How to Dehydrate Pineapple

It’s all about dehydrating pineapple when it’s fresh and juicy. You can see why I’ve been showing you different foods to dehydrate. I would love it if everyone could get a dehydrator of some kind. You’ll love knowing how to dehydrate pineapple!

This is probably my favorite fruit to dehydrate. My grandkids love freeze-dried pineapple. Of course, I can’t freeze-dry my stuff, so I dehydrate it.

I had purchased some pineapple from Costco, and I could see that my husband and I couldn’t eat it as quickly as I had thought we could. So I put the dehydrator on the counter and started slicing the spears on my cutting board with a sharp knife to make homemade dehydrated pineapple. You want to have fairly thin slices so they’ll fully dehydrate in a reasonable time.

It’s so easy! Here’s the deal: If you’ve any fruit you know you won’t be able to eat the next day, you can usually dehydrate it. I do bananas all the time. Dehydrated fruits take up less freezer or shelf space when stored in an airtight container and you can enjoy the dehydrated items for a longer period of time.

Is Pineapple Good For Me?

• Alleviates arthritis pain
• Helps with digestion
• It may boost immunity and suppress inflammation
• It may help speed recovery after surgery
• Contains disease-fighting antioxidants
• Possibly reduces the chance of cancer

How Can I Use Pineapple?

• Hamburgers with a pineapple ring
• Pineapple Cream Cheese Dip
• Watergate Salad
• Baked ham with pineapple slices
• Pineapple Fruit Salad
• Delicious in smoothies as a sweet treat
• Great snacks for lunch boxes

How To Dehydrate Pineapple

You can cut them into thin slices and then into pineapple chunks as shown. I like fresh pineapple, but you can use canned pineapple if you’re getting close to the expiration date and want more long-term storage options. Drain the pineapple chunks to remove as much moisture as possible. I’d probably prepare a meal from the canned fruit, but it’s an option.

Place the pineapple pieces on your dehydrator trays in a single layer to reduce drying time and prevent them from sticking together. Leave a little space between the pieces for proper airflow for each batch (see picture below).

Here’s the finished product. These dehydrated pineapple pieces are ready for camping, hiking, or just snacking!

How Do I Store My Dehydrated Pineapple?

How To Condition Your Fruit or Vegetables

If you live where it’s HUMID: “To condition the fruit, take the cooled, dried fruit and pack it loosely in plastic or glass jars. Seal the containers and let them stand for 7 to 10 days. The excess moisture in some pieces will be absorbed by the drier pieces. Shake the jars daily to separate the pieces and check the moisture condensation.” 

When I lived in Southern Utah, it was a DRY DESERT; I set my fruit and vegetables on my countertop for 5-7 days. Ten days is even better to ensure everything is dry before using your FoodSaver unit.

I use quart mason jars and seal them with my FoodSaver, as shown below. The FoodSaver provides a vacuum seal that helps protect the dehydrated fruit. These are my favorite storage container options.

Shelf-Life Of Home-Dehydrated Pineapple?

As a Master Canner Preserver, I can safely say they’ll store well for 1 year if properly dehydrated. They still taste good, retaining most of their original flavor and sweetness, yet don’t lose their nutritional value. I like having shelf-stable items in my pantry so they’re accessible when it’s time to prepare a family meal.

Can I use my oven to dehydrate pineapple and other fruits?

People have been using their oven to dehydrate fruits, vegetables, and meats for decades. You need to set the oven to its lowest setting, place the sliced fruit on a baking sheet, and leave the oven door ajar with a wad of foil. You’ll need to check the dehydrating process often, since each oven’s low-temperature setting varies.

Why Dehydrating Food in Season Matters

If you have ever wondered why so many seasoned food storage folks get excited when certain fruits hit the grocery store at rock bottom prices, it comes down to one simple truth: buying in season and preserving it is one of the smartest things you can do for your family’s pantry and your budget. Pineapple is a perfect example. Fresh pineapple is usually at its best from March through July, when you will find the sweetest fruit at the lowest prices. Mark and I were surprised to see a large stack of pineapples in the produce department at Walmart last week, in the end of September, so I guess their fresh season is even longer than I thought!

Save Money on Your Grocery Bill

When fruit is in season, stores often have more supply than they can sell, so prices drop. That’s the time to stock up. Instead of paying top dollar for a pineapple in the middle of winter, you can buy several during peak season, dehydrate them, and enjoy that tropical sweetness all year long. Over time, this habit can make a real difference in your monthly food costs, and every dollar saved is a dollar you can put toward other preparedness goals.

Better Flavor and Nutrition

Fruit picked and sold in season is usually riper and more flavorful. A pineapple that ripened properly before harvest tastes sweeter and more tropical than one shipped early and stored for weeks. When you dehydrate fruit at its peak, you lock in that natural sweetness. Dehydrating also preserves much of the fiber and many of the minerals, giving your family a wholesome snack without added sugar or preservatives.

Build a Shelf-Stable Food Supply

Dehydrated food is lightweight, takes up very little space, and can last a long time when stored properly in airtight containers away from heat, light, and moisture. A few pineapples can shrink down to fit in a single quart jar. That makes dehydrated fruit a wonderful addition to your emergency food storage, your 72-hour kits, or your everyday pantry. If the power goes out or the grocery store shelves are bare, you’ll still have healthy snacks on hand.

Reduce Food Waste

We have all been there. You buy a beautiful pineapple with the best of intentions, and then life gets busy, and it starts to turn before you can use it. Dehydrating offers a simple way to preserve fruit before it spoils. Instead of tossing food in the trash, you’re turning it into something your family will enjoy for months to come.

Teach Your Children Valuable Skills

Dehydrating is a wonderful activity to do together as a family. Children can help wash, peel, and arrange slices on the trays, and they love checking on the progress. Along the way, they learn where their food comes from, why we plan ahead, and how to take care of what we’ve been given. These are lessons in gratitude and self-reliance that will serve them well for the rest of their lives.

Enjoy the Taste of Summer All Year Long

There’s something special about opening a jar of dried pineapple on a cold, snowy day and tasting a bit of sunshine. Preserving food in season connects us to the natural rhythm of the harvest and reminds us to be thankful for the abundance we have been blessed with. So the next time pineapple goes on sale, grab a few extra, fire up your dehydrator, and fill your pantry with something sweet.

Here are other Dehydrating Posts I Have Done:

• Dehydrating Apples
• Dehydrating Bananas
• Dehydrating Blackberries and Powder
• Dehydrating Blueberries and Powder
• Dehydrating Cilantro
• Dehydrating Cucumbers and Powder
• Dehydrating Ginger and Powder
• Dehydrating Green Onions and Powder
• Dehydrating Kale and Kale Powder
• Dehydrating Kiwi
• Dehydrating Lemons and Powder
• Dehydrating Marshmallows
• Dehydrating Peppermint Marshmallows and Powder
• Dehydrating Mushrooms and Mushroom Powder
• Dehydrating Onions and Powder
• Dehydrating Pears
• Dehydrating Pineapple
• Dehydrating Raspberries and Powder
• Dehydrating Spinach and Powder
• Dehydrating Strawberries
• Dehydrating Tomatoes and Powder
• Dehydrating Watermelon

Final Word

No preservatives or chemicals, just a healthy snack for our family! Have you tried to dehydrate pineapple? It’s one of my favorite ones! Be sure to give it a try now that you know how to do it. May God bless this world, Linda