How to Get Grill Marks on a Pineapple

Grill marks make pineapple slices an attractive side dish.

Dark grill marks make pineapple slices look more appetizing and also give the pineapple a slightly charred flavor that meshes well with other items you cook on a grill. Serve grilled pineapple as a side dish with a meal, on top of burgers, or as a fresh and healthy dessert. Follow a basic technique to get prominent grill marks on the pineapple without having it fall apart or break while you are grilling.

Things You'll Need

• Grill
• Pineapple
• Knife
• Basting brush
• Honey
• Grill tongs
• Cooking spray
• Metal spatula

Instructions

1. Preheat your gas or charcoal grill to a medium-high temperature. This is one of the keys to getting the grill marks because the grate on the grill needs to be very hot when you place the pineapple on.

2. Slice the pineapple into rings or wedges that are at least 1/2 inch thick at all points to keep them from falling apart. If you will be serving the pineapple as part of a dish, cut the skin off. Otherwise you can leave it on to provide additional support to keep the pineapple intact on the grill.

3. Brush the pineapple with a thin coating of honey. This additional sugar increases caramelization where the pineapple is on the grill.

4. Remove the grate with metal grill tongs. Hold it away from the fire and spray it with a nonstick cooking spray before returning it to the grill. This helps keep the pineapple from sticking when you cook it.

5. Transfer the pineapple onto the grill with a metal spatula. Leave the pieces in place for three minutes to get prominent grill marks. If you move them at all before then, it might affect the marks.

6. Gently get the spatula under each piece of pineapple. Flip them over to create grill marks on the other side as well.

7. Remove the pineapple from the grill with the spatula after three more minutes.

Tips & Warnings

• If you do not have a grill, you can get a similar effect with a preheated electric countertop grill or panini pan. Use the same basic technique of exposing the pineapple to the ridges on the grill or pan for three minutes on each side.