Spusht: How to Make Sweetened Canned Pineapple at Home

I was surprised to discover one could make this canned pineapple version at home when I made it the first time. The next time, I'm going to try pineapple jam or pineapple topping like I tried making strawberry topping. At least feels good to know I can preserve pineapple in natural ways before it starts to rot. Do you think it’s better to preserve or freeze than waste? (I do, but my hubby disagrees!)

I used to love the sweet pineapple topping on pizza, but used to hate eating the fruit by itself or drinking pineapple juice. Something about the sourness in pineapple caused irritation and rash inside my mouth. Does it happen with you? But pineapples here in US seem to be genetically modified or something, because they're really sweet and just perfect, with no hint of sourness! And the very first time when I bought pineapple here, I giggled seeing this tag attached to the fruit. Instructions on how to slice a pineapple? :D

Adapted from Shobha Indani's book, here's how to make canned pineapple, this is what you have to do:

1. Take a firm ripe pineapple. Peel it and remove the hard core from the center, if there is any. Rinse the pineapple clean. Make thick round slices or dice them, up to you.

2. In a pan, add sugar and water in 2:1 ratio and add a pinch (⅛ tsp) of citric acid to it. (Since my pineapple was pretty sweet and I was concerned about excess sugar, I used 1:1 sugar:water ratio) Cook it, stirring occasionally till sugar melts, to make sugar syrup.

3. Put the pineapple slices or chunks in a deep container; pour the sugar syrup over it until pineapple is completely immersed.

4. Place this container in a pressure cooker, floating over just inch deep water inside the cooker.

5. Cook over high flame till one whistle and then on a low flame for 5 more minutes.

6. Let cool, then store in a clean and dry glass jar in refrigerator for a month or for months in a plastic container in the freezer.

You now have a homemade canned pineapple version, ready to use the sweetened pineapple slices or chunks for a quick pineapple juice, or add in a mixed fruit smoothie, or make a pineapple upside-down cake, or use as one of the pizza toppings. Cool, eh?