How to Dry Pineapple (Fresh or Frozen)

Dried pineapple is such a tasty snack. The flavor is concentrated and sweet! Here’s how to dry pineapple at home – with just one ingredient, the way pineapple was meant to be. ;). Healthier, fresher, and delicious.

Peeling & Preparing Fresh Pineapple

So, how are your knife skills? Grab a sharp knife and a sturdy cutting board.

Cut off the top and bottom, slice away the skin (brown spots too). It’s a balance between peeling well and not wasting the tasty flesh. Then remove the hard core.

We’ve found it easiest to cut the peeled pineapple into large wedges and then slice the wedges into smaller pieces, about ½” thick or so. Spread them evenly over your dehydrator trays. No pretreatment needed.

Drying Pineapple Rings

You can also peel then core with a coring tool like this. This will allow you to cut across the fruit and create dried pineapple rings. Keep your slices nice and thin to allow for efficient removal of moisture. I really prefer the bite size chunks. The rings would be more difficult to chew and snack on. But both work.

Dehydrating Pineapple in a dehydrator

Once your trays are full, dehydrate at 130 to 135 degrees. Lots of natural sugar in tends to keep it sticky or tacky. You need to keep drying until that stickiness goes away.

Drying times for pineapple vary. It depends on slice thickness, moisture content, your dehydrator, and even the weather. I’d estimate 10 hours or more.

Instead of watching the clock, check the texture: it should be leathery.

Allow to cool and then store.

To keep dried pineapple fresh, protect it from air, moisture, light, and bugs. I use canning jars stored in a cupboard to block light. You can also use vacuum-sealed bags, mylar bags with oxygen absorbers, or any airtight container. Just store in a cool, dark spot for best results.

Can you dry frozen Pineapple?

I decided to try drying both fresh and frozen to see how they compared. And it worked! Both fresh and frozen dried up beautifully.

I bought the frozen purely for convenience—no peeling, no coring, just open the bag and go. Note that my frozen pineapple had some pieces that were too large. I did take some time to cut them in half. And there may be more juice dripping as it dries.

The biggest difference was the texture. The frozen pineapple turned out darker and chewier, while the fresh was lighter in color and had a firmer bite. I personally prefer the texture of the fresh, but if you’re short on time, frozen is definitely a great option.

I haven’t tried drying from canned pineapple, but I bet it can be done too. Simply drain well and dry.

How to Rehydrate

Simply place your pineapple in a bowl, barely cover with hot (not quite boiling) water. And allow to soak until the texture is to your liking. Expect 5-15 minutes.

Troubleshooting and FAQ’s

This isn’t the only thing you can do with pineapple! You can also preserve pineapple with canning, as well as make low-sugar peach & pineapple jam!

Recipe Card

Dehydrating Pineapple

Dehydrated pineapple makes a delicious snack! Learn how to make it at home without the added ingredients found in store-bought.

Print Recipe

Prep Time:15 minutes mins

Equipment

• Food Dehydrator
• Sharp Knife 
• Airtight Container, like a canning jar
• Oxygen Absorbers optional

Ingredients

• Pineapple

Instructions

Dehydrating Pineapple

• Wash pineapple thoroughly.
• Cut off top leaves, peel, and core. Discard.
• Cut peeled pineapple into large wedges, then 1/2" slices.
• Spread pieces evenly on dehydrator trays.
• Dry at 130-135 degrees for 6-18 hours. Pineapple is done when leathery with no moisture present.
• Allow dried pineapple to cool before storing in an airtight container in a dry, dark place.

Packaging for Storage Options

• Use sealed air tight containers.
• Mason Jars
• Mylar Bags/Vacuum Sealed Bags
• Good quality air tight plastic container.

Notes

Vacuum sealing and/or oxygen absorbers are optional.
If storage will be short-term, freezer bags or canning jars will work just fine.

Author: Sharon Peterson