The thick and spikey skinned pineapples do not tell you well how ripe they are. They have this huge leafy crown on top, and the skin is covered with spikes. For any ordinary person, it is not easy to know how to tell if a pineapple is ripe. While there are many other fruits which indicate that through the color or their skin, that’s not the case with the pineapple. There are few subtle features of this fruit that will help you understand if it is ripe or not. And this article is all about looking for ways to tell if the pineapple is ripe.
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Canned pineapples are no parallel to fresh ones. While most people prefer to use canned pineapple to avoid this whole confusion of pineapple being ripe or not, but let me tell you that the taste of a fresh and juicy pineapple is worth all the efforts and time we put into buying a perfect one. So instead of getting yourself a processed can of pineapple full of extra sugars and preservatives, go for a fresh one. It will give you taste and juicy flesh, plus you can always use the shell to adorn your dinner table.
There are many myths and practices prevalent about the ways to tell if the pineapple is ripe or not. But that all can be confusing at times, at least that’s what my experience tells me. I used to have the hardest time getting a good ripe pineapple from the store until I found three easy and simple ways to instantly identify if the pineapple is ripe. Let us see what those methods really are down below.
How to Tell If A Pineapple Is Ripe?
It is better to look for all the three signs to identify if the pineapple is ripe. But If you are sure about any one of them, then are better chances that the pineapple is ripe. The three methods include:
- Checking the color of the exterior of the pineapple.
- Smell the fruit.
- And feel the texture of the fruit.
That’s right; the pineapple shopping is all about putting your three senses to better use. Let see how can we do that effectively:
The Color
Every time imagine pineapple, a greenish-yellow fruit comes in your mind. But it colors never stay the same. The fruit color can change from green-gray to green-yellow as its ages or ripens. So, the yellow is the right indicator of the freshness and ripeness of pineapple fruit. The brighter and tempting yellow color the fruit has, the better it will taste on the inside. This greenish-yellow color should consistent and the whole fruit must have the same color; if it has a darker orange patch, that means that the fruit is no good and it has overripened. You should also check the color at the base of the pineapple to see if it is ripe. A ripe pineapple has a bright orange color at its base.
The Feel
The greenish-yellow color of the skin is masked by the spikes that are present on the pineapple skin and that is one thing that makes it difficult to identify the color and tell if it is ripe. That is why we always use other techniques to check the flesh. And this method is also useful for several other fruits as well. You can check the fruit by touching and pressing the fruit from the outside. The firmness and softness of the fruit can tell if the fruit is ripe. Its is should feel a bit firm yet slightly soft. Too soft and too hard of the texture means that the fruit is of no good.
The Smell
The smell of fruit tells much about its ripeness. And that rule applies to all the fruits. The unripe fruits have that particular leafy smell that instantly makes you realize that this fruit needs more ripening. The same is true for pineapple if it’s not ripe, its smell will clearly tell. But since pineapple also has a crown on top and spikey skin, it will always smell leafy to some extent. So, the best way to smell for the ripe flesh inside, smell the fruit from the base. If it gives a sweet scent, it means that the fruit is good to use. And if it smells too vinegar-like, then it has overripened and not good for the use.
How to Keep It Fresh?
Now that you have brought that perfect ripe pineapple to home, it is important to know how to keep it fresh till it is used. A whole pineapple can last longer than a sliced or peeled one. So, try to keep the whole pineapple until you are ready to use it. It is better to keep the fruit in the refrigerator than leaving on the table outside. A whole, uncut pineapple can stay fresh for as long as 2 weeks. Whereas sliced or peeled pineapple can only last fresh in the refrigerator for 1 week. Keep that time frame in mind while storing a pineapple.
If you want to store the pineapple cubes or slices, try to keep them in a container with a lid. But line that container with a colander and then place the pineapple in that colander. In this way, all the excess juice will be strained out of the colander and will prevent the pineapple cubes from turning too soft, mushy or soggy.
Conclusion
Well, now you can tell if the pineapple is ripe or not and if you need you can read our guide on how to ripen a pineapple faster. For good taste and juicy texture, the flesh of the pineapple should be completely ripe. There are few quick steps to take the grocery store and you can easily pick the right pineapple for your fruit basket. The juicy pineapple flesh awaits you; go ahead, try these techniques and let us know how useful did you this information. Does it actually help to know better about your pineapple, its taste, its texture, firmness and ripeness? It definitely helped me a lot. Do write back and tell me if you had a similar experience then share this information with others well.
