Choose pineapple. You can also choose pineapple not only to prepare a delicious lunch, but also to lose weight

Diets and healthy eating 02.01.2019

What housewife doesn’t want to surprise and please her family and guests with a delicious dessert? Couldn't be better at the end hearty feast Juicy pineapple is suitable for this. You can, of course, without further ado, buy canned fruit, already cut into slices. But first of all, he's clearly losing fresh pineapple in juiciness and aroma, and secondly, how impressive this tropical fruit looks on the table!

And although pineapple has long ceased to be an unattainable exotic, and you can buy it in almost any supermarket, in order to fully enjoy its taste and aroma and not spoil your pleasure, it is worth remembering some rules on how to choose the right ripe and sweet pineapple in the store.

By the way, the sales season for this overseas guest in Russia is December-January. It is then that the likelihood of buying the sweetest and juiciest fruit is highest.

Healthy exotics on our table

First of all, it is worth noting that all the work in choosing a truly tasty pineapple is not in vain. After all, this fruit, in addition to being delicious dessert, is also very good for health. It is rich in acids (citric and ascorbic), vitamins (A, B1, B2, B12, PP), microelements (potassium, iron, copper, calcium, zinc).

And who hasn’t heard about the incredible ability of pineapple to lose weight? This exotic fruit definitely has no rivals in nutrition. After all, it consists of 86% water, and 100g of juicy pulp contains only 46 kcal. It contains a unique enzyme, bromelain, which promotes weight loss by triggering the process of burning fat in the human body. It’s not for nothing that nutritionists recommend eating a piece of pineapple after your main meal. We talked in more detail about the benefits of pineapple in the article

But all this applies, of course, to fresh, unspoiled fruit. This is why it is so important to be able to choose a ripe, ripe pineapple.

The task of choosing a pineapple is, of course, not easy. After all, our overseas guest has a rather hard and tough peel, which does not change color when ripe. And few of us, you see, have had to observe the stages of ripening of a pineapple in natural conditions. But with the help of our simple tips on how to choose the right pineapple, you will confidently find the best and most delicious fruit.

The main thing you must remember when choosing our exotic guest: it must be ripe, but not overripe. "Green" pineapple has sour taste and not only will you not get any pleasure from it, but you also risk getting indigestion. In overripe juicy pulp, fermentation processes begin very quickly, which is fraught with the same disorder and even poisoning.

But this does not mean at all that the purchase is so delicate delicacy worth giving up, not at all! A few simple rules, a little care, a little luck - and you will have a delicious and healthy dessert on your table!

You should choose a pineapple based on:

appearance of peel and leaves;
fruit smell;
the weight and the sounds it makes when you tap it.

Peel, color, appearance

Wondering how to choose in a store good pineapple, the first thing you should pay attention to is, of course, the rind of the fruit you like. Dents and depressions, scratches that are too deep to show flesh, wet spots, or any defects in general should stop you from buying. Remember that any crack in the skin of the fruit is easy way penetration of bacteria into it.

Looking at the color

The color of the rind depends on the variety (it can be brown with a greenish, golden, or reddish tint), but, nevertheless, general rule Still, there is: the more yellow and less green color on the skin of the fruit, the more likely it is that it has ripened itself.

We explore the appearance

The pineapple should be the correct oval shape. The bark of a ripe, juicy fruit should be elastic, glossy, without soft spots or visible traces of juice on it. Lightly press the peel of the pineapple you like. If the finger presses in easily, the fruit is overripe. If the fruit does not yield at all, it is unripe. Also set aside fruits with wrinkled, dry skins.

The “eyes” of a good ripe pineapple are flatter, sometimes even slightly sunken. If they protrude too much, the fruit is not ripe.

Pay special attention to the lower part of our exotic guest. In no case should it be wet and soft; on the contrary, it would be good for it to be slightly dry and definitely hard.

The next step in answering the question of how to choose a good pineapple is to examine the leaves. This beautiful green “plume” keeps several secrets. First of all, the leaves should be as strong as possible, without a whitish or grayish coating (this may indicate mold).

