Can You Eat The Core Of A Pineapple? What Are The Benefits?

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Ever peeled and cored one of these wonderful tropical fruits and wondered, Can you eat the core of a pineapple? I know I have. In fact, if you’re anything like me, you’ve probably already had a secret nibble!

So, to answer the pineapple core eating question, I decided to do a bit of digging, and what I found was enlightening. I’m sure you’ll never look at the middle part of a pineapple in the same way again.

Can you eat the core of a pineapple?

Let’s answer the main question first before we move on to the benefits. The answer to the question of whether or not you can eat the core of a pineapple is a resounding “Yes!”. Many people are concerned about the center being poisonous, but this isn’t the case at all.

That’s not to say that there aren’t any differences between the juicy, soft outer flesh and the core; there are. Pineapple cores are much tougher and generally a lot less sweet than the main part we commonly eat, but that doesn’t mean you should be throwing your pineapple core away.

On the contrary, the center of a pineapple is actually jam packed with goodness, which makes it well worth keeping and using.

Pineapple core benefits

So, what are the numerous benefits to be found in the middle of your pineapple? Let’s take a look:

More fiber

While it may be a little on the tough side, eating the core of a pineapple is a great way to get a little extra fiber into you diet. Many of us simply do not get enough fiber daily, so throwing away a decent source of dietary roughage is pretty senseless.

Dietary fiber is absolutely essential if we want to maintain healthy digestive and immune systems. It’s thought to be highly beneficial when it comes to preventing some of the biggest medical issues faced in the west, including heart disease and certain cancers, and yet lots of people simply do not get enough. (1)

As fiber only comes from plants, it makes sense that much of the population is lacking in this vital nutrient. Naturally, those of us who stick to plant-based whole foods are getting a lot more fiber than people eating a Standard American Diet, but you should still consider using that pineapple core rather than throwing it in the trash.

Bundles of bromelain

Pineapples are well known for their bromelain content as it is the only natural way for us to get these proteolytic enzymes into our diet, but the core holds especially high concentrations of this compound.

Bromelain is thought to have a number of benefits, including the reduction of inflammation within the body. Many people swear by bromelain as an effective natural way of reducing arthritic pain, while others include it in their diet to help with digestive issues and stomach problems. (2)

Another claim that you’ll regularly come across when reading about bromelain benefits is that it can help with weight loss. I would, however, take this with a pinch of salt, as it is often those who are trying to sell bromelain supplements who are behind the information.

I’m not saying it doesn’t work, but it does make you wonder and there’s no real science to back this claim up, either. Likewise, the claims that bromelain can possibly cause a reduction in the size of cancerous tumors is also a matter of conjecture.

There are also some who believe that bromelain can help encourage implantation after IVF treatment, but again, the science is sketchy at best.

However, providing you consult with your doctor and are not affected by any of the issues listed below, there’s no harm in giving pineapple core a shot if you are trying to conceive.

IMPORTANT: Bromelain isn’t always good news, and it can cause some rather unpleasant side effects. Some people may experience feelings of nausea after consuming this compound, while others may get diarrhea or menorrhagia (an increase in menstrual bleeding).

It’s also worth noting that certain medications do not react well to bromelain. If you are taking anticoagulants such as aspirin, apixaban, clopidogrel, or warfarin, for example, you should avoid it.

Similarly, bromelain can also increase the effect of some sedatives, including alcohol (check out our post on Can Vegans Drink Alcohol, too) and certain types of antidepressants and sleeping tablets. Consult your doctor if you are concerned.

Vitamin C and more

Finally, the core of a pineapple is loaded with another water-soluble antioxidant: vitamin C. This vitamin can, like fiber, help protect us against heart disease and it also helps the body to repair and restore itself.

