Just 3 ingredients are used to make delicious homemade pineapple preserves. No pressure canning is needed for this easy recipe!
Fresh pineapple preserves are like sunshine in a jar
This lightly sweetened fruit confit can be enjoyed so many ways: Use it in a marinade (it's fantastic in this marinade for pork using it instead of the pineapple juice), serve it over ice cream, stir it into yogurt, or savor it the traditional way on toast or a biscuit. It's especially good on these Cinnamon Scones!
One of my favorite ideas is to give a pretty little container as a hostess gift (more food gift ideas found here. Who doesn't appreciate something made from the heart with love?
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No canning needed
Canning is just not something Sara or I have ever had an interest in. We admire those folks who will "put up" jars and jars of tomatoes from their garden every summer - we truly do.
Give us a bounty of cucumbers and we'll make "Refrigerator Pickles" or okra and we're making Spicy Pickled Okra by the fridge method.
These preserves are going to keep just fine for up to 4 weeks in the fridge, and that's if any lasts that long.
Ingredient/Substitution notes
This recipe is made with just three simple and natural ingredients:
- Fresh pineapple is readily available in many markets year round these days. I buy the market-prepared type that has been cut into big chunks and sold in containers in the produce section. You can also start with a whole pineapple if you like. We have not tested making these preserves with canned or frozen pineapple.
- Granulated sugar - just plain old white sugar is what we use.
- Add Lemon juice in a small amount as a natural preservative and to cut the sweetness a little. While I usually advocate using fresh lemon juice (like in Air Fryer Lobster Tails) this recipe will work just fine with bottled juice.
How to make pineapple preserves
This method is pretty forgiving. You can undercook a little, overcook a little, stir constantly or wait a few minutes between stirring. You can even adjust the texture of the pineapple by crushing or blending it or leave it in bigger chunks.
- First make sure your pineapple doesn't have any of the hard core still in it. If you find any be sure to trim it off. Then dice into pieces about ¼-1/2 inch square or so.
- Put the pineapple in a heavy saucepan and stir in the sugar and lemon juice.
- Start out with the heat at medium to medium-high until it starts gently bubbling, and then turn down the heat to just under medium. Stir every couple of minutes.
- Cook until the pineapple has turned from yellow to a golden color and the juices are reduced to just a little syrup in the bottom of the pan.
- Remove from heat and let cool thoroughly before putting in jars.
If you're a pineapple lover like us or you just have some extra lying around, try this Fresh Pineapple Mojito.
How much will it make?
The recipe is written for approximately 5.5-6 cups of diced pineapple. That's about 2 pounds if you're buying by weight. It makes two 8 ounce jars of preserves.
It's easily doubled or even tripled if you use a larger dutch oven for cooking the fruit. However, we like that this is a small batch recipe and not a big production to make.
When using a fresh whole pineapple you should get about the right amount for two jars from one pineapple. This is a great guide on choosing and cutting a pineapple if you need some help.
Items you may need for making your preserves:
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- Good, sharp knives (these are quite affordable)
- Jars to put your preserves in (a whole page of ideas is found here)
- A potato masher to lightly mash the pineapple chunks OR
- An immersion blender if you want the fruit to have a smoother texture
Is it really pineapple jam or preserves?
We call it preserves because it's simply sweetened fruit and has no pectin added to make it "gel" like jam would. The pineapple and its juice plus a little sugar is all you've got here, making it truly preserved pineapple.
We think it's delicious as is, but if you want to end up with a more jelly-like consistency you could certainly add pectin. Just be aware that we have not tested it that way.
FAQ'S
If kept tightly covered and refrigerated this pineapple jam will last up to 4 weeks, and possibly longer. This no-canning recipe is not for long term storage.
Canned pineapple has been processed and usually sweetened, so it wouldn't take as long to cook or need to be sweetened. We have not tested it.
Yes! Put them in a pretty jar and tie a ribbon or cord around them. If you want to go the extra mile you could even include a list of ways to use them.
