How to choose the right ripe pineapple and how long it can be stored. How to choose the right ripe pineapple

To the question How do you know if a pineapple is ripe? given by the author Say goodbye to Christ the best answer is A fresh pineapple should have thick green tops. Pull one leaf. Did he pull out easily? If yes, then this means the fruit is ripe. Quality depends on price. Expensive pineapples are picked ripe and delivered quickly by plane. Pineapples at a lower price were picked unripe and delivered by sea, ripening en route. Therefore, they do not have a sweet specific aroma.
Pat the pineapple with your palm. If the sound is dull, then the fruit is moderately ripe; if the pineapple makes a “empty” sound, it means it is overripe and “shrunken.”
The insides of a ripe pineapple are a bright yellow-golden color. Paler fruit is unripe.
The pineapple rind should be thick and elastic. A green rind does not mean that the fruit is underripe, but if you see dark spots on the rind, do not take this fruit - it is overripe and has begun to deteriorate.
A cut ripe pineapple exudes a light, pleasant aroma. A more intense smell indicates that the fruit is overripe and has begun to ferment.
Uncut pineapple should only be stored at room temperature. At low temperatures it loses its aroma.
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LEAVES.
Thick, green “tops” are a reliable guarantee of pineapple freshness. And if its individual leaves are easily pulled out of the stem, then the pineapple is ripe. The quality of the fruit largely depends on the method of its delivery: pineapples delivered by plane are more expensive, but they are picked ripe. Pineapples brought by sea ripen during the journey, so they do not have a delicate, specific aroma.
PULP.
Determining ripeness by knocking: pat the pineapple with your palm - a dull sound indicates that the pineapple pulp is quite juicy, and “empty” means that the pineapple is already dry. The degree of ripeness can be easily determined by the cut: the flesh of an unripe pineapple is very pale, while that of a ripe pineapple is a rich yellow-golden color.
CRUST.
Ideally, the pineapple is a little soft, but its rind should remain elastic. Unripe pineapples feel much harder to the touch. By the way, a green crust is not always an indicator that the fruit is not ripe. But a crust covered with dark spots means that the ripening process has already gone too far, and an unpleasant surprise is usually hidden inside such a fruit.
AROMAT.
Ripe pineapple exudes a delicate sweetish aroma. A particularly intense odor may indicate the beginning of the fermentation process, followed by the appearance of mold, rot and loss of elasticity of the crust. By the way, pineapple does not like the cold. When the temperature drops below 7 °C, pineapple loses its flavor. Therefore, do not store it in the refrigerator.
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Very often, when buying a fresh pineapple, you have doubts about whether it is ripe or not. There is an easy way to check this: pull the pineapple by the “sultan” - a bunch of leaves. If the leaves come off easily, the pineapple is ripe.
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How to choose a pineapple?
First, the pineapple should not be very soft, otherwise it will taste sour.
Second, the pineapple should smell like pineapple: the absence of a smell or the presence of a different aroma indicates poor quality
Third, pull the leafy top of the pineapple: in a mature pineapple, it should be easily pulled out.
The pineapple should have a green top, a cylindrical shape and a characteristic amber color: green and brown pineapples are not suitable.
There should be no mold on the stalk. Additionally, small pineapples tend to be sweeter than larger ones. Pineapples with prickly leaves are sweeter than smooth-leaved ones.
You can store pineapples in the refrigerator, but ideally it is better to buy them for immediate consumption.
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Reply from chevron[guru]
The color should be brown-yellow with a matte tint; The pineapple should give off a fairly noticeable spicy-sour-sweet unobtrusive smell with hints of fresh foliage just washed by tropical rain; The apical rosette of elongated-lanceolate leaves should be well formed, the tips of the leaves should be dried; The fruit itself should be soft to the touch, slightly yielding under finger pressure; And of course, in this case, size is not unimportant.

Diets and healthy eating 02.01.2019

What housewife doesn’t want to surprise and please her family and guests with a delicious dessert? A juicy pineapple is perfect for this at the end of a hearty feast. You can, of course, without further ado, buy canned fruit, already cut into slices. But, firstly, it is clearly inferior to 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 at all in vain. After all, this fruit, in addition to being a 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 pineapple ripening 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 a sour taste and not only will you not get any pleasure from it, you also risk 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 you should refuse to buy such a delicate delicacy, 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

When wondering how to choose a good pineapple in a store, 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 an easy way for bacteria to enter it.