Other vitamin C benefits include its free radical fighting properties, decreased LDL cholesterol, and nitrate neutralization. (3)

Alongside vitamin C, pineapple cores also store a number of important minerals, too. Manganese is present in relatively high quantities, which is essential for our bone metabolism and structure, and copper is there, too, which helps the body form collagen and absorb iron.


READ NEXT: CAN YOU EAT FIG SKIN?


How to use pineapple core

sliced pineapple core and all

Now we know that we can eat pineapple cores, and that we really should be, how on earth do you go about it? After all, they’re pretty unappetizing when compared to the mouthwatering flesh that surrounds them.

Probably the easiest way is to chop them up after coring and throw them into a smoothie. This method allows you to benefit from the nutrients and fiber found within the pineapple core, but will save you from all the chewing and the bitter taste.

If you will be eating the flesh first but won’t need the core until later, it freezes really well. Chop the pineapple core into smallish chunks and freeze as a single layer before transferring into freezer bags. You’ll then be able to add them to your smoothie instead of ice cubes. Nice!

Be warned, though, pineapple cores are extremely tough, so you’ll need a pretty powerful blender to break them down into a pulp ready for drinking.


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Another method is to simply cut your pineapple slices thinly (the best mandoline slicer you can afford or a really sharp fruit knife set is called for here).

For those who still don’t fancy eating pineapple cores, a good pineapple corer is an essential purchase

Peel the outer skin as you normally would, but instead of reaching for your pineapple corer, just start slicing straight away. Cutting your pineapple into very thin slices makes the core easier to eat and it doesn’t impart so much of its bitter taste in one go.

You could also use your pineapple core to make a stock or broth for use in various Asian dishes, but you’ll lose a lot of the goodness that way…especially the fiber.

Whatever method you decide to use, eat those pineapple cores instead of throwing them away. You’ll not only lower the amount of food waste you produce, you’ll also be doing your body a whole lot of good, too.

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can you eat pineapple core?
About The Author:
Lisa Williams
Happy Happy Vegan editor

Lisa Williams is a committed vegan, passionate animal welfare advocate, and keen follower of too many v-friendly food blogs to mention. She started happyhappyvegan.com back in 2016 because she felt there was a need for more straightforward information on plant-based living.

Back then, too many sites seem to either concentrate solely on recipes or be too intimidating or inaccessible for the v-curious, and she wanted to change that. The landscape is certainly a whole lot different now!

REFERENCES
  1. NHS | How to get more fibre into your diet | https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/how-to-get-more-fibre-into-your-diet/
  2. Rajendra Pavan, Sapna Jain, Shraddha, and Ajay Kumar | Properties and Therapeutic Application of Bromelain: A Review | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3529416/
  3. Harri Hemilä | Vitamin C and Infections | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5409678/

53 thoughts on “Can You Eat The Core Of A Pineapple? What Are The Benefits?”

  1. Sorry, I did read that eating the core can be bad for a person, so I suggest you do more research. I love pineapple and eat one whole pineapple every week. To pick a sweet pineapple, there will be a little brown or yellow around the green. The bottom will be very yellow. A pineapple will ripen to the point of maximum sweetness, then start to over ripen and turn from sweet to yucky sweet, and hard to eat, just before it rots. Never take a full green pineapple, unless you are prepared to wait a long time for it to ripen. They will ripen to the point of ultimate sweet flavor, but it takes time. Yes, the label will say that they are ready to eat and sweet, that is marketing hype. The pineapples will ripen on the store shelves because many people who just don’t know, will not buy a green pineapple, and the people who do know, might not buy the green pineapple. There is usually a ripe, or starting to ripen pineapple in every group of pineapples, learn to judge by how they look, compared to how they tasted, and you will soon be an expert. Some will be sweet in parts, and not sweet in others. it’s just about getting experience of knowing when the pineapple is at the stage of ultimate sweetness.

    • Hey Joseph,

      Thanks for commenting and for your knowledge.

