How to identify a good pineapple. How to choose a ripe and sweet pineapple for the table
Of all the exotic fruits, pineapple has become perhaps the most beloved and familiar. At the same time, not everyone can determine at first glance which of the fruits on the counter is worth preferring. Looking at a pineapple, you can’t immediately tell how tasty and ripe it is, but the taste and beneficial properties of the product depend on ripeness. However, choosing a pineapple is quite simple if you know a few secrets related to the shape, color, smell and weight of the fruit.
How to choose a quality fruit
Pineapple is a fragrant and attractive product. And it’s also very tasty, provided that the choice is made correctly, and unspoiled fruit falls into your hands. Pineapple is brought from afar, and that means it cannot be cheap. And we don’t like to spend decent money for a “pig in a poke.” So, we will learn to recognize the right pineapple.
Price
As a rule, those fruits that ripen on the plantation are tastier than those that ripen during transportation. But the ripe fruit must be delivered quickly so that it does not have time to spoil. Thus, the ripest and highest quality pineapples are delivered by air, and therefore cost much more. A pineapple, cut unripe, floats on the sea and ripens in the hold of a ship. Such a fruit will cost much less, but may remain unripe on the counter.
If you have the opportunity to ask the seller about the method of delivery of the product, be sure to do so.
Ripe pineapple has juicy golden flesh
Pulp and rind color
A ripe, high-quality pineapple has golden, juicy flesh and an elastic, dense, evenly colored rind. It may have a greenish tint even in a ripe pineapple. But there should be no stains on the surface; they indicate that the product has begun to deteriorate. The ideal pineapple is golden brown, orange-gray, brown or yellow-green. Pay attention to the heaviness of the fruit: a normal pineapple should be weighty.
Tropical fruits are often controversial. What should the overseas miracle be classified as: vegetables or fruits? So, pineapple is a herb whose flower develops a juicy, sweet fruit. And in terms of species characteristics, it is closer to cereals than to fruits.
The fact that the fruit is overripe and has begun to deteriorate is clearly indicated by: wrinkled skin, cracks and smudges on the surface, a reddish tint to the peel, fading brown leaves, whitish specks between the cells.
Spoiled fruit cannot always be identified at first glance, because rotting can begin from the inside and not appear externally for some time.
Smell
A sweetish pleasant smell indicates that the fruit is ripe. However, if the smell is very bright and concentrated, there is a high probability that the fruit is overripe and begins to ferment. Take a closer look: there may be mold already appearing on the crust or leaves. A sour smell also indicates that the pineapple is no longer edible. If the smell of the fruit is almost not pronounced, the fruit is probably not yet ripe and it is better to put it aside.
Scales
Pay attention to the scales: they should be elastic and dense and not press inward when pressed. At the end of the scales there are light tails. Under the correct storage conditions, these tails remain dry and break off easily. Bend, limp tails indicate excess humidity during storage or transportation, which easily leads to spoilage, rot, and mold.
The tails on the pineapple cells should be dry and brittle.
Other signs
You can determine ripeness by sound. Tap the body of the pineapple with your palm. A ripe fruit makes a dull sound, and an overripe one makes a “empty” sound, which indicates its dryness.
The ripeness of a pineapple is determined by touch. When pressed, the skin of a ripe pineapple is slightly pressed, but does not wrinkle. An unripe fruit does not react in any way to squeezing; it is too hard and is not yet suitable for food.
How to choose a pineapple
The tail of a pineapple can tell about its quality. The foliage of a good pineapple is thick, green, and without dry leaves. Try pulling the leaf at the base: on a ripe pineapple it will easily move forward, or even pull out completely. If the crown of the pineapple crumbles into leaves without much effort, then the fruit is clearly overripe. Holding the tail with your hand, try to twist it slightly. Do not overdo it so as not to tear it off completely. But if you feel the tail twisting slightly, then the selected pineapple is in perfect shape. A tightly seated, motionless crown indicates immaturity.
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 long periods of 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.
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 on how to determine 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 on 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 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 save the pineapple for longer long 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. 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.
Today, pineapple is no longer as surprising as it was a few years ago. Almost everyone has tried this fruit at least once in their life. But I want to buy a good and ripe fruit to enjoy the delicate aroma and pleasant taste.
Choosing the right ripe pineapple on the market or in a store today is not difficult if you know how to do it. Helpful tips are provided below.