Looking at the color

The color of the peel depends on the variety (it can be brown with a greenish, golden, reddish tint), but, nevertheless, there is still a general rule: the more yellow and less green 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, a small amount of dry leaves at the very base is allowed. 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 ripe pineapple in a store.

Aroma

The smell of ripe, juicy pineapple is by no means strong. 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 is also not the best choice. Most likely, it was picked too early and did not have time to ripen yet.

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

Sound and weight of pineapple

Let's knock, 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.

1. Don't buy this tropical fruit too early, as it can only be stored for two days at room temperature.
2. You can store it for a longer time (up to 14 days) in the refrigerator by first wrapping it in thick paper (not polyethylene) and making air holes in it.
3. Despite the fact that our guest is from the south, he prefers a temperature of about +9 degrees for storage.
4. 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.
5. 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 purchased 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 pity, but it’s no longer possible to help it ripen at home - sunlight cannot penetrate through 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 preparing 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 have long ceased to be a curiosity in Russian stores. On the shelves you can find not only mangoes, coconuts, kiwis, but also such unusual fruits as pomelo, papaya, passion fruit, pitahaya, lychee, feijoa and many others. But despite the fact that many overseas fruits and vegetables are no longer uncommon in our stores, we have not learned how to choose them correctly.

One of the most famous exotic fruits in Russia is pineapple, which will be discussed in this article. Of course, many people prefer to buy canned pineapples that are already cut into slices or pieces. But fresh fruit always contains more nutrients than canned fruit. Let's try to figure it out how to choose the right pineapple to buy really ripe and high-quality fruit.

To begin with, it is worth noting an important fact. Most overseas fruits arriving in our stores are picked not yet ripened. They will sing along the way from the plantation to our table. In the store there may be a fruit of normal ripeness, or under-ripe or over-ripe. Therefore, you need to be especially careful when purchasing exotic fruits.

So, you came to the store to buy a pineapple. What features should you pay attention to when choosing this unusual fruit?

• IN pineapple tops there should be no dry leaves, it should be green, dense and thick. Try to pull one of the leaves; if it pulls out without problems, then the fruit is ripe.
• Please note pineapple peel. It should have a uniform color without spots. If there are spots, the fruit is overripe. In addition, the crust should be fairly hard with uniformly sized flakes. Only such fruit will be truly ripe. Too soft a crust is a sign that the fruit has begun to deteriorate. A green rind means the pineapple is not ripe.
• When choosing a pineapple, just like when choosing a watermelon, you need tap the fruit. A dull sound will mean that the fruit is ripe, but if there is an empty sound, the fruit is already overripe.
• Smell of pineapple should be pleasant and easy. A strong aroma coming from the fruit, especially if you have not yet cut it, may mean that the pineapple has already fermented.
• At home, cut the fruit and look at it the color of its flesh. The flesh of a ripe pineapple has a rich yellow color; if the flesh is pale, the fruit is not ripe.

  How to choose the best pineapple: secrets of selection

• If you see different pineapples in the store price, then most likely they were delivered in different ways.

  Expensive fruits are sent by plane, and cheaper fruits are shipped by sea. In this case, it would be best to choose a more expensive fruit; it will most likely be really tasty and ripe.

After you cut the pineapple at home, you need to store it at room temperature, since this overseas fruit does not like the cold. In the refrigerator, it can quickly lose its aroma.

Ripe and tasty pineapple will decorate any holiday table, and will also go well with other products in salads and hot dishes. We wish you a happy shopping!

HOW TO CHOOSE PINEAPPLE correctly, tips for choosing pineapples and other useful articles.

Thailand is one of the world's main suppliers of pineapples. In the southern part of this state, you can see entire fields of this fruit almost everywhere. The cost of pineapples in Thailand is very low. Considering the weight of this fruit, this is probably the cheapest Thai exotic fruit.

Pineapple, which is sold in Thailand, is very different in taste from those “tart pineapples” that are sold in Russian supermarkets. Here it has a very delicate, sweet and melt-in-your-mouth taste. And its aromas are simply magical.

The pineapple season lasts almost all year round in Thailand, and all this time pineapples are sold in markets or right on the roadsides for 5-20 baht per piece.

Depending on the variety, the price may vary. For example, for 5-10 baht you will buy small pineapples, and for large green fruits (which are the sweetest) you will have to pay from 10 to 30 baht.

9 tricks for choosing the ripest and most delicious pineapple in the store

But it's still a very good price.

In Thailand, right next to large pineapple plantations there are factories that immediately pack the generous harvest into jars. This aromatic delicacy is ideal as a dessert after meat dishes, as its enzymes accelerate the process of protein breakdown.