📖 Recipe
Homemade Pineapple Preserves (no canning required)
Ingredients
- 6 cups fresh pineapple diced into ¼ to ½ inch size pieces
- ⅔ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Mix diced pineapple, sugar and lemon juice in a heavy saucepan.
- Bring to a boil over medium high heat and then reduce heat to between medium-low and medium, stirring occasionally.
- Continue cooking and stirring occasionally for about 30-35 minutes or until liquid is reduced and fruit is golden in color.
- Remove from heat. If a smoother consistency is desired mash with a potato masher or blend with immersion blender. Allow to cool before placing in jars.
- Cover and refrigerate for up to 3-4 weeks.
Notes
- Fruit may be left in chunky diced pieces or blended afterwards with potato masher or immersion blender if a smoother consistency is desired.
- 5.5-6 cups of diced pineapple will yield approximately enough preserves for two 8 ounce jars.
Nutrition
Gift Ideas
- Easy Homemade Butter Pecan Syrup
- Quick Pickle Recipe
- Bourbon Gifts for Dad (Or Whomever!) 2024
- Quick Pickled Carrots
- Quick Pickled Asparagus
- Old Fashioned Cream Cheese Pound Cake
- Quick Pickled Green Beans
- Citrus Juicer
- Good sharp knives (these are quite affordable)
Louise says
Easy and delicious! Perfect for when you find some lovely fresh pineapple at the market and buy too much to eat!
Sisley White - Sew White says
I've never thought of making pineapple preserves before which is silly as I adore pineapple so much.
Beth says
This sounds so good! I love pineapple, and I can't tell you how much I love the ease. I won't have to break out a pressure cooker.
Claudia Lamascolo says
We love this easy recipe being in Florida we get pineapples easily and this is a winner for me the recipe is delicious
Dana says
This stuff is just SO good. My kiddo loves pineapple so he's obsessed. Won't last long in our house, I can tell!
Wendy says
This sounds wonderful!! I would like to do anlarge batch and can it, do you know the instructions for that?
Thank you
Pam says
Hi Wendy - The instructions would be no different. Just use 2, 3 or even 4 times the ingredients and you'll need a large pan to cook it in - like a dutch oven.
Katie M says
This might be a dumb question, but can you use canned pineapple for this or does it have to be fresh? Thanks!
Pam says
We have only used fresh pineapple. If it's canned it will already be sweetened and processed. My guess is that you would cook it less time and use less sugar with canned, but again - we have not tested that.
Doris says
I'm getting ready to make some for lil Christmas gifts! We also add dried peppers, sometimes cayenne, chipotle, or whatever we have at home.
Pam says
Sounds wonderful!
Sandy Henize says
Where did you get the wooden pineapple topped spoon? I love this recipe, it is so easy. I love anything pineapple! Thanks.
Pam says
They came from Hobby Lobby. Thank you, Sandy!
Connie says
I wonder if you can use canned pineapple
Pam says
Hi Connie, this recipe was developed for fresh pineapple. Canned pineapple is already sweetened and processed for canning, so I just don't know how it would turn out.
Kristy says
Can I use fresh orange juice instead of lemon?
Pam says
I think that should work fine!
Tracey Hustead says
Couldn’t find pineapple preserves for my Jezebel sauce so making some. Sure it will be even better
Terrell Solano says
Can this be frozen?
Pam says
We haven't tested freezing Terrell.
Karen says
I am getting my pineapple from the freezer as we speak! We had 16 so far this year so I'm going to try this recipe and I will be freezing some to see how it does. We had 26 last year! We are becoming a pineapple plantation! Lol. Thanks for the recipe.
Pam says
Can't wait to hear how it turns out Karen!
Regina says
Will adding a small amount of pectin or citric acid ruin the preserve? Or lemon juice is enough to thicken the preserve so it’s not too runny?
Thanks!
Pam says
Regina, citric acid is present naturally in pineapple. There is mostly fruit in these preserves so not enough liquid to really be runny. If you want to try adding pectin come back and let us know how it turns out. We've been quite happy with the recipe just as it's written.