Exotic fruits are picked unripe so that they do not spoil during transportation. But not all fruits have time to ripen. In order not to buy a green fruit, it is important to know how to choose a pineapple. Ripe fruits contain a large amount of nutrients. Underripe or overripe pineapples are not only not tasty, but also harmful.

When choosing, it is necessary to focus on the appearance of the fetus, but size and color do not always matter. These parameters may differ depending on the variety.

• inspect visually;
• check by touch;
• knock on the fetus;
• twist the tops;
• weigh the fruit.

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

The quality of the fruit can be affected by the cost. Too low a price indicates questionable quality. The cost is affected by the type of transportation of fruits. If pineapples are delivered by plane, then their price is higher, but in this case they also pick ripe fruits.

Transportation by ship is longer, so that the fruit does not deteriorate, it is plucked unripe. Not the fact that it will be brought to the store already ripe. Before buying, it is better to clarify where the fruits come from and how they were delivered. If such information is provided by the mall manager.

Choose the fruit you like, then proceed to examine it:

1. First of all, evaluate the appearance. There must 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. Color from greenish to yellow shades is allowed. It is important that the color is uniform and the scales are even.
2. Examine 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 scrolls around its axis.
3. Squeeze the fruit. It should be soft to the touch, but should not leave dents. The crust is elastic.
4. Pat on the fruit, as if choosing a watermelon. A dull sound should come out - this is a sign of ripeness.
5. Determine the weight. Pineapple should be heavy, in which case it is juicy. If the fruit is light, then it has lost moisture, and, therefore, began to dry out. The purchase must be cancelled.

It is necessary to focus on the following parameters:

• dense and green tops, which are easily separated from the top;
• the skin is uniform in color, without signs of decay;
• the fruit is slightly soft, but the peel is elastic;
• subtle fruity aroma.

If you buy half a pineapple, then 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, slightly sour.

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

Ripe pineapple is not only tasty, but also has a pleasant aroma. By smell, you can judge the degree of maturity of the fetus. The aroma should be light, slightly sweet. Too saturated smell indicates that the fruit is overripe.

A fruit that does not smell at all is not worth buying. He is green.

Spoiled pineapples, which ones should not be bought?

You need to cancel the purchase in such cases:

• bad smell;
• 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, dents remain when pressed;
• when tapped, an empty sound is heard.

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

Rules for storing and cleaning pineapple

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

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, the pineapple will quickly wither and deteriorate. It should not 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 to keep the fruit? It is advisable to eat pineapple within 12 days. Every day it becomes more and more ripe, so the taste may deteriorate. If brown spots appear on the peel during storage, then the fruit is not suitable for consumption.

Peeled or cut pineapple is stored only in the refrigerator, no more than 3 days. In order not to deteriorate the taste, 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 must be stored separately.

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

Most popular:

• Cut off 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. She is not usable.
• The pulp can be cut in any way you like.

Wash the pineapple before cutting. 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 remove the skin and remove the core during consumption.

Now fruits from exotic countries on the tables of the inhabitants of our country no longer surprise anyone. On New Year's Eve, pineapples are especially popular.

These delicious fruits are picked unripe at home so that they do not deteriorate during transportation. But not all of them have time to gain ripeness before getting on store shelves. Therefore, it is important to know the appearance of a ripe pineapple, to be able to choose it.

How to choose a ripe and sweet pineapple

Instances that have not had time to gain maturity have an unpleasant sour taste. Eating such a product leads to stomach pain or indigestion. There are many varieties of pineapple in nature. They differ in the appearance of the fetus and size. Therefore, when choosing an option, other criteria are taken into account.

To determine the ripeness, each specimen is evaluated according to the following parameters:

• external signs;
• fruit weight;
• the sound made when tapping;
• aroma.

Determination of ripeness by leaf rosette

Choosing exotic product, are carefully examined. A good pineapple will not have blemishes, bruises, scratches, or other damage on the skin. A yellow-red or yellow-brown peel is considered a sign of ripeness. If the skin is covered with spots, wrinkled, then the specimen is already overripe. About immaturity says a greenish tint on the peel, underdeveloped eyes.

After visual inspection, the selected specimens are felt. If the pulp is dense, firm, then the pineapple has not yet ripened. With sufficient ripeness, the pulp is elastic. If you press on the peel, the dent quickly disappears. From below, the specimen, with sufficient maturity, is hard, dryish. If softness is felt when pressing on the lower part, the product is already overripe.

