It can be quite a challenge how to pick a pineapple in the produce sections. That’s why you often find people with confused looks at grocery stores. You can check the ripeness of some fruits in just a few seconds, like tomatoes. But it is most tricky how to pick a pineapple fruit mango or watermelon. So, if you want to know how to pick a ripe pineapple, keep reading.
Pineapple is a sneaky fruit that is available between March and July. It is a good source of vitamin C, copper, folate, and manganese which is beneficial for your health. Besides, it is the only source of the plant compound bromelain and is related to many health benefits, including cancer prevention, better gut health, and enhanced immune function.
How to pick a pineapple.
The hard spiky skin outside of the pineapple protects the sweet fruit inside. If you pick an unripe one, it could be woody or sour. Overripe fruit may have lost its taste and texture. So how can you choose a pineapple ready to eat? There are some tips given below to pick the fruit of your choice.
Looking at the Color
Usually, the color of a pineapple is a good indication check whether it is ripe or not. It may be risky because sometimes a green fruit could be ripe. It would be best if you looked for the yellow coloration around the eyes of the fruit. Start from the stem because pineapples generally ripen from the bottom.
You should avoid too many green fruits as they are usually not ripe and sour. Always choose a fruit that is about ¾ ripe, which means yellow and green coloration. After bringing it home, you can let them ripen for one or two days before use.
Looking at the Eyes
You should pick pineapples with diamond-shaped eyes on their skin because fruit with giant eyes is sweet compared to smaller eyes. The greater the eyes, the sweeter the pineapple will be.
Smelling the Stem
Ripe pineapple generally has a sweet smell near the base of the fruit. The fruit’s stem is the most fragrant because it ripens from the bottom end, where it gets nutrients through the bottom stem. When there is no odor in its bottom stem, the fruit is unripe. Avoid fruits that don’t have a smell or smell sourish or overripe.
Squeezing the Fruit
The body of a pineapple should never be soft because it’s a bad sign. But when squeezing, it should be slightly soft. Soft fruit is a sign of ripeness. But if the fruit is excellent or had when squeezed, it indicates the fruit is unripe.
Checking the Weight
Weight is another indication when picking the right pineapple. A heavy fruit indicates its ripeness. Find a fruit that looks heavier than its size because the heavier the fruit, the sweeter it is.
Checking the Fronds
An easy way to find a fully ripe pineapple is to use the spiky green top of the fruit called fronds. They are the large leaves that signify ripeness when they can be pulled out easily. When fonds are challenging to remove, it means they are unripe.
If all it fails, and you want a ripe pineapple, there is a solution for you. Cut off the pineapple top and place its cut side on the plate. Next, cover it and rest it in the refrigerator for two or three days.
The pineapple that you pick should be plumpy and fresh-looking. It should be firm outwardly but not too much. The green leaves on the top of the fruit indicate its ripeness. The larger fruit is the most edible, but it doesn’t factor into the flavor.
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