In Thailand, pineapples are used to make juices, wines, preserves, jams and even vinegar. They prepare hot dishes with fried rice, pineapple curry with mussels and sweet and sour stir-fries. Also very popular in Thailand is an alcoholic drink made from pineapple, which is called mai tai and is served in some establishments directly in the pineapple.

How to choose the right pineapple?

If you want to know how to choose a ripe pineapple, then first of all, keep in mind that the yellow color of a pineapple, contrary to the stereotype, does not at all guarantee you a ripe fruit. A pineapple can be sweet and ripe with a green rind on the outside.

First, a ripe pineapple makes a hollow sound when you tap it. Secondly, the tops of a ripe and fresh pineapple (the leafy “crown” on top) are thick, green and easily pulled out one leaf at a time. Thirdly, ripe pineapple has an aromatic, pineapple-like smell, not herbal.

And the last sign of a ripe and tasty pineapple is its peel. It should be elastic, but not too soft. A very hard peel indicates that the fruit is still green, and a very soft peel indicates that it is already overripe.

How to peel and cut a pineapple?

Useful properties

The beneficial properties of pineapple are very diverse. For example, this fruit improves digestion, prevents the formation of blood clots in blood vessels, lowers blood pressure, removes toxins from the body, and has anti-inflammatory properties.

Today, a wide variety of fruits from tropical countries are sold in almost any store. One of the most famous and beloved exotic fruits in our country is pineapple. But often the fruit that seemed so beautiful and appetizing on the store counter turns out to be sour and unpleasant to the taste, or even worse - rotten. The fruit goes into the trash bin, the mood is spoiled... In order not to be disappointed in the purchase at home, you need to know how to choose the right pineapple, after eating which our body will receive a portion of vitamins and nutrients, and we ourselves will enjoy the delicious taste of a ripe, juicy and aromatic tropical fruit . In fact, from a mass of similar-looking pineapples in a store, finding the right one - ripe and tasty - is not so difficult if you follow a few simple recommendations. So, how to choose a ripe pineapple? Read in this note.

Criteria for choosing a ripe pineapple

Let's examine the crust

The pineapple should have the correct oval shape, and its rind should be slightly soft, but strong and elastic. Press the side of the pineapple with your finger - it should spring slightly, but if the dent does not rise, the fruit has begun to deteriorate or is already rotten.

A high-quality fruit has scales of the same size, a hard rind, and its color is uniform and without spots. The presence of dark spots eloquently indicates that the fruit is very overripe. Also set aside fruit that has wrinkled skin, smudges or cracks on the surface.

Depending on the variety, the color of the pineapple rind can be brown, golden brown, orange-gray or yellow-green. Many people believe that fruit with a green color is unripe, but this is not entirely true. Pineapple, the rind of which has a greenish tint, can also be juicy and tasty. And if you come across such a pineapple, check it for ripeness using the other methods given here.

Pineapple scale

The scales of a high-quality pineapple are elastic, and if you press on them, they will not press inward. The small tails that are at the end of the scales should break off easily. Bend, limp tails indicate improper storage of the product.

Bottom of pineapple

When choosing, do not forget to turn the pineapple over and look at its bottom: it should be completely dry, without green shoots.

The tops will tell you about the ripeness of a pineapple.

Inspect the tops: it’s good if they are thick and green. Dry and yellow tops are a spoiling fruit.

There is a test that must be carried out before purchasing. Rotate the tops back and forth.

How to choose the right pineapple in the store?

If it scrolls easily, it means we have a ripe and sweet fruit. The tops of a good-quality pineapple can be rotated 90-180°.

Make sure the pineapple is ripe by pulling a leaf from the top. If it pulls out easily, the pineapple is ripe. If, along with one leaf, the entire tops suddenly come off, the fruit has already begun to rot.

You can just shake the pineapple. The tops of a ripe fruit will wobble.

How to choose pineapple by smell?

Feel free to smell the pineapple, especially if you have a well-developed sense of smell. Unripe fruit has no smell or almost no smell. Ripe pineapple exudes a light, sweetish aroma. A too sharp, rich smell indicates that the fermentation process has begun in the pineapple - it’s definitely not worth buying such a fruit.

Price of pineapple: the more expensive, the tastier?

