17 Awesome Ways to Substitute for Pineapple Juice

Here are 17 easy ways to substitute for pineapple juice in baking, sauces, drinks, and more, plus three delicious recipes with pineapple!

Pineapple juice has so many uses, but we don’t always have it stocked in the pantry.

So here are 17 of the best substitutes for pineapple for all your cooking needs.

Whether you’re making a delicious sweet and sour sauce, a refreshing pina colada with coconut milk, or one of your favorite fruit salads, you’ll find the perfect substitute for pineapple juice on this list!

Table Of Contents

Pineapple Juice 101
Reasons to Substitute Pineapple Juice
Easy Ways to Substitute for Pineapple Juice
How to Make Your Own
FAQs
Yummy Recipes to Try

Pineapple Juice 101

Pineapple juice in two glass jars with straws next to pineapple fruits.

Pineapple juice is a delicious and refreshing drink on its own, but it’s also a key ingredient for many of our favorite recipes!

It has a uniquely sweet and sour flavor profile and a decent amount of acidity.

You can use it take make cocktails, smoothies, and sauces. It’s also a great ingredient for marinades and helps to tenderize meat.

Pineapple juice is also a great source of nutrients including vitamin c, vitamin B6, folate, copper, and manganese.

Additionally, pineapple juice has anti-inflammatory properties, is low in fat, and is low in calories.

Reasons to Substitute Pineapple Juice

Cut pineapple and slice next to glass of pineapple juice on wooden table.

With all these health benefits, you may wonder why you’d ever want to replace pineapple juice, besides it being out of stock at the grocery store.

Unfortunately, some people have an allergy to pineapple. If you notice any of the symptoms, below, after eating pineapple, you may need to find a good substitute.

Pineapple allergy symptoms:

Face, tongue, lips, or throat swelling
Trouble breathing
Flushing
Itchiness or hives
Constipation
Sinus congestion
Metallic taste in mouth
Dizziness
Fainting
Anaphylactic shock

Others simply might not like the taste of pineapple and prefer another fruit.

Easy Ways to Substitute for Pineapple Juice

Tropical fruit and citrus fruits are easy pineapple juice substitutes. They have similar tartness and flavor profiles and are readily available in grocery stores.

If you can’t get your hands on a similar juice, there are a few non-juice options that are a good substitute in a pinch.

With a few pantry staples like honey, sugar, and vinegar, you can create a suitable DIY replacement, depending on the dish.

Keep scrolling to find the best alternative for your favorite foods and beverages, plus an easy recipe to make your own!

1. Orange Juice

Whole and cut oranges scattered around glass and pitcher of orange juice.

This popular citrus fruit is a great substitute for pineapple. It’s similar in taste and you probably already have some in your fridge. You can use it as a 1 to 1 substitute anywhere you would pineapple.

This replacement is especially great for cocktails and smoothies.

2. Lime Juice

Several fresh limes and lime juice is squeezed into a glass bowl.

If you’re replacing pineapple in a meat marinade or sauce, lime juice is a great option. It’s similarly acidic and can help tenderize the protein. Lime juice may also make a suitable replacement for pineapple in cocktails and smoothies.

You can use lime juice as a 1 to 1 substitute. However, your dish will lose some sweetness in the absence of the pineapple. You can add honey, brown sugar, or another sweetener to compensate.

3. Grapefruit Juice

Sliced and whole grapefruit next to glass of grapefruit juice on kitchen table.

Pink grapefruit has similar sweetness and sourness to pineapple juice. It’s also a great source of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

You can use grapefruit juice as a 1 to 1 replacement in cocktails and smoothies.

Grapefruit can have a slightly bitter aftertaste, so keep that in mind. You may want to add some extra sugar or sweetener to your recipe to compensate.

4. Lemon Juice

Juiced lemons on a wooden cutting board and woman squeezing lemon juice into bowl.

You can use lemon juice to substitute for pineapple the same way you would lime. It’s another great citrus fruit with a signature, sour taste.

Add a little sweetness if needed, and use it as a 1 to 1 substitute in sauces and marinades. You can also use lemon juice as a replacement for pineapple in cocktails and smoothies.

5. Passion Fruit Juice

Half of a passion fruit next to two glasses of passion fruit juice with sprig of garnish.

This next substitute is the closest in taste to pineapple.

It has a sweet and tart flavor, similar to pineapple, and is already a popular ingredient in cocktails and smoothies.

Passion fruit is available all year, so you can use it to substitute for pineapple when it’s not in season.

Use passion fruit as a 1 to 1 replacement.

6. Pomegranate Juice

Cut pomegranate fruit scattered around a cutting board and glass of pomegranate juice.

Pomegranate juice is well-known for its health benefits and antioxidant properties. It’s readily available in stores and has a similar tart and sweet flavor to pineapple.

Pomegranate works best as a replacement for pineapple juice in cocktails and smoothies.

Use as a 1 to 1 substitute.

7. Papaya Juice

Cut papaya fruit next to two glasses of papaya juice on wooden table.

Here’s another great pineapple substitute for cocktails and smoothies. You can also use papaya in baked dishes, marinades, or even fruit salad. Papaya is a stone fruit with a sweet and slightly bitter taste, making it a great substitute for pineapple in a pinch.

Use papaya juice as a 1 to 1 substitute.

8. Guava Juice

Slices of guava fruit next to glass of guava juice on cutting board.

