that said … we like anything pickled, so when I spotted this recipe for pickled pineapple I had to give it a try.
Incredibly easy, it simply states “serve with poultry, meat or fish“.
What Is Pickled Pineapple?
This recipe is a refrigerator style quick pickling method where chunks of fresh pineapple are soaked in a vinegar based brine with spices. In this case we’re adding sugar, cinnamon and cloves.
This initial recipe is very simple to make, however it needs a week in the refrigerator to meld the flavors. You’ll end up with a tangy sweet and sour relish topping.
Our favorite way to serve it is over pan fried pork tenderloin medallions = delicious combo. But I’ve also used it for tacos, over grilled steak or chicken and even sprinkled over and Accompaniment Salad. Pickled pineapple is also great for snacking right out of the jar.
If you’ve never pickled fruit, you’re missing out on an explosion of unexpected flavor. Another one of my favorites is this recipe for Pickled Strawberries. Another amazing topping for pork.
Let’s take a look.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Pineapple: Fresh. Tip: Use fresh ripe but firm pineapple to maintain texture during pickling.
- White Vinegar: or Apple Cider Vinegar
- Sugar
- Cinnamon Stick
- Whole Cloves
- Salt
Pro-Tip: Use Kosher salt. It dissolves quicker and will bring a more pure salt flavor to the finished product.
Step by Step Instructions, It’s Easy
This quick pickled pineapple recipe is so easy, with just a few minutes of hands on time.
Preparation:
Sterilize jars to insure they are clean to prevent contamination. I like to run them through the dishwasher.
- Step 1: Prepare Pineapple: Remove the skin and core and chop pineapple into small bite-sized pieces. If using canned chunked pineapple, drain pineapple and reserve syrup.
- Step 2: Make the Brine: Place drained syrup from canned pineapple into saucepan. If using a fresh pineapple, use ¾ cup of pineapple juice or water.
- Step 3: Make The Pineapple Pickles: Add vinegar, sugar, salt and spices. Simmer uncovered for ten minutes. Let cool at room temperature for about 30 minutes and place the pickled pineapple and syrup into a container and store in the refrigerator.
Pickled Pineapple FAQ’s
Fresh pineapple is recommended for this recipe for the best flavor and texture. However I’ve used canned pineapple many times. Just make sure you purchase pineapple chunks. You’ll use the syrup from the can in the pickling process.
Actually no, as long as you’re not using an overly ripe pineapple. The short 10 minute cook time is perfect to infuse a pickled flavor to pineapple without cooking the fruit too much.
Yes. Omit the cloves and cinnamon stick. Add one sliced jalapeno pepper and ¼ cup of lime juice. A few springs of cilantro will add another layer of Southwestern flavor.
From start to finish, you’ll have quick pickled pineapple in less than 30 minutes. And even quicker than that if you’re using canned pineapple rather than fresh. You’ll eliminate the peeling and chopping process. However, refrigerate for 24 hours before using for best flavor.
Storage
Store Pickled Pineapple in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. Then discard if you notice off smells or changes in texture.
How To Use It
Pan Seared Sliced Pork Tenderloin = easy.
So you’ve got pickled pineapple, now what? It’s is a perfect topping for pork. (Our preferred use). Season sliced pork tenderloin with salt and pepper, or even a little Monterey Steak Seasoning. It only takes a few minutes to pay fry them. Quick to cook for a super easy dinner.
- Sprinkle it over grilled chicken breasts.
- How about a topping for fish tacos or shrimp tacos?
- We’ve enjoyed this relish on grilled steak tacos.
- Use them as a relish for hotdogs for that irresistible sweet, tangy and salty experience.
- Or even toss them in Jalapeno Pineapple Coleslaw.
Serving tip: To add even another layer of flavor, sprinkle pickled pineapple with some fine chopped sweet onion or shallots before serving over your favorite main course.
This easy pickled pineapple is such a unique and delicious treat, I hope you give the recipe a try. It’s an exciting condiment that you’ll want to sprinkle on about everything.
More Things You Might Want To Pickle
And don’t miss this recipe for Refrigerator Pickled Jalapenos. A recipe from Denver landmark, The Fort Restaurant. They use their pickled jalapenos to make a peanut butter stuffed appetizer.
And the most popular pickling recipe on my site for Old Fashioned Pickled Beets. With step by step instructions, a reliable Ball canning recipe.
Pickled Pineapple Recipe
Equipment
- sauce pan
- Jar for storing
Ingredients
- 20 ounces canned pineapple chunks or 1 medium pineapple, peeled, cored and cut into chunks
- syrup from one can of pineapple chunks or ¾ cup pineapple juice or water
- ¾ Cup Vinegar
- 1 ¼ Cup granulated sugar
- ⅛ teaspoon salt Kosher salt preferred
- 6 whole cloves
- 1 4-inch stick cinnamon
Instructions
- Drain syrup from canned pineapple into saucepan. If using a fresh pineapple, use ¾ cup of pineapple juice or water.
- Add vinegar, sugar, salt and spices.
- Add chopped pineapple and bring to a boil. Simmer uncovered for ten minutes.
- Remove from heat and let cool for about 30 minutes. Transfer to a container and refrigerate covered for up to one week. Let sit in the refrigerator for 24 hours before using … for best flavor.
Notes
Nutrition
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Pickled Pineapple … It’s What’s For Pork
Why Trust My Recipes? I am a Culinary School Graduate and a lifelong student of home cooking. I hope to inspire you try to cook as often as you can. I’ve been cooking for 50 years, and my recipes are tried and true tested and tested and then tested again before published. To read more take a look at my About Page.
Wish I had seen this earlier when I could find fresh pineapple in the markets. We have had many great pineapples this year and would have loved to have made these. Maybe I can find a late pineapple.
Lea Ann, This is delightful. It would never had occurred to me to pickle pineapple until seeing this post. The cloves and the cinnamon add a lot of warmth to the cool pineapple. I love the idea!
Velva
I don’t think I’ve ever had pickled pineapple. Sure haven’t made it! But I want to — this looks like such a neat recipe. Thanks!
I’ve never had this but it sounds interesting
The cloves in the pickled pineapple sound fantastic. I have a fresh pina on the counter now. Thanks for sharing the recipe and for the info about Hutch and the salt mines. Adding to my interesting facts list.
Andrea, I wanted to make this with fresh, but at the time, Safeway didn’t have any and I didn’t feel like driving all over town. Yup, I used to be able to buy table salt from those mines, but haven’t paid much attention these days since I buy more sea salt.
Yum, pickled pineapple sounds delicious. I love those old cookbooks from the 40’s and 50’s. I have some wonderful recipes from old church and ladies clubs books, some very strangle ones as well. I bet this relish is good with BBQ.
Let me just say for the record, I need to be your neighbor. Love, love your recipes.
Pineapple was really big in the 50’s-it was the centerpiece of entertaining besides drinking martinis straight-up or bourbon.
Have a great weekend.
Velva
I am intriqued by pickled pineapple. I cannot wait to give it a shot. Sometimes it feels like I work in a salt mine.
What an ending! I’m glad you found out about Louise.
My parents grew up in very small Iowa town, so I have inherited a number of cook books compiled by the town church. You’ve inspired me to dig a few out.
Maybe it’s because I’ve never lived in a small town, but there’s something so romantic about that way of life.