WE used to do this as kids - you can slice off the top and put it in a dish of water and it will root. But unless you live in a tropical climate, it won't be hardy. And they aren't very pretty...

Not an expert, but I'd cut off the top then cut off the babies leaving a hunk of the top on each, then stick them in water or soil.

There are some pineapple threads on the bromeliad forum.

I get fruit on my pineapple plants, but I have to protect them from pests, such as squirrels (I think) when they are starting to ripen.

You can cut the top off now and try to root it. I would probably grow it as a cluster, and that might look prettier.

Here's a pineapple in my back yard

You don't put any of the fruit part in to start a new plant. You remove all the fruit, pull off the bottom leaves from around the stem, and stick that part in the soil. since you already harvested the pineapple, I don't think it would hurt to separate the "pups" as you would with a succulent plant. This is not in English, but the video is good and easy to follow. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3KtWttSHqU