Even taking into account the fact that the path to the shelves of our supermarkets for an overseas guest is long and thorny, and it is practically impossible for him to arrive with perfectly fresh green leaves, the main thing should be remembered. The yellow and dry plumes of the fruit indicate that it has been lying here for a long time. However, it is not allowed a large number of dry leaves at the very base. If the leaves are dirty and carelessly broken off, this indicates negligence during their transportation and storage.

In a truly ripe fruit, the green plume becomes mobile. Try taking the leaves at the very base and turning them slightly. If they are completely motionless, the fruit is unripe. This is a simple and reliable way to choose a good one in a store. ripe pineapple.

Aroma

The smell of ripe juicy pineapple not harsh in any way. It is delicately exotic, fruity, pleasant. You can hear it only if you bring the fruit close to your nose. If the aroma spreads even as you approach the fruit section, this is a sign of overripeness. Well, a clear yeasty smell indicates that the pulp has already “fermented”. A fruit that doesn't smell like anything isn't the best either. the best choice. Most likely, it was picked too early and did not have time to ripen yet.

By the way, best place to test a pineapple by smell - its lower part.

Sound and weight of pineapple

Let's knock and clap

Studying the sounds that the fruit makes when you lightly tap it will help us answer the question of how to choose the right pineapple in the store. To do this, it is absolutely not necessary to have a keen ear for music. The process is reminiscent of choosing a watermelon. Lightly tap the peel of several candidates you like and compare: if the sound is dull or strong, there is a high probability that the choice is correct. An unripe pineapple or, conversely, a pineapple that has shriveled from the inside sounds dry and “unconvincing.”

We'll weigh it and figure it out

The ripeness of a pineapple by weight can be determined in this way: try to determine the weight of the fruit you like by eye, and then weigh it on a scale. A ripe, juicy fruit will weigh significantly more due to the density of the pulp.

It is believed that small pineapples will be the sweetest and most aromatic. But here a lot depends on the variety. In any case, the shape of the fruit should be symmetrical and fairly even on all sides.

Let's watch a video on how to choose a ripe pineapple in a store.

And so, the overseas guest was bought and brought home. And here it turns out that it is not enough to know how to choose the right ripe pineapple when buying in a store; it is also important to know how to store it.

Let's remember a few simple rules.

Don't buy this tropical fruit too early because room temperature it can be stored for only two days.
Save for more long time(up to 14 days) it can be refrigerated by first wrapping it in thick paper (not polyethylene) and making air holes in it.
Despite the fact that our guest is from the south, he prefers a temperature of about +9 degrees for storage.
This is a rather capricious fruit and does not tolerate other fruits near it, especially those that have already been cut. This can lead to its rapid deterioration.
It is recommended to wash pineapple immediately before eating. Place it under running water right along with the leaves and rinse thoroughly without using detergents. Once dry, it is ready for use.

Pulp

The last criterion for the ripeness of a fruit is inspection of its pulp. Of course, this cannot be done in a store. If the overseas guest you bought has golden-yellow flesh with a delicate fruity aroma, congratulations, your choice was right!

And yet by

Unfortunately, sometimes, when we cut the fruit at home, we can find greenish pale flesh with a grassy smell. This indicates that the fruit, alas, is unripe. It’s a shame, but it’s no longer possible to help it ripen at home—sunlight can’t penetrate its hard, tough skin.

Such a fruit, of course, is not suitable as a dessert. But you can still find a use for it, if you are not afraid of culinary experiments. Try adding a slice of pineapple when cooking. meat dishes. And you will be pleasantly surprised by the savory, exotic note of your steak or chop. Sweet candied fruits are another way out of the situation when you come across a “green” fruit. And, of course, if you don't have allergies, you can treat yourself

Exotic fruits are picked unripe so that they do not spoil during transportation. But not all the fruits have time to ripen. To avoid buying a green fruit, it is important to know how to choose a pineapple. Ripe fruits contain large amounts useful substances. Unripe or overripe pineapples are not only not tasty, but also harmful.

When choosing, you need to focus on the appearance of the fruit, but size and color do not always matter. These parameters may vary depending on the variety.

inspect visually;
check by touch;
tap the fruit;
twist the tops;
weigh the fruit.

