Quick curry cooks
If you want to drain the fruit and add it with little preparation, chunks match the format in Good Food's Thai squash and pineapple curry recipe. Slices need cutting first.
Who is choosing a tin?
One-meal households
If the tin is for one curry night, compare its size with your recipe before opening more fruit than you plan to use. Princes lists 227g chunks, while Sainsbury's has listed Del Monte 230g chunks.
Juice-over-syrup shoppers
If the packing liquid affects your choice, check the exact tin. NHS 5 A Day guidance recommends choosing tinned fruit in natural juice or water.
What matters when buying?
When choosing one tin of fruit for curry night, decide whether ready-to-use pieces, the amount you will use or the packing liquid is your primary concern.
| Concern | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Fruit shape | Choose chunks to avoid cutting, or check whether you can cut slices to suit your dish. | If I want to add drained fruit straight to the pan, I would rather not cut up slices first. About 42% of consumers would put ready-to-use pieces first. |
| Tin size | Compare the tin's weight with your recipe; check drained weight where it is shown. Plan how to store any remainder. | For a one-off curry, I want enough fruit without opening much more than I will use. Avoiding leftovers would be the primary concern for about 33% of consumers. |
| Packing liquid | Read the packing description and ingredients for juice, water or syrup; drain the fruit if the recipe calls for it. | If I am choosing between tins packed in different liquids, I want to know what is going into the pan. Around 25% of consumers would put the packing liquid first. |
What should you avoid?
-
Buying slices for a recipe that calls for chunks
Good Food's pineapple curry recipe uses drained chunks. Slices can be cut into smaller pieces, but they add a preparation step.
Choose chunks if you want to skip cutting; otherwise, cut the slices before adding them to the curry.
-
Assuming every tin suits one meal
A 432g tin contains more than the 237g tin specified in Good Food's recipe. Whether you use it all depends on the curry you are making.
Check your recipe and the tin size. If fruit remains, follow Zero Waste Scotland's advice to refrigerate it in an airtight container and use it within two days.
An opened larger tin also means finding another use for the remaining fruit.
-
Overlooking the packing liquid
Tins labelled as fruit in juice and fruit in syrup contain different packing liquids. The category name alone does not tell you which one you are buying.
Check the label on the exact tin. NHS 5 A Day guidance recommends tinned fruit in natural juice or water.
Brands to consider
Princes
Princes lists pineapple chunks and slices in juice in both 227g and 432g tins, giving curry cooks a choice of shape and size.
- Princes lists pineapple, pineapple juice and citric acid for its chunks-in-juice product.
- Slices need cutting if your recipe calls for bite-sized pieces; check the individual listing for availability.
Del Monte
Sainsbury's has listed Del Monte Pineapple Chunks in Juice 230g as another small-tin option.
- The listed chunk format avoids the cutting step required by slices.
- Check the current pack for its ingredients and the quantity your recipe needs.
Tesco
Tesco Groceries has listed Tesco Pineapple Slices in Juice 227g for shoppers willing to cut slices before cooking.
- The listed 227g tin provides a small-format slice option.
- Allow time to cut the slices if you want pieces like those in a chunks-based recipe.
M&S
The Marks & Spencer tinned-fruit category includes fruits such as rhubarb chunks and grapefruit segments. Check individual listings if you are looking for pineapple for a curry.
- Those listed fruits do not establish a suitable single-tin pineapple option.
Joybuy pineapple selection
This larger tin of pineapple chunks suits a curry needing more fruit, or a meal for which you already have a plan for the remainder.
Image unavailable
Princes Pineapple Chunks With Juice 432g
Choose chunks if you want pineapple pieces without cutting slices first. This is a 432g tin, so compare the amount with your recipe and plan another use if you will not need it all. Joybuy describes the tin as containing approximately two 216g servings; those serving weights are not the drained weight.
Questions about pineapple for curry
Which tinned fruit can I add to a curry with little preparation?
Pineapple chunks are the researched option if you want to avoid cutting fruit. Good Food's Thai squash and pineapple curry uses a 237g tin of drained pineapple chunks, added near the end of cooking; check your own recipe for its amount and timing.
Should I buy pineapple in juice or syrup?
If you are following NHS 5 A Day selection guidance, choose tinned fruit in natural juice or water. Read the label on the exact tin, and drain the fruit when your curry recipe calls for drained pineapple.
What should I do with pineapple left after opening a tin?
Transfer the remaining fruit to an airtight container and refrigerate it rather than leaving it in the opened tin. Zero Waste Scotland advises using tinned-food leftovers within two days.