There are many varieties of pineapple. And not all of them can be eaten raw. Some are grown only for industrial canning. Other varieties are used only to obtain fiber from the leaves, used in the textile industry.
When starting to choose a pineapple, you should ask the seller about its place of growth and variety.
Rules for choosing ripe pineapple.
Knowing how to choose a ripe pineapple, you can buy a delicious fruit. But the fruit must also be properly preserved so that it does not quickly lose its taste. The main points are as follows:
You need to be able to not only store it correctly, but also. The easiest way is to cut the fruit into circles. But then you have to go to the trouble of peeling the skin from each oval and removing the inedible middle part.
Another method involves peeling the entire fruit by cutting off the skin and then cutting out the core. Then all that remains is to cut the juicy pulp onto a plate.
It is possible that in search of an answer to the question of how to choose a pineapple, you will have to sacrifice time for the first time. But then the experience gained will be useful, and the purchased fruits will delight you with their ripeness and taste.
This representative of the citrus family has long become a favorite delicacy of many people, both in its natural form and as an ingredient in fruit salads and cakes. Everyone loves its sweet, pleasant taste. But many housewives buy canned pineapples, fearing the purchase of a bad fruit and not wanting to deal with peeling and chopping it. And completely in vain, since they deprive themselves beneficial properties pineapple Buying a good ripe pineapple is not that difficult. For this, there are some characteristic signs that will tell you how to choose the right pineapple. Now we will tell you about them.
How to choose the right pineapple by its color. The first thing you should pay attention to is the color. A ripe pineapple should be bright golden yellow color with dark green leaves. Brown leaves may indicate that the pineapple is overripe. If the pineapple itself is slightly green at the top, this is also acceptable. You should not buy a completely green pineapple, which, according to the seller, will ripen within a couple of days at your home. Even if you wait for it to fully ripen in your kitchen, it will still be significantly inferior in taste to “normal” pineapples. If the pineapple has a dark brown or reddish tint, it means it is overripe. Feel the pineapple.Fresh and ripe pineapples should feel firm and elastic to the touch. If under the pressure of your fingers the fruit seems too soft to you, do not buy it.
Do not buy pineapples that have been damaged, have mold, or have traces of sticky juice leaking out.
How to choose the right pineapple by smell.
Sniff the bottom of the pineapple. This is another way to choose a ripe, delicious pineapple. If it has a fresh, sweetish smell, it means you have a good pineapple. A barely noticeable smell may indicate that the fruits were picked too early and did not have time to ripen. The smell of fermentation indicates that the pineapple is already overripe.
There is a misconception that the ripeness of a pineapple can be determined by the sound that is obtained from hitting it with your hand, as can be done for a watermelon or melon. You should only focus on appearance and the smell of pineapple.
Another popular misconception is that large pineapples are the tastiest. In practice, it turns out that the largest pineapples are the least sweet.
Also, do not assume that leaves that come off easily are a sign of a ripe pineapple. This is usually typical for rotten pineapples, and instead of a tasty and sweet fruit, you may end up with a sour and unpleasant one, which you will soon throw in the trash.
After some practice, you will be able to accurately determine how to choose a good ripe pineapple at the market or in the supermarket. Good luck with your choice!
Despite the fact that pineapple is sold in our country all year round and at quite affordable prices, people still firmly believe that such exoticism is a sign of luxury and prosperity. But it’s not enough to grab the first fruit you come across in the store; you also need to know which one to grab.
By the tail
The first thing most sources teach is to pull the so-called sultan. That is, leaves. Or even spin the entire hat. They say that if the leaf is in your hands, then the pineapple is definitely ripe for the table.
So the unlucky buyers turn the sultana in all directions, checking the ripeness of the fruit. Only now it may happen that with special zeal the entire bunch will end up in your hands. Then you'll need fast feet or a long tongue. To escape from the seller, or to try to get away.
Secret. An easily pulled out leaf is not a sign of ripeness. This may be the beginning of the pineapple rotting process, which begins precisely at the top of the fruit.
How to choose a ripe pineapple based on its leaves:
- Juicy green tops signal the immaturity of the fruit. This pineapple will be dry, tough and bitter.
- Are the tops dark green and the tips of the leaves slightly dry? This means that this is the kind of pineapple that needs to be dragged to the table without delay.