Can a quality pineapple be relatively cheap? This question cannot be answered unambiguously. Pineapples are brought to us from distant countries with a tropical climate. They are delivered in two ways: by plane and by sea. If pineapples were transported by sea, they would cost less. But in this case, the fruits are picked while still green, and they ripen on the way. This method of transportation is cheaper, but pineapples may become overripe or lose flavor along the way. In addition, fruits transported by ships are heavily treated with chemicals to prevent them from spoiling during the long journey. Transportation by plane is much more expensive, and therefore pineapples are more expensive. But such fruits are of higher quality, more aromatic and tastier, since they are picked ripe and delivered to us in the shortest possible time. Therefore, if you see two identical pineapples on the counter, but one costs much more, then such a fruit, of course, is of higher quality and tastier.

And one more thing...

If you buy a pineapple not in a supermarket, but in a private store or market, you can ask the seller to make a cut. When cut, a ripe fruit has a golden-yellow color, while an unripe pineapple is whitish.

You can pat the pineapple with your palm as if it were a watermelon. A dull sound indicates that the fruit is ripe and juicy. An empty sound is a sign that the fruit has dried out.

Among other things, pay attention to the heaviness of the fruit: a ripe pineapple should be weighty.

When buying a pineapple in a store or market, do not hesitate to smell, touch, and carefully examine the fruit you like. This is the only way you can choose a pineapple that really won’t disappoint you.

Flowering and fruiting

Pineapple is able to bloom only in the 3rd - 4th year of its life. Usually at this age the length of its leaves reaches 80–90 cm. Moreover, this is only possible with proper care. However, this is not a guarantee that the exotic will delight you with flowers. This requires high ambient temperature. It must be at least 25 °C. In addition, a pineapple is considered ready to flower when the plant is strong and sufficiently developed, the length of adult leaves has reached 60–70 cm, and the diameter of the base of the rosette is 6–10 cm. And even if all these conditions are met, the pineapple is unlikely to bloom. But its flowering can be stimulated. If the plant has not reached the required size, it cannot be stimulated to flower. If everything is in order, feel free to carry out stimulation.

Some people use carbide (CaC2) as a stimulant. Its solution at the rate of 15 g per 10 liters of water is poured into a rosette of leaves. This procedure is carried out twice every other day. Moreover, this must be done either in the warm season, or by creating the necessary conditions. The peduncle will appear in about 1.5 months. At first, its top is pale green in color with a light crimson edging. With proper care, the peduncle grows very quickly. The soil at this time should be constantly moist, and from the moment the peduncle appears, the pineapple must be fed with a complex fertilizer with microelements, using a dosage for flower crops.

Others force the pineapple to bloom and bear fruit by fumigating it with any smoke. To do this, put a thick plastic bag on it, and place several smoking coals next to the pot for 10 minutes, observing all safety precautions. The procedure is repeated 2–3 times with an interval of 7–10 days. After which, after 2–2.5 months, an inflorescence appears from the center of the rosette, and after another 3.5–4 months, the inflorescence ripens. The weight of mature fruits with such stimulation is 0.3–1 kg.

Flowering lasts approximately 2 weeks. Pineapple flowers are collected in simple dense spike-shaped inflorescences, sitting in the axils of wide cup-shaped bracts. The petals are pinkish-violet, appearing from a pink rosette, the sepals are not fused, and have thorns along the edge.

With the appearance of the peduncle, as mentioned above, complex mineral fertilizers for flower crops, such as Kemira and Agricola, should be added to the pineapple soil.

The temperature of flowering plants should be moderate (not lower than 12 °C).

At the end of flowering, as the fruit grows, organic feeding is resumed. From the moment of flowering to the ripening of the fruit, it can take about six months. However, repeated pinching of the growth point at the apical rosette above the fruit (the first time immediately after flowering, and then as it resumes) accelerates the ripening of the pineapple, but in this case the rosette with the removed growth point can no longer be used for propagation. During or after fruiting, lateral and basal shoots are formed at the pineapple rosette, which are also suitable for reproduction. However, the infructescences formed on them are smaller than those from the apical cuttings.

Ornamental pineapples with beautiful foliage are grown indoors.

They also love light and warmth; keep them at least 18° in winter. In general, their conditions of detention are the same. Adult specimens of most ornamental species, with proper care, also form inflorescences, from which miniature fragrant but inedible fruits (10–15 cm in size) of golden color soon develop. At the end of flowering and fruiting, the rosette of these pineapples dies.

But let's get back to edible pineapples. So, your pineapple has fruit, and you are impatiently waiting for it to ripen. Now you need to switch to nitrogen fertilizing again. It will take 5–7 months for the fruit to fully mature. The main thing now is to wait a little and not cut it off unripe. After all, you've waited so long, wait a little longer!