      Could you include some sources for your claims that pineapple core is bad for people? Every post on HHV is thoroughly researched, checked, and double-checked before posting, so I’m pretty confident in the post’s contents. However, if you know differently I’d love to see where you got your information from, as would my readers, I’m sure. Obviously, there may be a problem for some people, but for everyone? I’ve been eating pineapple cores for years and have never had any issues.

  2. i actually like pineapple cores. i just eat it straight from the core stick. i usually just bite off a piece with my canine teeth then chew on it like piece of gum until it is chewed up enough to swallow. no one else in my family likes it so i have them all to myself.

  3. This is false. Eating the core is bad for your health and it is dangerous and careless to recomend people to eat it.

    Best,

    • Hey George,

      Thanks so much for taking the time to comment.

      As mentioned in a previous comment, I work very hard to thoroughly research all posts on HHV but I’m always open to making amendments if I’ve missed something or gotten something wrong. If you could provide me with some solid evidence to support your claim I’ll happily read through it and make the necessary adjustments.

      On a personal note, I eat pineapple cores all the time with no ill effect. That being said, I’m sure there are some people who could have a reaction to them, just as some people have reactions to all manner of things. That doesn’t, however, mean that eating the core of a pineapple is bad for everyone.

      Look forward to hearing from you,

      Lisa

    • I have been eating the core of pineapples from a child and am 60 so please it is not detrimental to your health unless you are allergic to the fruit and this would be the entire pineapples.. So please get your facts from a better source.

  4. As far as I have read articles and my personal experience, Eating the pineapple core is a personal preference. I personally get burning sensation as the bromelain content at the pineapple core is the highest for Green Pineapple outer cover and less for Yellow Pineapple outer cover.

    But I refrain from having it either ways until content of bromelain is broken down as bromelain reacts with protein which hurts my sensitive gums, tongue and skin. Isn’t it amazing that it is Plant’s defense mechanism to keep pest at bay. If we want to consume the core, we will have to breakdown or reduce to content of bromelain or drink it (as smoothies) without touching the tongue and gums. I guess cooking to break down Protein i.e hard meat(turkey, red meat,chicken), pineapple core can be used and also in vegetable soup or using while boiling food can be another effective way to consume the core with bit loss of vitamins.

    As a last resort, you can make natural plant pesticide as it works well against insects (mostly made up of protein) or as compost.

    Note: If you are allergic to bromelain please don’t consume pineapple core. Anything in access can also cause problem, so consume them in decent amount. (Try and Analyse)

    • What a great comment. Thanks, Brian!

      As you say, the bromelain content can cause a tingling sensation for some, while others will complain of being flat out burnt by it! Personally, I get very little reaction other than it makes water taste weird if I drink some directly after eating pineapple, which also varies from pineapple to pineapple.

      Thanks again for taking the time to write such a detailed comment. They’re always great to receive.

  5. Lisa, you claimed, twice in fact, that this post was thoroughly researched. You expect people posting views that contradict your article to include their citations and sources, though you included none in your own article. Where are your sources?

    In addition to failing to include sources, you also lost any semblance of credibility by calling vitamin C an immune system boosting nutrient.

    • Hi Richard,

      Thanks for taking the time to comment.

      I think it’s pretty clear by my tone in the replies I’ve made that I have no problem with people contradicting what I say and also that I wasn’t saying I was right and they were wrong; I was merely asking for more info so I could amend any erroneous claims. I would hate to mislead anyone, truly I would. At no point did I say that I “expect” them to back up what they say either.

      With regard to sources, I have linked out to a 2012 bromelain research paper from within the piece. I’ve also added a paper on vitamin C and infections (you can find that here: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5409678/) and amended immune system claim you mentioned as there are indeed conflicting studies out there with no definitive proof either way. Hope this helps.

      • Some people have too much time on their hands. Plus, there’s an epidemic of “Internet Experts” commenting on blogs and YouTube.

