Pineapple juice is a healthy and delicious drink. Pineapple juice contains bromelain which aids digestion, making it ideal for desserts. Pineapple juice is also full of vitamin C. It's easy to prepare pineapple juice, but sometimes peeling and chopping a pineapple isn't the case. Enjoy fresh, homemade pineapple juice that is free from artificial substances and preservatives.
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Method 1 of 4: Preparing the Pineapple
Step 1. Choose the right pineapple
If not cooked, the pineapple will be sour. However, if it is overcooked, it may taste too sweet. Choosing the right pineapple is the most important step in making delicious pineapple juice.
- Smell the pineapple. In general, the sweet aroma is the most important aspect in choosing a ripe pineapple. Unscented pineapple indicates an unripe condition.
- Avoid pineapple that smells fermented. Even if you want a sweet-smelling pineapple, don't overcook it until the sweet smell has traces of vinegar or alcohol.
- Look at the color of the pineapple. Pineapples often reflect a golden yellow color. However, green pineapples are not always unripe.
- Be aware that some pineapples are considered ripe when they are green. Focus on the healthy appearance of the pineapple.
- Avoid pineapples that have wrinkled skin, reddish-brown skin, cracks or holes, moldy, or brown and dry leaves.
- The pineapple should be firm, but soft enough that it sinks a little when you press it.
- While you can use canned or frozen pineapple, fresh pineapple usually makes for a tastier juice.
Step 2. Cut the pineapple stems
Place the pineapple on a cutting board. You will need a very sharp chef's knife to peel the pineapple properly. Lay the pineapple on its side. Position the knife 0.5 cm below the leaf. Slice until it reaches the leaves. Flip the pineapple over and repeat until you have cut off the top of the pineapple and the leaves are left in a circle. Pull all the leaves through the center of the leaf and discard.
- You can use the center leaf to hold the pineapple so it doesn't move when you cut it.
- Some chefs suggest cutting off the whole top. You can also do this, but be careful not to let your hands slip off the top of the pineapple. Cutting pineapples releases a lot of slippery sap.
Step 3. Peel the pineapple
Start at the top of the pineapple and slice through the outer skin until it reaches the bottom. You can cut at a slight angle outward to leave more of the pineapple. Turn the pineapple clockwise by 5-10 cm and repeat. Twist, slice, and repeat until you've removed all the skin and only the pineapple eyes are left. Place the pineapple on its side and cut the bottom horizontally.
Discard the pineapple peel in a compost bin or trash can
Step 4. Remove the pineapple eyes
Hold the pineapple vertically and look at the pineapple's eyes which are arranged in a diagonal line. Removing the eyes alone will leave the most flesh.
Step 5. Position the knife to the left of one of the diagonal lines of the pineapple eye
Cut at a 45 degree angle below the eye.
Step 6. Take the knife and place it to the right of the same diagonal line
Cut at a 45 degree angle in the opposite direction. When you cut these grooves into the pineapple, the eye lines of the pineapple will come off, leaving most of the sweet flesh of the pineapple on the skin of the fruit.
Step 7. Continue downwards
Continue cutting from the top of the diagonal line towards the bottom of the diagonal line, making long parallel grooves in the pineapple flesh. This curve will start to look like a spiral.
Step 8. Turn the pineapple a quarter turn at a time
Once you've worked all the parts of the pineapple, you'll get a pretty spiral pattern and the light yellow flesh of the pineapple.
Step 9. Cut the pineapple into quarters vertically
Cut the center of the pineapple with vertical slices. Remove the middle. This part of the pineapple is hard and fibrous. This part is also not too sweet.
Step 10. Cut the pineapple into chunks
Cutting the pineapple into chunks will make it easier to crush the pineapple into juice later. It doesn't matter the size of the chunk you're cutting, but try to cut it in 2.5 cm or smaller.
