“Be a Pineapple. Stand tall, wear a crown & be sweet on the inside.”
Pineapples are the sweetest things on the planet, and pineapple juice is irresistible!
However, delectable pineapple juice may not always be available. So, this article has curated a list of substitutes for pineapple juice. Let’s get to it!
Table Of Contents
What Can I Substitute for Pineapple Juice?
We have curated these recommendations to substitute for pineapple in drinks, marinades, food recipes, etc. Feel free to try them out in different ways.
Baking Substitutes | Marinade Substitutes | Drinking Substitutes | Keto Substitute |
1. Grapefruit Juice 2. Lime Juice 3. Citric Acid 4. Honey 5. Yogurt | 1. Meat Tenderizer 2. Papaya Juice 3. A Meat Mallet or Kitchen Mallet 4. Lemon Juice 5. Vinegar | 1. Orange Juice 2. Pomegranate Juice 3. Nectarine Juice 4. Guava Juice 5. Mango Juice 6. Apple Juice | 1. Avocado Juice 2. Blackberry Juice 3. Blueberry Juice 4. Coconuts |
1. Guava Juice
Like pineapple juice, guava juice has a sweet flavor when ripe. If it’s unripe, the juice is sweet but also with a touch of tartness. So, depending on the taste you are aiming for, this can suffice.
Guava also contains antioxidants and vitamin C, like pineapple. Just simply substitute guava juice for pineapple juice in a 1:1 ratio in a recipe.
2. Pomegranate Juice
Pomegranate juice contains a considerable amount of tannin that qualifies it to be an acidic juice.
It has a sweet and sour flavor, so it can work in your recipes that call for pineapples. It can also serve as a drink substitute. In your recipe, substitute in a ratio of 1:1.
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3. Nectarine Juice
Nectarines look and feel like pears. However, they have an excessively sweet taste that can be sickening. You can describe the taste of nectarine as that of canned pineapple juice with additional sweetness.
In your recipe, replace two teaspoons of pineapple juice with one teaspoon of nectarine juice.
4. Orange Juice
Orange juice is undeniably one of the most popular fruit juices worldwide. It might even be more popular than pineapple juice.
On the subject of substitutes, you can comfortably substitute this citrus for pineapple in your recipe.
To get the best result in terms of texture and flavor, use it in its pulpy form. Don’t worry if it tastes bitter at first (this is due to the intense acidity of orange); it’ll turn sweet later.
Do not hesitate to use orange juice as a substitute for pineapple in a 1:1 ratio.
Don’t have orange juice on hand? You can also try some of its substitutes.
5. Mango Juice
Are you in search of sweet-flavored replacements only? Mango juice is your best bet. Mango juice is nutrient-packed, and the best part is that it’s all sweet, not sour.
Your recipe would be delightful, as mango juice adds all forms of sweetness and nutrients to it.
Your kitchen isn’t the only place that appreciates mango juice; it comes in handy at the gym. Mango juice can be used as a beverage after an intense exercise session. Because of its high potassium content level, which can support muscle recovery, most athletes choose mango juice.
6. Grapefruit Juice
The grapefruit is another citrus we recommend as a pineapple substitute. It may not have the exact pineapple taste, but it gives the same sweet and tart flavor.
Grapefruit juice has an acid pH level [1] of 2.9 to 3.3, higher than pineapple, which is 3.71. What does this mean for your recipe?
This means you should substitute a lesser amount of grapefruit for pineapple in your recipe. So, substitute in a ½:1 ratio.
7. Lime Juice
With a characteristic sour taste and good acidic properties, lime juice is another refreshing citrus that can substitute for pineapple juice.
Like pineapple, this juice contains vitamin C and antioxidants. It’s also an excellent flavor enhancer.
Use lime juice in your baking recipe that calls for pineapple juice in a ratio of 1:1.
To enhance flavor and create a sweet taste, you can mix lime juice with orange or lemon to create a fruity cocktail.
8. Lemon Juice
Lemon juice brings a sour taste that’s similar to that of pineapple. It can be added to your coleslaw, salad, or used as a marinade.
Use the same amount of lemon juice in a recipe that calls for pineapple juice.
Further reading: Does Lemon Juice Go Bad If Not Refrigerated?
9. Passion Fruit Juice
Passion fruit is sweet and tart. The flavor of this fruit is unique, and you can’t get enough of it.
The body of the passion fruit turns wrinkly when it’s ripe, which distinguishes it from other fruits.
A 1:1 ratio will be enough when you replace pineapple juice with this one.
If you have never had passion fruit, you might want to try it- make your tastebuds come alive with flavor!
Your bathroom, bedroom, and skin will thank you also, as passion fruits have unique scents. They can be used in bath products or candles.
10. Papaya Juice
Papaya juice has a bitter-sweet taste; the great thing is that the sweetness outshines the bitter taste.
Medically, papaya is an excellent substitute as it contains abundant quantities of Bromelain [2], like pineapple. Additionally, it has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidizing properties.
Papaya does magic for your meat if you need an alternative tenderizer since it has tenderizing enzymes [3].
For the best results, eat your papaya raw; this preserves the proteolytic enzymes they contain. If you cook your papaya, you lose them.
Proteolytic enzymes are enzymes or catalysts that break down complex chains of proteins into amino acids.
11. Apple Juice
Apple juice is an excellent substitute for pineapple juice in your beverage and even teriyaki. It also has a naturally sweet flavor that pairs perfectly with poultry, beef, or pig.
Apples have antioxidants too, so they are suitable nutritional substitutes.
To create a good marinade for your chicken, use apple juice, brown sugar, garlic, and soy sauce.
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12. Honey
Before you scream that honey is not a fruit, here are reasons why it’s a great substitute.
Honey is packed with essential nutrients, just like pineapple. So, this automatically gives it a spot in the list.
Honey has a naturally sweet taste; this taste never changes, no matter what. Unlike sugar which changes, it tastes bitter after a few minutes.
These reasons make honey an excellent replacement for pineapple juice in marinades.
In your recipe, substitute them in a ratio of 1:1.
13. Yogurt
Yogurt is another non-fruit substitute that can do a great job. It is rich in Bromelain and other proteins.
Yogurts have fantastic tenderizing properties, so feel free to marinate your meat in them. Your meal would be on a whole new level.
You can also use one of the substitutes for yogurt if your recipes call for it.
14. Vinegar and Sugar
This option is not the first choice, but it gets the job done. Most chefs use the mixture of vinegar and sugar as a substitute for pineapple juice in sweet and sour sauce.
Mix vinegar with sugar to create the same sweet yet tart taste pineapple has. Vinegar supplies the sourness, while the sugar gives the sweet taste.
You have to add enough sugar until you achieve the level of sweetness you desire.
15. Honey and Lemon Juice
This combination works great as an alternative to pineapple juice. Honey supplies the sweet taste while lemon gives the tartness it requires.
A mixture of these two gives your meal a balance. Lemon juice has tenderizing properties, so you get that as a benefit of mixing both.
16. Citric Acid
Citric acid comes in handy when you need an enhancer, preservative, or flavor boost. It gives a characteristic sour taste to your recipe.
Citric acid can be synthesized chemically or naturally from citruses like lemon and orange.
17. Meat Tenderizer
Meat tenderizer is a type of refined apple juice. Its primary function is to break down organic materials; it breaks down meat cells just like pineapple.
This replacement only comes in handy when marinating or softening your meat.
Final Words
Pineapple juice is an all-time favorite; its sweet flavor and aroma are unique. However, Its absence doesn’t mean the kitchen fun should end. Feel free to try out these substitutes and enjoy your meal.