        If people have something to say or ask, it seems they could do so without being a condescending jerk. If I had the ability, I would disable comments on every website.

        Thank you for this website and the FREE research and information you provide.

  6. Hi Lisa,

    I’m so happy I came across your blog while searching for the benefits of pineapple. I have recently found out I have osteoarthritis of the knees and obviously want to try to help myself through good nutrition. I had pineapple today after my lunch and threw out the cores (shame on me!) so I won’t be doing that again.

    Thanks for the info,
    Caroline

  7. Not sure if this really helps, but just another testimony. I am now 40 and have been eating the cores all my life, My parents never wasted it and they are in their mid 70’s and they are fine too.

  8. Hi Lisa,

    When looking up the nutritional value of pineapple, it states a full pineapple is around 13grams of fiber.

    Do you think this value includes the core or not?

    I really enjoy pineapple, I try to eat one a day.

    Thanks for the excellent post, hope you have a wonderful day.

    • Hey Mitchell,

      Good question! As I’m sure you’ve seen, too, pineapples come in a variety of sizes, so it’d be difficult to get a definitive fiber volume without first giving the weight of the fruit, but I digress…

      To be honest, I don’t know. I’m sure some would take the core into account, while other nutritionists wouldn’t. If they are stating the full (or whole) fruit, then I would say they probably have used the core as well. Alternatively, if it says chunks, then probably not. It’s a bit of a gray area.

      Loved the question. Thank you.

  9. I ate an entire pineapple core while reading through this article. Traditionally, my mom and granny used to always throw the core saying it gives an upset tummy. I ate them then too just to rebel. There was no internet then.

    Have never found any strong contender for the ill effects theory.

    Thank you for the article. If my tummy rumbles, will let you know tomorrow ?

  10. For those in this thread attacking the author. Here are a few resources you can read further about pineapple cores and its positive affects. Every human body has a different reaction to this more than others, i.e. some people cant eat bananas whereas other people cant eat apples. If your body cannot handle pineapple cores, then this is something to do with your body’s reaction to ingesting that part of the plant.

    But if you want the author to cite her sources without so much as citing your own to create an actual debate on this topic, then by all means do not waste your time typing anything out at all.

    I believe the author did a great job in simplifying pineapple cores for an easier read. Thank you!

    American Cancer Society. “Bromelain.” June 26, 2007. (July 30, 2008) cancer.org/docroot/ETO/content/ETO_5_3X_Bromelain.asp?sitearea=ETO

    Cancerweb. “Proteases.” Dept. of Medical Oncology, University of Newcastle upon Tyne. Nov. 14, 1997. (July20, 2008)
    cancerweb.ncl.ac.uk/cgi-bin/omd?proteases

    Duke, James A. “Handbook of Energy Crops.” Purdue University; Center for New Crop­s & Plants Products. 1983. (July 30, 2008) hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/duke_energy/Ananas_comosus.html

    Gustavson, Paul K.; Richard J. Lee; George P. Chambers; Morse B. Solomon and Brad W. Berry. “Tenderizing meat with explosives.” American Physical Society, Shock Compression of Condensed Matter Meeting, June 24-29, 2001. June 2001. (July 30, 2008) adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2001APS..SHK.H1047G

    KEW, Royal Botanic Gardens. “Pineapples and other Bromeliads.” (July 23, 2008) vegmad.org/ksheets/pineapple.html

    Kress, Henriette. “Pineapple. Ananas sativa.” Excerpt from “The Dispensatory of the United States of America, 1918.” Joseph P. Remington, Horatio C. Wood et al., eds. henriettesherbal.com/eclectic/usdisp/ananas.html

    • Thank you for your kind words, Miguel, and for taking the time to add those studies to the conversation. Unfortunately, many of the links you provided were broken, but I’ve left the details up so people can search for the studies elsewhere should they wish to do so.

