Pineapple is one of the most delicious tropical fruit with tart and sweet flavors. Crushed pineapple is widely used in the preparation of desserts, baked foods, drinks, and smoothies. In addition, it’s used to prepare savory recipes with pork, poultry, and seafood.
However, if you are unable to find crushed pineapples, we are sharing some substitutes that you can try out!
Substitutes for Crushed Pineapple
- Frozen Pineapple
The frozen pineapple is available in the form of chunks – the pineapple slices are frozen and cut into smaller chunks, which leads to a different texture but can still replace crushed pineapple.
In frozen form, the chunks are hard, but they become mushier and soft when they are defrosted. It’s recommended that you don’t use frozen pineapple chunks in smoothies and sauces.
Instead, it can be used in salads and baking recipes. To replace one cup of crushed pineapple, you can use half a cup of frozen pineapple chunks.
- Canned Pineapple
Canned pineapple is the best alternative and can be used in dessert recipes as well as baking, roasting, and grilling recipes. However, canned pineapple has more calories, carbs, and sugars compared to freshly crushed pineapple.
The canned pineapple is available in the form of cans and is available in supermarkets and grocery stores. In addition, the canned pineapples can be stored at room temperature for a year if it’s not opened. However, if you open the pineapple can, make sure you use it within three to four days.
- Raisins
This is a dry fruit with an extremely sweet flavor, but there is a slight tanginess as well. It can be used to replace crushed pineapple in savory as well as sweet recipes.
It’s advised to chop the raisins into smaller pieces and use a 1:1 substitution ratio. It works best in cookies, cakes, and quick bread, but you can use it in rice dishes, curries, and stir-fries as well.
- Nectarines
Nectarine is a variety of peaches with smooth yellow and red skin with firm and rich flesh. The nectarines can be used to replace crushed pineapples in smoothies and desserts. In addition, you can use it in salsas, salads, pork, and chicken recipes.
The fully ripened nectarines have a sweet flavor, which is why you should choose slightly unripe nectarines because they have a tangy undertone.
Some culinary experts also recommend adding chopped kiwis into the mixture – it will create a perfect balance of sweet and sour flavors. However, if you don’t have kiwis, you can add lime juice. Also, the nectarines can retain their texture during cooking and baking.
- Pineapple Extract
If you want to add crushed pineapple to the recipe to add flavor only, you can use pineapple extract. Pineapple extract can be used to flavor baking recipes, and one teaspoon of pineapple extract will be enough to replace three cups of crushed pineapples.
Keep in mind that using pineapple extract won’t replicate the texture, but the flavor and aroma will be the same.
- Mangoes
Pineapples are popular for their tropical flavor and aroma. However, if you cannot use frozen chunks or canned pineapple, you can use mangoes. The mangoes can be used in savory as well as sweet recipes.
In most cases, mangoes are used in savory recipes that have fish and pork, salads, and chutneys. However, mangoes are softer and sweeter as compared to pineapples.
Therefore, consider adding a dash of lemon juice or lime juice to increase the tanginess. Also, it’s recommended that you purchase green mangoes as they have tangy undertones.
Thanks to their tart and sweet flavor notes and a firmer texture, green apples can replace crushed pineapples. These apples have green and whitish flesh with thick skin and sour flavor.
Moreover, they have a crispy and crunchy texture, which is why they can be added to baking and cooking recipes without losing too much texture.
- Guava
Guava is a tropical fruit and can be used to replace pineapple as it has a tangy flavor. The flavor is a mixture of pear and strawberries. It’s advised to use pale green or yellow guavas to replicate the sour flavor.
It can be used to prepare savory recipes and desserts. Besides, you can use guava to prepare BBQ sauce.
- Cranberries
Cranberries are one of the healthiest fruits, and the dried form is perfect for replacing crushed pineapples. You can substitute one cup of crushed pineapple with one cup of dried cranberries.
Dried cranberries are usually used in pies and smoothies, but you can flavor rice dishes and salads as well. However, it might be challenging to find dried cranberries in local grocery stores.
- Strawberries
Strawberries have a tangy flavor with sweet undertones. However, strawberries have a red color and will change the recipe’s color as well.
They have a softer texture, so it would be a good idea to use them in smoothies, sauces, and juices (they won’t be able to retain the texture when cooked or baked).
- Papaya
Papayas can be used to replace pineapples in shakes, smoothies, and desserts. Its flavor is a mix of melons and mangoes, which means it’s majorly sweet but has a tangy undertone as well.
This complex flavor makes it suitable for preparing kebabs, dips, and curries. Honestly, its texture is different from pineapple – it’s softer and juicier.
- Bananas
If you want to replicate the sweetness and texture of crushed pineapples in baking recipes, you can use mashed bananas. To replace half a cup of crushed pineapple, you can use half of the banana and mash it.
However, bananas don’t have a sour or tangy flavor. So, it would be better to add a bit of lime juice.
- Orange
Orange is an easily available citrus fruit with a sweet and tarty flavor and can be used in place of crushed pineapples.
The only issue is that oranges have a very soft and juicy texture, which is they cannot be used in cooking recipes. However, they are a good option for salads, chutneys, sauces, and smoothies.
- Kiwi
Kiwi is a tropical fruit with a perfect combination of sour and sweet flavors and can be used to replace crushed pineapples in various recipes.
To use it as a substitute, you should use two to three kiwis for a cup of crushed pineapple. Kiwis can replace pineapples in pies, smoothies, pancakes, and waffles.
- Apricots
Apricots are yellow-colored and small fruits with rich flesh. It has a tart and sweet flavor and can be used in the preparation of desserts, jams, pies, and sauces.
The apricots can be used in place of crushed pineapple, given the flavor. However, it’s better if you add some lime juice to apricots to achieve the most authentic flavor. You can use this mixture to replace pineapples in chutneys, fruit salads, duck, lamb, and chicken.
And yes, they can undergo the baking process. Usually, people use fresh apricots, but dried apricots are better as they have a crunchier texture.
- Passion Fruit
Passion fruit is another tropical fruit that can replace pineapple in salad dressings, desserts, and cocktails because of its tart and slightly sweet flavor.
Passion fruit goes well with sugar and chocolate, which is why they can be used in desserts. Also, you can use passion fruit juice in cocktails and smoothies to add a tropical flavor.
The Bottom Line
It’s quite easy to replace crushed pineapples because various fruits have tangy, sweet, and tropical flavors.
However, some of them have a softer and mushier texture, so they should be used in smoothies and sauces only. On the other hand, passion fruit, green apples, mangoes, and kiwi can be used in baking recipes.