Guavas taste like a cross between pears and grapefruit. Unripe guavas have a more sour taste, while fully-ripened guava fruit is sweeter.

You can use guava juice as a substitute for pineapple juice in most recipes, especially beverages and drinks.

9. White Grape Juice

Green grapes on the vine and a glass of white grape juice.

Here’s another sweet and slightly tart fruit juice that tastes similar to pineapple. White grape juice is the perfect base for cocktails and smoothies when you don’t have pineapple on hand or can’t eat it for health reasons.

You can also use grape juice in fruit salad preparations, 1 to 1.

10. Pineapple Extract

Partial view of pineapple extract in two glass bottles with black lids.

If you don’t have pineapple juice, but can get your hands on pineapple extract, you can use it as a substitute in baking and for drinks.

Use 1 teaspoon of pineapple extract per 3 cups of dry ingredients when baking.

11. Nectarine Juice

Pitcher of nectarine juice with sprig of garnish with whole and sliced nectarines.

If you’re watching your sugar intake, nectarine juice is a great substitute for pineapple juice. It has a similarly sweet flavor, but quite a bit less sugar.

You can replace pineapple juice with nectarine juice in marinades, sauces, and drink preparations 1 to 1.

12. Mango Juice

Cut and whole mango fruits next to glass cup of mango juice with sprig of garnish.

If you don’t like the sour taste of pineapple juice, mango juice may be the perfect substitute. Mango juice is a good source of iron, potassium, and vitamins and is very sweet when fully ripe.

Use mango juice to substitute for pineapple in cocktails, smoothies, and fruit salad recipes.

13. Apple Cider Vinegar + Sugar

Three apples in a pile next to a bottle of apple cider vinegar.

Use apple cider vinegar and sugar to replace pineapple juice in sauces and marinades. This combo is especially good for marinades and sweet and sour sauce.

It may take a bit of trial and error to get the right ratio for your taste, but you can use it as a 1 to 1 substitute.

14. Citric Acid

Citric acid in a bowl on a cutting board surrounded by lemons.

Citric acid is a leavening agent and flavor enhancer for baked dishes. It is extracted from citrus fruits and can be produced artificially.

This ingredient can replace pineapple juice in baking recipes when the juice is used to add a sour note to the recipe or to increase the pH level.

Dissolve a 1/2 teaspoon citric acid in 2 tablespoons of water and use in place of 2 tablespoons of pineapple juice.

15. Apple Juice

Glass of apple juice with straw surrounded by sliced and whole apples.

If you’re out of pineapple juice but have some apple juice in the fridge, you already have the perfect substitute for sauces, cocktails, and smoothies.

Apples have a surprisingly similar taste to pineapple and you can use the juice as a 1 to 1 substitute. If you’re missing the sour note of pineapple in your recipe, you can add a squeeze of lemon.

16. Honey + Lemon Juice

Honey spills from stirrer into jar, surrounded by flowers and lemons.

Speaking of lemon, the combination of honey and lemon is also a great pineapple juice substitute. This combo is especially great for sauces and marinades.

However, it’s not a great substitute for baking as the consistency will be quite different.

How to Make Your Own

Homemade pineapple juice next to sliced pineapple, a knife, and whole pineapple.

If you can’t find commercially prepared pineapple juice, you can use the fresh fruit to make your own.

To prepare the pineapple, first, remove the tough outer skin. Then slice the pineapple away from the core, into chunks.

Taste a piece of pineapple to gauge the sweetness.

Option 1: Blender

Load the pineapple chunks into your blender and add sugar (if desired) to taste. Fill the blender with a little bit of water and blend. Add more water if needed to reach your desired consistency and serve. Or use as desired in your favorite recipes.

Option 2: Juicer

Alternatively, you can use a juicer to create your homemade pineapple juice. Simply add the pineapple chunks to your machine until you run out of pineapple and serve.

NOTE: Homemade fresh pineapple juice will not last as long as commercially prepared juice. You should consume fresh, homemade pineapple juice within 24 hours.

FAQs

What is the best substitute for pineapple juice in marinade?

Pineapple juice has enzymes that helps break down meat to make it tender, as well as infuses it with a sweet and tarty flavor. You can use any of these options to replace pineapple juice in a marinade:

-Lime juice
-Lemon juice
-Nectarine juice
-Papaya juice
-Apple cider vinegar and sugar
-Lemon juice and honey

What is the best substitute for pineapple juice in teriyaki sauce?

Try one of these ingredients to replace the acidic pineapple juice in teriyaki sauce:

-Orange juice
-Red wine vinegar
-White wine vinegar
-Apple cider vinegar

What is the best substitute for pineapple juice in a pina colada, punch, or cocktail?

Pineapple juices gives a pina colada or cocktail its distinct flavor, but if you’re in a pinch, you could try these options:

-Orange juice
-Apple juice
-Lime juice
-Passionfruit juice
-Grapefruit juice
-Lemon juice
-Pomegranate juice
-Papaya juice
-Guava juice
-White grape juice
-Mango juice

What is the best substitute for pineapple juice in sweet and sour sauce?

You can easily substitute pineapple juice in sweet and sour sauce by using a few ingredients like:

-Apple cider vinegar and sugar
-Grapefruit juice
-Apple juice
-Orange and lime juice

Yummy Recipes to Try

Here are some delicious recipes that call for pineapple to satisfy those pineapple cravings. Or, use one of your favorite ways to substitute for pineapple above!