It is important to evaluate the smell, color of the peel and condition of the tops. There should be no visible damage.

Cost may affect the quality of the fruit. Too much low price indicates questionable quality. The cost is affected by the type of fruit transportation. If pineapples are delivered by plane, then their price is higher, but in this case the fruit is picked ripe.

Transportation by ship takes longer, so to prevent the fruit from spoiling, it is picked unripe. It’s not a fact that it will be delivered to the store already ripe. Before purchasing, it is better to find out where the fruit is from and how it was delivered. If such information is provided by the manager of the shopping center.

Select the fruit you like, then proceed to inspect it:

First of all, evaluate the appearance. There should be no damage, scratches or stains. The color of the scales may be green, but this is not a sign that the fruit is not ripe. Allowed colors range from greenish to yellow shades. It is important that the color is uniform and the scales are even.
Inspect the tops. It should be green with dried edges. Ripe pineapple leaves are easily pulled out. There is another way to check - twist the tops, but carefully. In a sweet and ripe fruit, it easily rotates around its axis.
Press down the fruit. It should be soft to the touch, but should not leave any dents. The crust is elastic.
Pat the fruit as you would when choosing a watermelon. There should be a dull sound - this is a sign of ripeness.
Determine the weight. The pineapple should be heavy, in which case it will be juicy. If the fruit is light, then it has lost moisture and, therefore, began to dry out. You should refuse the purchase.

You need to navigate the following parameters:

thick and green tops, which is easily separated from the top;
the skin is uniform in color, without signs of rotting;
the fruit is a little soft, but the rind is elastic;
subtle fruity aroma.

If you buy half a pineapple, you should pay attention to the color of the pulp. It should be bright yellow with an olive tint. If juice is released from the fruit, then it is definitely sweet and ripe. The pulp should be moderately sweet, with a little sourness.

Is it possible to determine ripeness and taste by the smell of the fruit?

Ripe pineapple is not only tasty, but also has a pleasant aroma. The smell can indicate the degree of ripeness of the fruit. The aroma should be light, slightly sweet. A too rich smell indicates that the fruit is overripe.

A fruit that has no smell at all is not worth buying. He is green.

Spoiled pineapples, which ones should you not buy?

You must refuse to purchase in the following cases:

unpleasant odor;
pale flesh;
uneven color of the peel;
yellow and dried leaves;
brown spots, areas of rot or mold on the peel;
the fruit is soft to the touch, when pressed, dents remain;
When tapping, an empty sound is heard.

Under no circumstances should you buy a pineapple without looking at it. This exotic fruit is brought from afar, so the likelihood that it will be green or rotten is very high. Make a purchasing decision only after a thorough examination of the fruit and checking all the characteristics.

Rules for storing and cleaning pineapple

Even a ripe and juicy fruit can lose its excellent taste and aroma if storage rules are not followed. How to store pineapple? Optimal temperature– 7-10˚ C. It can be stored at room temperature, but not in the refrigerator. At temperatures below 7˚ C they are lost taste qualities fruit. It becomes watery and doesn't smell as nice.

Note. Even if you bought a little green pineapple, at room temperature it will ripen, become softer and sweeter.

At a temperature of 15-25˚ C, pineapple will quickly wither and spoil. It cannot be stored for more than 2 days. If it is too hot indoors and outdoors, then you should put the fruit in the refrigerator in the compartment for fruits and vegetables, after wrapping it in paper.

How long should the fruit be stored? It is advisable to eat pineapple within 12 days. Every day it becomes riper, so the taste may deteriorate. If brown spots appear on the rind during storage, the fruit is not suitable for consumption.

Peeled or cut pineapple can only be stored in the refrigerator for no more than 3 days. To prevent the taste from deteriorating, the fruit must be wrapped in cling film. Pineapples absorb odors from the refrigerator, so spoiled fruits or vegetables should not be stored nearby. Exotic fruit needs to be stored separately.

It is important not only to be able to select and store a pineapple, but also to peel it. There are 2 cleaning methods.

Most popular:

Trim the ends of the fruit, then peel the fruit. Cut off the skin in a thin layer, since the sweetest and juiciest pulp is located near it.
Remove the eyes.
Cut the fruit in half and then cut each piece in half.
Cut out the core. It is not suitable for use.
The pulp can be cut in any way you wish.