      • Hello Lisa,

        I came back on here to see if anyone else made any attempts at refuting your sources. I am glad they didnt and i hope they can better understand that these plants do offer benefits for us all.

        Also, the sources i typed in there is more to research the topic and not so much the link that was typed in. Some of the links are broken, but the topics are still relevant and do exist if people want to dig further.

        I am glad you are still replying to your “core” audience, since i am a fan of the time and effort you took to create this information on pineapple cores.

        Thank you once more,

        Miguel

  11. I have all ways eaten the core now 64. Years ago as a student nurse living in the nurses home l was shown by the phillipino nurses to freeze the ginger root and when required grate it into dishes that were being cooked they also did this with the pineapple core! It adds a lovely flavour to Asian dishes both meat and veg. Love the blogg.

  12. Thank you for mentioning the part about people on blood thinners. My husband has arthritis, and a nurse in the hospital told us about pineapple cores. He had given her his medication list, and she swore by the power of them to reduce pain. Unfortunately, he is on apixaban, but she must not know about the reaction. I asked specifically about it, because he is not to take ibuprofen and other anti inflammatory drugs, but I guess she did not know.

  13. Tonight I ate the core of my pineapple for the first time. After I consumed it in a smoothie. I was wondering if there would be any ill side effects as it was an afterthought. I suffer from chronic kidney disease and have been struggling to get the nutritional values in daily. Half hour since my consumption. I have a little bit of tingling within my mouth. I will incorporate my dry mouth after rinse and be perfectly fine. l thank you for answering my question through this article and blog✨

  14. Hi Lisa, I’ve been juice fasting for years. There is no better way to heal the body, and get the full value of the “core” in you! The only thing I’ve ever heard about the core is it’s a bit hard to digest for some people. So, don’t over do it on the core. Other than that…. Good to go! Nice article. Cheers!

  15. I’ve been eating penapple core for almost 20 years. I am doing just fine. However, i wouldn’t recommend you to mix it with milk because it will make your smoothies a little bit off. I tried it once, it ended up with a bitter smoothies. Pinapple core packed with enzymes and it will breakdown the protein in milk. Lesson learned.

    • I appreciate your article very much, Lisa. I recently began doing research on the effects pineapple have on gout, which I have been suffering from, off and on, since 2006. I bought a pineapple to for my pain a couple weeks ago. I have never tried pineapple for gout. To my surprise, the pain disappeared within 24 hours and now I can walk normal..I juiced the core and everything, because I read that the core also has health benefits…Thank you for your added information…Jamal

  16. I have a masticating juicer (no heat is produce like with centrifugal juicers). Pineapple cores are perfect for the juicer! I can get 32 oz of pure pineapple juice packed with nutrients and enzymes out of two pineapple cores! I love it! Juicing is definitely an option on how to eat pineapple cores.

  17. The core has fiber that cannot be digested. If you eat enough of it you risk Phytobezoars. This is more common in younger kids but still a risk. Limit intake of core.

    • https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gastroparesis/expert-answers/bezoars/faq-20058050

      Had to look up phytobezoars. I put the link here to shorten the research time for other interested people. Here’s part of what the article said. “Phytobezoars are composed of indigestible food fibers, such as cellulose. These fibers occur in fruits and vegetables, including celery, pumpkin, prunes, raisins, leeks, beets, persimmons and sunflower-seed shells. Phytobezoars are the most common type of bezoar.” Yes too much undigestible fiber could cause this problem, but so can many other things. I appreciate the comments here, and am going to grill pineapple today, core and all, as a great addition to a fruit salad.

  18. I usually never comment on things, but I just had to add that I love eating pineapple cores, and the more ripe the fruit is, the softer they are! So if you were worried about how tough it is for your teeth or blender, just wait till the pineapple is as ripe as can be. It’s kind of like waiting to eat bananas till they are nice and spotty. The sugars are more developed so the pineapple is at maximum sweetness and the core is totally munchable.

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