Pineapple is a funny looking fruit that tastes wonderful but looks like it will take a war to get into the sweet fruit. However, it is worth it to learn how to handle this funny looking fruit.
I will admit that I need help to get into the pineapple. After cutting off the top, I need someone without arthritis in their hands to core the pineapple and usually I can con that someone into peeling it too. Then it becomes a normal fruit. I must decide if I want rings, chunks, or spears of pineapple.
To prepare the jars, they can be washed in a dishwasher if it has a sanitized cycle. The jars can be left in the dishwasher on a heat cycle. The lids need to be washed and left in the hot water. The canner needs to be filled so that there will be an inch of boiling water over the top of the jars.
You need to core, peel, and cut up the pineapple.
If you want the lightest syrup, you need 1 1/2 cups water for 1/4 cups of sugar per quart. After the syrup strength is chosen, the sugar and water needs to be heated slowly in a sauce pan. The syrup needs to be brought to a light boil with the sugar completely dissolved.
By Mary Belk