Before cutting, you need to wash the pineapple. Use a sharp knife for cleaning.

The second cleaning method is less popular, but it will take less time. It is necessary to remove the ends and then cut the fruit into circles. It is necessary to peel and remove the core during consumption.

How to choose a pineapple in a store?

Tropical fruits on store shelves no longer surprise anyone. It is difficult to find a person who has never tried pineapple in his life. However, the taste in two out of three cases leaves much to be desired. How to choose a pineapple in a store so that it is ripe and sweet?

What kind of pineapples are sold?

If you've tried freshly picked pineapple, you won't like the taste of the one sold in stores. Only unripe fruits are always transported over long distances. Ripe fruit will not withstand transportation. And unripe ones will not become tastier or sweeter during transportation.

Leaves

Examine the “crown” of leaves at the top of the fruit. It should be smooth, symmetrical and dense. Length - from 10-12 cm depending on its size, but not more than twice the length of the fruit.

The color of the tops is rich green. Slightly dry edges are normal. Avoid purchasing if you see a lot of yellow and dried leaves starting to wilt.

According to popular belief, an easily pulled out leaf guarantees the ripeness of the fruit, but this is not true. This means it's been sitting on the counter for a long time, so the leaves have started to dry out. Unlike mangos, feijoas or bananas, pineapple will not become any riper than when it was picked.

There is one hundred percent reliable way find out whether the fruit is ripe, but store sellers are unlikely to understand you correctly. Grab the leaves and try to unscrew the “crown”. It separates quite easily from the ripe fruit.

Crust

Examine the pineapple carefully. A ripe fruit has a smooth, elastic rind, without brown or gray spots between the scales, or signs of rot and mold. The scales are of the same shape and proportionally decreasing from the middle to the top and bottom.

The color of the crust is uniform. Pineapples grow in such a way that the sweetest flesh is at the base. The transition from golden yellow to soft salad color means that you won’t be able to eat the whole fruit. Where the skin is green, it is sour.

Depending on the variety, both green and yellow pineapples are ripe. But buying green in Russia is a risk.

Tap it like you would a watermelon. A booming sound, similar to beating a drum, means that the fruit is already overripe and dry. The muffled sound gives hope for ripeness.
Press the crust with your finger. In ripe fruit it gives way, but does not leave any dents. If the crust is hard and tough, it is completely immature. A dent means the fruit is overripe and rotting.

Pulp

Ask the seller to cut the fruit in half or cut off the top. A ripe pineapple has rich pulp yellow color. Greenish-yellow tint or color butter means the fruit is unripe.

Smell

Smell the fruit before purchasing. When ripe, it has a characteristic sweetish aroma, pleasant, but not too strong. It is felt at a distance of 10-15 cm from the fetus.

The intense smell emanating from the uncut fruit means that it is overripe and fermentation processes are taking place inside.

Price

The price of pineapple depends on the method of transportation. Those that are more expensive are delivered by plane. Less time is spent on the road - they collect ripe fruits that do not have time to spoil.

Cheap fruits are transported by sea. The journey takes several months. They are removed completely immature.

Storage conditions

In the store, pineapples are not stored in the refrigerator. At temperatures below 6-8ºС they lose their aroma, the color turns pale, and the flesh “gets soggy”. But the picked fruit does not like heat either, as it spoils very quickly.

If you saw pineapples in a refrigerated display case, then the only explanation for this is that the fruits began to rot and they were put there to slow down the fermentation process.
Sometimes pineapples are placed upside down. They say that in this position the sweetness from the base spreads evenly throughout the fruit. The question is debatable, since it is impossible to compare the taste before and after.

Spoiled pineapples

Refuse to purchase if:

The fruit smells like vinegar or rot.
The crust is cracked and juice is leaking from it.
All leaves are even brown.
The fruit is soft to the touch.
Pineapple is red-brown, bronze or copper in color.

The leaders in growing and exporting pineapple to Russia are the Philippines, Ecuador, Costa Rica and Thailand. Before reaching the consumer's table, these exotic fruits travel a long way by sea or by air. How to choose a ripe pineapple and what features help distinguish it from others?