- The leaves are dry, brownish green in color, indicating complete overripeness of the fruit. Inside you will find a stinking, watery mass, with a nasty taste and, possibly, signs of rotting.
That's all. And you don't have to pull or twist anything. If you really can’t wait to try the torsion method, then do it carefully. Gently rock the plume from side to side. It should give slightly, but not fall off completely. This is a sign of overripeness. And it certainly shouldn’t sit like a glove. Such fruit should ripen for a long time.
Advice. Carefully inspect the place where the tops are attached to the fruit. Sometimes a pineapple appears to be ripe, but suddenly there is mold. Refuse to purchase. Choose another fruit.
According to the color of the pulp
“Ripe pineapple has a characteristic yellow color...” and blah blah. Well, tell me, which store will allow you to cut the fruit to evaluate the color of the pulp? Or do sellers at the market also chop up every fruit? What if you don't buy it? You'll definitely get a pineapple on the top. Or a couple of affectionate ones. Or maybe not even a couple. And who will give you a guarantee that the pineapple you bought is as ripe as the cut fruit? No one.
Therefore, we will leave this method of determining ripeness to individuals who love extreme sports. And we will look at the color... of the scales. Yes, yes, it is their shade and condition that are quite worthy of being an indicator.
- The scales are juicy, light shade. The grooves between them are yellow or light green. Such a pineapple is still unripe, you will feel sorry for the money you spent on it.
- The scales are golden brown, juicy themselves, but the tips have already dried out a little. The grooves between them are a shade darker or greenish. Don't miss this beauty! Throw this pineapple into your basket immediately, you won’t regret it.
- The scales are dark or burgundy in color, hard, almost dried out. The grooves between them are brown with whitish specks. Again a waste of money and time. Such a pineapple is already preparing to depart safely into another world. Don't bother him and leave him alone.
At the same time, we can mention the elasticity of the crust. This is an indirect indicator. Of course, it does not give a 100% guarantee that you will get a ripe fruit. But other signs are also indirect; only cutting will give an absolute result. Therefore, just press the scale with a little force. It should be pliable, but elastic, like a spring. Hard indicates immaturity, and soft indicates overripeness.
By smell
Feel free to smell the pineapple. Even without damaging the integrity of the peel or pulp, ripe fruit exudes a characteristic aroma. He should be pleasant and unobtrusive. The strong, chemically-tasting smell that hits your nose should dissuade you from purchasing it. The almost complete absence of aroma should also cause a healthy concern.
By price
Although pineapple has long been common on our shelves, a good ripe fruit cannot be cheap. The fact is that he got to you by plane, and tickets are now expensive. But such a fruit was picked at the peak of its career and sent to you on a business trip at full ripeness and in the prime of life.
Inexpensive fruit floated to our country by sea routes. There is no doubt that tickets are much cheaper, but the swim takes more time than the flight. Therefore, such a pineapple was picked completely unripe in order to reach condition on the way. But only eyewitnesses, who are not ordinary buyers, know under what conditions such a swim took place.
So don’t be greedy, spend more on pineapple. But you definitely won’t go wrong and won’t throw money away. As they say: the miser pays twice.
By sound and weight
No, of course, the pineapple will not sing you Rigoletto’s aria to prove its ripeness. But you can really clap. Just not in your hands, but on the side of the fruit. Depending on the sound, you can determine the degree of maturity with a 70% probability:
- The empty sound indicates that the pineapple has been on the shelf for a very long time. He shrunk. There is no feeling of heaviness on the hand.
- A dull sound, like that of a watermelon, signals the complete ripeness of the fruit. When weighed on your hand, the pineapple feels heavier than it looks.
- A ringing sound indicates that the fruit is completely unripe. On the hand it weighs about as much as it looks.
As you can see, everything is quite simple. Sniff, knock, press. And further. Don't be afraid to examine the pineapple from all sides. Especially in stores. There is a sin there - turning the fruit towards the buyer in the most beautiful side. Therefore, be careful.
Advice. Try choosing a pineapple according to our recommendations. If you make a mistake, you will immediately get a visual experience. You won't make any more mistakes.
How to choose a ripe pineapple is no longer a question for you. And it’s unlikely that cunning sellers will be able to deceive you in order to sell you unripe fruit.
Video: how to choose, peel and cut a pineapple
