Pineapple Marinade

By
Derrick Riches
Derrick Riches
Derrick Riches
Derrick Riches is a grilling and barbecue expert. He has written two cookbooks.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 10/17/21
Prep: 6 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Resting Time: 15 mins
Total: 21 mins
Servings: 16 servings
Yield: 2 cups

This sweet, fruity marinade has the power of pineapple and cider vinegar to work its way into the meat. Pineapple is a perennial favorite as a marinade ingredient because it contains an enzyme called bromelain, which works to soften muscle fibers and better enables the meat to absorb the flavors of the marinade.

This pineapple juice marinade for pork also features a collection of flavors that turn any cut into something truly great. With soy sauce (for some good umami), honey, ginger, garlic, and cloves, too, you're bound to find plenty of uses for it beyond this recipe. Try this pineapple soy sauce marinade on pork chops for the grill, a pork tenderloin, or chicken breasts or thighs.

Cut pineapple and pineapple marinade on a cutting board

The Spruce / Claire Cohen

Ingredients

  • 1 cup (240 milliliters) crushed pineapple

  • 1/3 cup (80 milliliters) soy sauce

  • 1/3 cup (80 milliliters) honey

  • 1/4 cup (60 milliliters) apple cider vinegar

  • 1 to 2 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1 teaspoon (4 grams) ground ginger

  • 1/2 teaspoon (2 grams) ground cloves

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Mix all ingredients together in a non-corrosive (non-metal) bowl.

  3. Let the mixture sit for 15 minutes before using, or store in a glass or plastic airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.

  4. Enjoy!

How to Store Pineapple Marinade

  • The marinade can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 7 days in a glass or plastic airtight container.

Variations

This marinade can be used in a number of ways. Here are few suggestions, along with time frames for marination. More is not always better when it comes to marinating animal proteins, especially when there are acidic ingredients such as pineapple and/or vinegar involved.


  • Add pork into the mixture for 2 to 8 hours.
  • For chicken, marinate for 2 to 4 hours.
  • For vegetables, tofu, fish, and/or seafood, stick to a 15- to 30-minute marinating time. 
  • Use low-sodium soy sauce if desired.
  • Most soy sauce is not gluten-free, so substitute tamari if you are cooking for someone who cannot have gluten. It will impart a flavor that is similar to soy sauce.

Tips

  • Discard any leftover marinade after you remove the meat from the mixture.


  • Keep in mind that you probably won't need much salt in whatever dish use this marinade for, as soy sauce is salty.


  • Use this marinade for grilling or roasting, but it's also great as a marinade for a stir fry. Try it with stir-fried pork, chicken, or shrimp, with vegetables such as green beans, bok choy, and/or broccoli.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
35 Calories
0g Fat
9g Carbs
1g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 16
Amount per serving
Calories 35
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 290mg 13%
Total Carbohydrate 9g 3%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 8g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 2mg 8%
Calcium 6mg 0%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 53mg 1%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)