The quality of pineapples largely depends on the delivery method. Fruits delivered by sea are picked while still green, with the expectation that they will ripen during the journey. Their taste and aroma are less pronounced than those of fruits picked ripe and delivered by plane.

On a note. The most delicious pineapples are harvested between April and June and December and January.

When purchasing, it is recommended to give preference to fruits from supermarkets, since they provide the most comfortable conditions for their storage: compliance temperature regime and humidity.

On the shelves of vegetable departments in the supermarket you may find unripe, overripe and ripe fruits. Their condition can be determined: By appearance
tops and peels;

by the smell and sound made when patting the fruit.

Signs of an unripe pineapple

On a note. Eating unripe pineapple is fraught with unpleasant consequences, as it can cause stomach upset.

The following signs indicate that the pineapple is not yet ripe:
The fruit is very hard to the touch.
The eyes of the fruit are poorly developed, the scales are greenish in color.
The characteristic pineapple aroma is very weak or completely absent.
The green tail crowning the top of the fruit cannot be twisted.
Individual leaves are pulled out from the fruit tail with great difficulty. When cut, the flesh is pale, almost white

, has a pungent taste. If it is not possible to buy completely ripe fruit

, then you can buy unripe and let it ripen at home. To do this, it is left at room temperature, tilted with its tail down, for several days until it is fully ripe.

Signs of an overripe pineapple Signs of an overripe fruit can be caused by long term

storage or violation of their conditions in the warehouse. With high humidity in warehouses or temperatures below normal, the fruits are subject to rapid spoilage, their taste is reduced, and the flesh becomes dark and watery. The following signs indicate that a pineapple is overripe:
The fruit is soft when pressed; after pressing, a dent remains.
There are dark spots on the crust.
Wrinkled, red-brown peel.
The sultan of the fruit has turned yellow, the leaves are easily pulled out.
The fruit makes a hollow sound when tapped.

The aroma of the fruit is sharp, fermented, reeks of alcohol or vinegar.

How to Identify a Perfectly Ripe Pineapple

Pineapple fruits, depending on the variety, can have an oval or cylindrical shape and reach a weight of up to 5 kg. The top of the fruit is crowned with a bunch of hard green leaves, the peel is golden yellow, reddish or yellow-brown.

Signs of a ripe pineapple:
The eyes are large, pronounced, scales without spots, traces of rot and mold, dense, black or dark brown at the ends.
The bottom of the fruit is dry and hard.
When tapped, the fruit makes a dull sound.
A ripe pineapple is heavier in weight than it looks.
The aroma is delicately sweet, medium pronounced.
The tops are green, without plaque or traces of mold, and slightly dried out at the tips.
The tail gives in when pressed and lightly twisted.
You can pull out a leaf from the plume without putting much effort.
When cut, the flesh of the fruit is uniformly colored golden or golden brown.

On a note: Some varieties of pineapple can be green even when ripe. Small pineapples are sweeter than large ones, and varieties with spiny leaves are sweeter than those with smooth leaves.

When buying, you should not rush and take the first fruit that comes to hand, so as not to experience disappointment from the purchase later. Using the tips presented, you can easily choose the ripest and delicious pineapple.

When making purchases, every person wants the purchase to be of high quality. This is especially important for food. Let's look at how to choose a pineapple and what you should pay attention to. This thick-skinned fruit has a wonderful sweet and sour taste, a wonderful aroma, and also contains alimentary fiber, microelements and vitamins. It contains bromelain, a highly active proteolytic enzyme that helps the body absorb protein from food. Therefore, pineapple is recommended for a rich feast. Having a high nutritional value, this fruit is low in calories. In Russia it has become a traditional element New Year's table, since 30% of the total annual volume of this tropical fruit is imported into our country in December. The pineapple season lasts until April, although you can buy them throughout the year.

You have to smell it

To choose a good pineapple, you need to pick it up and evaluate it from top to bottom. The crown (sultan or crest) of the fruit usually has a length of up to 10 cm. What does the crown of a ripe fruit look like? It should be protruding, green, and most importantly, it can be scrolled 1-2 cm in one direction or another horizontally. Dried ends are allowed. If the pineapple is ripe, some of the leaves can be easily pulled out. If, after tearing off one leaf, others begin to fall out, it means the fruit is overripe. It is difficult to thin out the crown of an immature one.

