I cut the up a fresh pineapple and wanted to freeze a portion, will it last and retain flavor/consistency? Also: is there anything that can be done with the Core - the hard part in the middle?
6 Answers
I usually cut the pineapple into bite size pieces before freezing them.
- IF i'm at my mom's restaurant, I usually put it in the super chiller, and then into the freezer.
- At home, I usually drain it, for 20 -30 minutes in a sieve and then put them in air tight freezer bags.
I cut it into pieces, put it on a cookie sheet, and put it in the freezer of my refrigerator. When it is solid, I put it in bags (1/4 of the pineapple in each) and vacuum seal it. This goes into my chest freezer to enjoy later. If pineapples are a dollar apiece, it only makes sense to freeze them. The cores do make a great ice cream topping if you dice them finely and cook them down in a simple syrup.
-
Welcome to Seasoned Advice, and thanks for the answer! I think you'll find your answers are better received if you take the time to write them with proper grammar. (I've gone ahead and edited this one for you.)– Cascabel ♦May 29, 2013 at 23:32
If you cut the pineapple core into smaller pieces (say, something like a dice), then it's usable. Cutting against the grain will shorten the overall fibers, too. Also, I'd be willing to bet that the core pieces could be used for a tasty syrup.
You can use the core and skin (wash the pineapple before you cut it up) to make a great tea - put pieces of skin and core into a medium size sauce pan, add a few slices of fresh ginger, cover with water, simmer an hour and then let sit until it cools. Remove all the solid pieces, pour the liquid into a container. Delicious as a cold drink or heated as a tea - the bromelain in pineapple is a great anti-inflammatory and ginger has beneficial digestive properties.
I suppose pineapple should freeze as well as any other fruit as long as it is done quickly else it might go soft when you defrost it.
If you have a good blender, you can use the whole pineapple (without the skin of course as it is coarse) including the core - it is very healthy as it contains bromelain which helps to block excessive coagulation of the blood, reduce inflammation and can reduce the growth of some tumours (from what I have read, I am no doctor so can't say if it is true or not)
I have also heard the core is the most beneficial as it is the part that contains bromelian. After washing then cutting the leaves & the bottom off, I quarter from top to bottom. I then put through the juicer. My grandkids call them smoothies because they are thick & creamy. No one would guess the skin went right in with it also.