How to Dehydrate Pineapple with a Dehydrator
Pineapple is another relatively simple thing to dehydrate in the dehydrator. It doesn't require much prep beyond cutting it into even rings. However you have to watch pineapple like a hawk to achieve the proper dehydration. Pineapple is the one item so far besides grapes that has the most inconsistent dehydration times. It is a good thing to dehydrate during the day so you can keep an eye on it.The thing that makes pineapple so easy to dehydrate is that it requires zero prep (imho). You can just toss the (rinsed) rings on the trays and turn the dehydrator to your fruit setting which for me is 135 degrees Fahrenheit.
The first thing you need is a ripe pineapple. Many people don't know how to tell if a fresh pineapple is ripe but there is a simple test taught to me by a nice guy at the Aldis store. Tug on a leaf or two and if they come out of the top easily, they are ripe and ready. Then, all you need to do is core the pineapple and cut it into rings. A pineapple corer like the Statko® Stainless Steel Pineapple Slicer and Corer
will make the chore a (messy) breeze I got my corer cheap at ALDIs in the summertime. I just posted that model as an example. If you cut the pineapple (without the fancy gadget) you will need a large knife to cut off the top, bottom and skin. I usually get a wooden spoon and baton my knife through pineapple like in bushcraft. Then I turn the pineapple right side up and baton my knife down the edges to skin the pineapple. Coring the thing is the most fun and unless you are a pro with a knife, you will just go out and buy a cheap corer like me lol. But then again I am an idiot.
I failed at coring the pineapple miserable but the Back Country Chef recommends: making four cuts around the core to remove it. The remaining strips of pineapple can be sliced into thick chunks or strips.
Tip #2: Make sure you put something with lips like a baking sheet or bowl underneath the pineapple because it bleeds a lot of citrus Juice. I usually hold it over a glass bowl and then drink the pineapple juice because I love it so much.
I actually don't like dehydrated pineapple (it is very chewy) all that much but my wife loves it as a snack. I do carry a lot of dehydrated pineapple when I am out doing bushcraft and hiking due to the high concentration of vitamins and natural sugars. It will give you lots and lots of energy plus it is high in vitamin C to keep your immune system strong.
So basically after you get the pineapple ringed and cored then you just need to rinse of the rings with tap water and toss them on the dehydrating trays. Set the dehydrator to 135 degrees and you are good to go. They say it can take between 12-16 hours but I usually get it done in 6-8 so variables like the model of dehydrator, elevation, humidity really factor it in. It also seems to vary from Pineapple to Pineapple. So I would keep an eye on it after 6 hours and see how its going.
You can also buy a can on sale and then wash the sugar off of them or cut the pineapple up yourself. I haven't tried it because Pineapple at ALDIs costs about the same price as a can, is unprocessed and you get a lot more of it.