80-90% of pineapples in Russia come from Costa Rica. The remaining 10% comes from Ecuador, the Philippines, Panama, Vietnam, and Thailand. Ripe fruits that have reached consumer maturity are delivered by air and within a day they reach the customer. But most often tropical fruits transported by sea, this takes 7-10 days. Therefore, pineapples are collected when their shape and size correspond to the parameters of this variety, but at the same time they are not yet fully ripe. In the holds of ships, the temperature is maintained at +8...+9°C; when it drops, there is a possibility of fruits being damaged by fungal infections, the pulp becomes watery, and when it rises, the fruits begin to rapidly ripen and rot. Pineapples picked too early do not develop enough flavor and aroma after ripening.

To choose the right ripe pineapple, smell it. If the aroma spreads within arm's reach, the fruit has most likely been scented. If you smell wine, it is overripe; the fermentation process has begun inside. Sometimes trade workers, having discovered this, wash the pineapples that are rotting inside, dry them and put them up for sale again. After this treatment, the fruit does not smell at all.

How to choose a pineapple (video)

We focus on weight and color

Pineapple varieties are divided into more or less transportable. Spanish red is one of the mature varieties, due to which it is harvested more ripe. Before a long journey, fruits are placed in boxes in one layer, carefully inspected. The stalk is treated with an antiseptic, since most often it begins to rot. Depending on the variety, pineapples weigh from 500 g to 10 kg. The weight of exported fruit is usually 0.8-2 kg. How to choose the right ripe fruit? Estimate its weight in your hand. If it is weighty, it means it is dense inside - this is a sign of ripeness. As a rule, among those fruits that were picked before full ripening, the small ones managed to absorb all the vitamins on the plantation.

How to determine the ripeness of a pineapple by its peel? Opt for fruits with grayish-orange and yellow scales. Don't be confused by the fact that it doesn't look quite right ripe fruit with greenish areas. If the fruit exudes aroma, take it. Residents of Thailand prefer a variety of pineapple that always looks unripe, but its taste is excellent. If the fruit is green and its aroma is barely perceptible, it is not ripe. If the peel has brown spots and there is mold between the segments, the product is spoiled. This is evidenced by the wrinkled skin of the fruit. When pressing on the scales of an overripe pineapple, dents form. The unripe fruit is very hard.

When choosing a fruit, pay attention to its lower part - the stalk, it should be dense. If you find looseness and the slightest signs of mold, it means it is rotting inside. A pineapple ripened on a bush has a small and wrinkled stalk.

Pineapples growing in the wild contain many seeds up to 3 mm long. During industrial cultivation, their formation is avoided by preventing pollination: protective caps are placed on each inflorescence. Therefore, it is very rare to find seeds in these fruits. At the same time, their presence does not mean that the fruit will not be tasty.

How to choose a pineapple and peel it beautifully (video)

Unique taste

A ripe delicious pineapple is bright yellow inside. The flesh of an unripe one is pale, while that of an overripe one is pinkish. Eating unripe fruit causes intestinal upset. You can store the fruit at home at room temperature for 3-10 days. It is better not to save it when cut, at least in own juice in a refrigerator. You should not freeze it, as at a temperature of -7°C it loses its beneficial features, becomes fibrous.

After harvesting, pineapples should not be stored for more than 40 days. Not fully formed fruits with a transitional peel color are placed in chambers for 4-6 days for ripening. They can withstand a certain regime: temperature +15...+16°C, humidity - 80-85%.

The process is accelerated by the use of ethylene: 1 liter of gas per 2 m³ of chamber. It is a mistake to think that a green pineapple bought in a store can ripen at home. He can only get softer.

For storage tropical fruits The most favorable conditions are provided in supermarkets. However, even there, sometimes unscrupulous workers, wanting to sell a low-quality product, different ways hide flaws. Pineapple is a rather expensive fruit. In order not to throw money away, do not rush, inspect it carefully.