The main indicators of ripeness are a strong sweet aroma and the heaviness of the fruit (at home, a pineapple can grow up to 1.5 kg).

The fruits of a ripe pineapple are very tasty and healthy, but unripe fruits burn your lips and act as a strong laxative.

But try not to overcook the pineapple, otherwise it will ferment right in the garden.

Finally, what you have been waiting for so long and courageously has happened, but, unfortunately, now the mission of your pineapple, so to speak, is completed.

How to choose a ripe pineapple in a store

For some time, the pineapple bush that gave you its fruit will look ordinary, it may even have side shoots - babies that can be used for reproduction. And the outlet itself will die. Therefore, you need to use either lateral shoots for further propagation (however, they give poor results in terms of fruiting) or take the top of a cut pineapple (if you did not pinch it to speed up ripening and did not damage it) and go all the way again from beginning to end. Growing your own pineapple requires a lot of patience, but all your efforts will be more than rewarded with a juicy, aromatic fruit that will be many times tastier than store-bought, and, most importantly, with admiring glances from friends and acquaintances.

How to choose a ripe pineapple?

“What should I eat to lose weight?” - fans of diets often wonder. No matter how funny it may sound, there is such a product, both tasty and healthy, and has long been loved by everyone - pineapple. But in order to enjoy its taste to the fullest, you need to know how to choose the right ripe, and therefore tasty, pineapple.

Don’t be immediately alarmed by the fact that the fruit is exotic, it’s not the same as choosing carrots at the market. There is nothing difficult in choosing a pineapple; you just need a little attentiveness and strength of character so as not to immediately succumb to the persuasion of the sellers (if it does not happen in a self-service store). While you have little or no experience in choosing delicious pineapples, you can use the following rules.

Rules for choosing pineapple

You may spend an unforgivably long time choosing a pineapple the first time. Don’t be discouraged; once you become skilled at this, you will be able to spot tasty and ripe pineapples in a couple of minutes.

Food and drink

Pineapple: how to choose the right one. How to determine the ripeness of a pineapple

The tasty and healthy pineapple is no longer a curiosity on our table, but many are still frightened by its exoticism. In fact, looking for ripe, high-quality fruit in a store or market is not at all difficult if you know how. Choosing the right pineapple, easily peeling and cutting it for serving, and storing it for future use will be possible without any problems if you take into account a few simple recommendations.

The main "tip" is the price

As trivial as it sounds, first of all you should pay attention to how much a pineapple costs. How to choose the right fresh and ripe fruit can be determined by the price the seller asks for it.

In order to deliver these fruits fresh to the shelves, their transportation is usually carried out by plane, and this is not cheap for the supplier. Accordingly, the price of a good pineapple will be at the same level.

In the event that the importer chose to order transportation of pineapples by sea, they may cost a little less. However, then you need to take into account that this method of transportation takes considerable time. While on the road, the fruits may well become overripe. Therefore, if the seller focuses exclusively on the favorable price of pineapples, you should examine them very carefully before succumbing to his persuasion and buying.

At the same time, the statement “expensive means good” is also not always true. It is possible that the seller simply inflated the price for a very mediocre product.

The conclusion is obvious: the price will serve as a good hint on how to choose a good ripe pineapple, but you should not blindly focus only on it. It wouldn’t hurt to study the fruit further.

How to determine the ripeness of a pineapple by smell

You can determine whether a pineapple is suitable for eating by smell, holding the fruit at arm's length. Unripe fruit will not smell at all. But the aroma of a good ripe pineapple should be pleasant, delicate, slightly sweet.

If the fruit smells too rich, even cloying, it is most likely overripe. It cannot be stored for a long time. It is better to choose another pineapple if you do not intend to serve it immediately after purchase. In addition, it is possible that the fruit has begun to ferment - in this case, it is not suitable for food at all.

Video on the topic

How to choose the right pineapple

The criteria for choosing this exotic fruit are not at all limited to price and smell. There are other secrets to determining the ripeness of a pineapple.

It is worth carefully examining the fruit you like. The scales of a ripe pineapple usually have a brownish, yellowish or orange-gray tint. A greenish color may indicate that the pineapple is not ripe (however, not always). There should also be no whitish spots between the scales of the fruit - this is how mold manifests itself. A high-quality fruit will have scales that are elastic and dense, but at the same time slightly soft to the touch. They will be too hard for green fruit. If they are fairly soft and easily pressed inward, the pineapple is most likely rotten.

