What! Are you short on pineapple, the juicy, vitamin-packed fruit we add to desserts, salads, cakes, and curries?
No doubt, this fantastic citrusy, tropical fruit excels in both sweet and savory meals. But what to do if a recipe calls for fresh pineapple and you don’t have any on hand?
Definitely, you will need a fresh pineapple substitute!
Let us tell you more about this fantastic fruit, its uses, and its substitutes that will work in most recipes.
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What is a Pineapple?
The queen of tropical fruit 🍍
A tropical yellow fruit that has a prickly peel and a diamond-shaped crown on its head is known as pineapple. Native to tropical and sub-tropical USA, pineapple is cultivated in many parts of the world.
Farmers harvest pineapple when it is fully ripe. When it is fully grown, it emits a pleasant aroma. It has highly juicy flesh with a sweet, mildly acidic flavor.
It’s chock-full of nutrients, antioxidants, and other beneficial compounds like enzymes that fight inflammation and disease.
Although pineapple can weigh up to 20 pounds, most market pineapples weigh between 3 and 9 pounds. They can be bought fresh, tinned, or dried.
What are Culinary Uses of Pineapple?
Pineapple is excellent when eaten fresh. Fresh pineapple is usually cut into wedges or rings and served.
People use pineapple in a variety of other ways. It goes well in fruit salad, cakes, ice cream, yogurt, pies, punches, and other desserts.
It’s a staple in most sweet and sour meals, as well as a variety of savory foods. Pineapple complements pork, chicken, ham, and seafood dishes wonderfully.
Moreover, this tropical fruit has become a signature element in Pan-Asian cuisines like meat, rice, vegetable, fish, and desserts.
6 Best Substitutes for Fresh Pineapples
Now let us get to the point and introduce pineapple replacements that will not disappoint you.
Firstly, we have listed two variations of fresh pineapples: canned pineapples and pineapple extracts. These alternatives will aid you in bringing the same taste to the recipe.
Other than that, we are listing a few other fruits that can substitute pineapple if you are short of one, allergic to pineapple, or do not like pineapple personally.
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Canned Pineapples
Fresh pineapple substitute that will work in all sweet and savory dishes.
Canned pineapple will be best if you are looking for the closest fresh pineapple replacement. Canned pineapples, though not fresh, have the same sweet, acidic flavor.
They are always available at supermarkets and are reasonably priced. Plus, canned pineapples contain preservatives; therefore, you can store them for up to a year.
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Pineapple Extract
Best substitute of fresh pineapple in smoothies, cakes, and desserts.
Mixing fresh pineapple, water, alcohol, and additional tastes results in pineapple extract. It is readily available at local stores and has a sweet but tangy flavor reminiscent of fresh pineapple.
It’s an adequate replacement for fresh pineapple in shakes and desserts. If you run out of both fresh and canned pineapple, you can easily use pineapple extract as a substitute.
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Green Apples
Perfect fresh pineapple replacement in salads, baked goods, and smoothies.
The green apple should be your go-to option if you want to avoid pineapple at all costs but need the exact flavor. The green apples, aka Granny Smith apples, are less sweet than their red counterparts.
They have thick skin, a crisp texture, and a sour flavor; therefore, they offer comparable flavor notes to fresh pineapple, making them suitable substitutes. They’re so similar that they can be used interchangeably.
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Mangoes
It can replace fresh pineapple in salads, chutneys, and many savory dishes.
Mango is another excellent tropical fruit that can replace pineapple in many recipes. A ripe mango has delicious juicy flesh and a rich sweet flavor.
If you find mangoes a bit on the sweet side and your recipe demands a tangy flavor, adding a spoonful of lime juice will do the trick. Also, remember that ripe mangoes are softer than pineapples; therefore, try to arrange mangoes that are not raw and neither ripe.
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Nectarine
Nectarine can be used in desserts, salads, and salsas instead of fresh pineapples.
The nectarine with a glossy texture is a kind of peach. It has a very sweet and aromatic taste to it. In place of fresh pineapple in both sweet and savory meals, you can use nectarine.
However, suppose you want nectarine to taste like fresh pineapple. In that case, you might have to add lime juice or kiwis because it is sweet like mango and lacks tanginess.
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Guavas
Alternative for fresh pineapples in desserts, sauces, and savory meals.
Guava is a tart tropical fruit with a sweet taste. Guava has a sweet and savory flavor when fully ripe.
Because of its sweet flavor, guava can be used as a pineapple alternative. You can also use guava sauce or paste in place of pineapple in sweet and savory meals.
Perfect Substitutes for Fresh Pineapples – Recipe Wise
The list above will help you choose the ideal replacement for fresh pineapple. Here we are going to discuss exact alternatives of pineapples in specific recipes.
Fruit Salads
If you are looking for a perfect substitute for pineapples in fruit salads, try pomegranate seeds. You will find them produce section of the conventional grocery stores.
Pina Colada
Suppose the occasion calls for chilled Pina Coladas, but you have forgotten to buy fresh pineapples. In that case, fresh berries such as strawberries, cherries, blueberries, and raspberries will work just fine.
A Sweet and Sour Pineapple Sauce
A perfect substitute for pineapple in a sweet and sour sauce can be orange. It will add perfect tanginess to the salad. If you are short of pineapple juice, replace it with the exact amount of orange juice.
Pineapple Smoothie
Grapefruit can be used as a fresh substitute for pineapple in a smoothie. Although its bitterness makes it difficult for some people to enjoy, you can use mango and banana to conceal its often bitter flavor in a smoothie.
Conclusion
Fresh pineapple is best and healthy. However, if you fall short of pineapple, several other pineapple varieties and tropical fruits can come to your aid.
Canned pineapple and pineapple extract are the best substitutes if you want to attain a similar taste and flavor.
Besides that, fruits like green apples, mangoes, nectarine, and guavas can also replace fresh pineapple in most recipes.
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