Method 2 of 4: Making Fresh Pineapple Juice Using a Blender
Step 1. Pour all the pineapple chunks into a blender
Depending on the size of the blender, you may not be able to add all the pieces at once. Fill the blender less than halfway with the pineapple.
Step 2. Make it a little sweeter (optional)
Regular pineapple juice is very enjoyable, but is often a bit tart. If you've tasted pineapple juice before and liked it, chances are it contains sugar. Add 2 to 3 tablespoons of sugar or honey to give the juice a slight sweetness.
Step 3. Add ice (optional)
If you want a thicker cold drink, add 6 or 8 ice cubes. More ice will make the drink thicker.
If you want a cold drink that isn't too thick, just pour the juice over the ice and enjoy
Step 4. Add water
Add a cup of water. If you want a very thick juice, just add or cup. Adding water will slightly dissolve the flavor of the juice, making it softer and less tart.
You don't have to add any water at all, although a little water in the bottom of the blender will make mashing the pineapple chunks easier
Step 5. Mash the pineapple using a blender
At this point, mash the pineapple until soft. Blending times may vary depending on the blender and the amount of water and ice you add. Try using the blender for 1 minute then stop the blender and mix with a spoon.
After stirring, put the lid back on the blender and turn it on for a minute then stop until smooth
Step 6. Strain the juice (optional)
If you tend to prefer juices without chunks of fruit, strain the juice before drinking. Even so, it's okay to just drink the juice.
Step 7. Serve
Pour the pineapple juice into a chilled tall glass and garnish with the pineapple chunks. Pour the juice over the ice and add a straw if desired.
Method 3 of 4: Making Fresh Pineapple Juice Using a Fruit Juicer
Step 1. Put the pineapple chunks in a fruit juicer
Make sure the juicer is clean before use and always follow the instructions for use. Fill the juicer to the brim or until the pineapple is used up.
Step 2. Make pineapple juice
Push the pineapple chunks with the juicer lid and turn on the juicer. Make sure to hold the lid and apply a little pressure until the pineapple chunks pass through the juicer.
Step 3. Serve
Pour the juice from the fruit juicer and enjoy. Because fruit juicers are so efficient, they should come out very thin and pure and only need to be filtered a little.
Method 4 of 4: Making a Creative Pineapple Juice Drink
Step 1. Make a cocktail
There are almost endless choices for the different cocktail variations you can make with fresh pineapple juice. Try one of the tropical fruit cocktails below, perfect for a warm summer evening, or get creative and make your own!
- To make a piña colada, add 30 ml of coconut cream to a blender. This will add a touch of coconut flavor to your drink without going overboard. Add 60 ml of white rum to the blender. This alcohol will give the piña colada the “kick” you're looking for. For the virgin piña colada, you can skip this step.
- To make a hard fruit punch cocktail, pour 60 ml of Malibu rum, 90 ml of orange juice, 60 ml of pineapple and 15 ml of sour mix into a blender. Add a splash of grenadine. This is a great drink for partying with friends.
Step 2. Mix
Make your own tropical and exotic non-alcoholic pineapple juice drink by adding a dash of your favorite juice. Make halves with pineapple juice and cranberry juice or lemonade. Play with your favorite juice to make the perfect pineapple juice drink.
Step 3. Finish
Garnish the pineapple drink with a little whipped cream, a pinch of sugar, or a drop of honey. You can also finish with maraschino cherries or thin slices of lemon, lime, or orange. Add a pinch of salt or a few mint leaves. Be as creative as you want.
Tips
- Using a blender will produce healthier juices that have more volume than using a fruit juicer. Juicers tend to filter out solids, whereas blenders just crush them. Blended juices are usually thicker and taste very good. However, if you have a problem with texture, you may prefer to strain it, or use a fruit juicer.
- Add ice for a cooler, softer texture.
- Put the lid on the blender while the engine is running. Otherwise, you might run into problems!
Warning
- Always cut away from your hands and fingers.
- Never put anything in a blender that is running.
- Always drink responsibly when mixing with alcohol.