Another way to identify a ripe pineapple is similar to choosing a ripe watermelon. Simply lightly pat the fruit with your palm. A ripe fruit with juicy pulp will make a dull sound. An “empty” sound will indicate that the pineapple is dry.

In addition, the fresh fruit has beautiful green leaves. If you lightly pull one of them, it should easily separate from the rod. The leaf of a green pineapple will hold tightly, but on a rotten one it will pull the tail of the fruit along with it. You can also carefully try to turn the tail in a circle, but not too much (if the fruit is ripe, the tail can be easily torn off). If it fits tightly, it means it is a green pineapple.

Ideally, the type of its pulp can tell you how to choose the right fruit. If possible, it is better to ask the seller to make a small incision. The flesh of a ripe pineapple will have a rich golden color. In unripe fruit, its shade will be pale.

How to store pineapple

Having figured out how to choose the right ripe pineapple, it doesn’t hurt to learn a little about the rules for storing it.

If the purchased fruit turns out to be unripe, it doesn’t matter. Pineapple can easily ripen at home. You just have to keep it in a dry place at room temperature. Two to three days will be enough for the fruit to ripen.

Ripe pineapple should be stored in the refrigerator. There is an opinion that in this case the fruit inevitably loses its beneficial and tasteful qualities, but this is not entirely true. And there is no choice left: if stored in other conditions, the ripe fruit will simply spoil. Therefore, it is best to put a pineapple bought for future use in a paper bag and place it in the compartment of the refrigerator intended for storing fruit. The bag is needed to prevent other products on the refrigerator shelves from acquiring a pineapple aroma. Periodically, the fruit will need to be turned over so that it does not start to rot. You can keep ripe fruit in the refrigerator for no more than a week.

If you want to store the pineapple for a longer time, it is recommended to first peel it and cut it into small pieces, and then freeze it. Fruit prepared in this way can be kept in the freezer for up to three months.

How to peel a pineapple

There are also some peculiarities in how a pineapple should be peeled. “How to choose this fruit correctly?” - is not the only question that sometimes perplexes.

The easiest way to peel is to simply cut the fruit into round “pucks” using a sharp knife, and then peel each of them. It is also advisable to remove the middle from each circle - it is inedible.

However, many people do not like this option due to the fact that it loses quite a lot of tasty and healthy juice. To avoid this, it is advised to carefully cut off the spiky shell from the fruit, then remove the core with a special knife and only then cut the flesh into circles. However, this method requires not only special devices, but also experience.

Thai way to peel a pineapple

The most effective way to peel a pineapple is considered to be Thai. First, you should cut off the lower part of the fruit so that it can be conveniently placed on a board or plate. Then, holding the pineapple by the upper leaves, you need to carefully cut the skin from the fruit into thin slices, moving a narrow and sharp knife from top to bottom. If at the same time “eyes” remain here and there, it’s not a problem. After cutting off the skin, you should carefully remove all other dense growths with a knife - if you look closely, you will see that they lie on continuously curved lines. Holding the fruit by a bunch of leaves, you need to make small cuts just above and below this line at a slight angle to the “eye”. After this, you can carefully remove the “wedge” with the remaining thorns.

How to choose a ripe pineapple?

The same should be done with the remaining growths.

A small pineapple prepared in this way can be served as a decoration. However, in order to make it convenient to eat this fruit, you need to work a little more and cut it.

How to cut a pineapple

To effectively serve the unpeeled fruit, it is recommended to divide it lengthwise into four parts. All the pulp should be carefully cut out of each in one piece, leaving an area with leaves on top.

The quarters must be carefully removed and the hard fibrous core removed. After this, the processed pieces of pulp need to be placed back into the “boats” made of skin, carefully placed on a dish and placed on the table. Pineapple served in this way looks very impressive, and the pieces of pulp are completely ready to eat.

If you know, when going to buy a pineapple, how to choose, properly peel and cut this fruit, then at any feast it will certainly not go unnoticed.

When choosing a fruit in a store, many enjoy imagining how they will eat it, what its taste and smell will be... But what a disappointment awaits those who bought unripe fruit! Bananas, of course, will ripen without difficulty in the window, but buying an unripe pineapple is a waste of money, because picked pineapples no longer ripen. Therefore, when planning to buy a pineapple, do not be lazy to find out how to choose a ripe and tasty fruit based on external signs, so as not to get into trouble. In this article we will look at the main indicators of pineapple ripeness and danger signs that indicate a stale or rotten pineapple.