Read also

Then inspect the leaves at the top of the specimen. The socket should be dense, without signs of dryness, whitish bloom or mold. Quality fruits have fresh leaves. If the outlet is broken, withered or has a stale appearance, this indicates a long journey of the product to the store counter. It is better not to buy such a copy. If the leaves are yellow, then the plant is stale, it is better not to buy it.

Important!

You can evaluate the ripeness by scrolling the outlet. It is captured at the base, trying to scroll around the axis. In a ripe specimen, the outlet easily lends itself, separates. If the foliage sits tightly, the product is clearly unripe.

Tapping and weight estimation

When you have finished inspecting the appearance of the exotic, you can tap it to determine the ripeness. Watermelons are chosen in a similar way. Also, pineapples "sound" differently at different stages of ripeness. If the fruit is ripe, the sound will be dull and full. Green specimens are given when tapped with a dry, unexpressed sound. The same response from overripe options.

Representatives of any variety have an oval or cylindrical shape. A good, tasty fruit will be symmetrical on all sides. His weight in normal condition is from 1 to 5 kg. At the same time, ripe fruits weigh more for verification than it seems visually. If the specimen is large, but the mass on the scales is small, then it has overripe. Over time, part of the moisture is lost and the weight of the fetus decreases.

Important!

It is believed that small fruits have a sweeter taste. But this parameter is largely influenced by the characteristics of the variety.

Evaluation of the smell and appearance of the pulp

ripe fruit good quality without damage, it produces a pleasant aroma with notes of sweetness. When the smell is too rich and intense, but has not lost its pleasant sound, then the specimen is already overripe. The unripe fruit has a light, almost imperceptible aroma. You should be wary of an unpleasant yeast aroma. He speaks of internal damage or rot.

If there is an opportunity to see the pulp and try it before buying the fruit, you should not miss it. Ripe fruit has a yellow-golden interior. If the flesh is pale or almost white, then the pineapple was picked too early.

Will the pineapple ripen at home

If it is not possible to buy a ripe fruit, you can opt for a slightly green version. Exotic fruit ripens well at home. The pulp then becomes sweet, fragrant and juicy.

To achieve a positive result and bring the product to ripeness, simple rules apply:

1. The fruit is placed in a warm place or stored at normal room temperature. With cold air in the room, the pineapple ripens very slowly.
2. The fruit is laid so that the leaf socket is on top. So, the starch located at the base of the leaves is evenly distributed throughout the pulp, saturating it with sweetness.

Pineapple is an exotic fruit that can be eaten alone or added to dishes. The main task when buying is to buy ripe fruits.

Pineapple is an oval or cylindrical fruit (the shape depends on the variety), consisting of many small segments connected to each other. As it ripens, the skin changes color from light green to yellow, reddish, tan, or dark green. On the upper part there is a bunch of hard leaves.

A ripe pineapple has juicy, bright yellow flesh and can weigh up to 5 kg.

You can understand which fruit is inside without cutting it (they won’t let you do this in the store). To do this, pay attention to the following parameters: appearance, color, smell.

By appearance

1. Juicy green leaves are a sign of an unripe pineapple. It is better to refuse to buy such a fruit, because its flesh will be dry, hard and bitter in taste.
2. The presence of dry brown leaves indicates that the fruit is overripe. The pulp of stale fruits contains a lot of water, has an unpleasant odor and taste.
3. At the top of a ripe pineapple is dense, dense, dark green foliage with slightly dried ends.

Some argue that to find out about the maturity of the fetus, just twist its tail. According to this theory, the leaves of a ripe fruit will fall off, while those of an unripe one will remain in place. You can use this method, but with caution. It is enough to slightly shake the top from side to side.

If it does not give in and sits like a glove, the fruit is still green. If the foliage falls off completely, the fruit is overripe or has begun to rot at the top.

It is also worth paying attention to the place of attachment of the top and base. The first should be clean, without mold or signs of decay, the second should be slightly damp (dryness indicates that the fruit was plucked long before it hit the counter).

by color

Ripe fruit has bright yellow (sometimes slightly golden) juicy flesh. It will not work to cut the fruit in the store, so it is better to pay attention to the appearance of the peel. Assessing the color of the scales, you can learn a lot about the taste and maturity of the pineapple:

1. The immature fruit has a light skin, yellow or light green stripes (grooves located between the scales).
2. Overripe fruit has dark, burgundy, almost dry scales. The grooves are colored brown, there may be speckles.
3. Ripe pineapple has a golden brown, tough, almost dried-up peel. The stripes between the scales are painted in a dark (sometimes greenish) color.

Some refuse to buy just because the fruit has a green peel. This is wrong, because for some varieties this color is normal.

The main thing is to choose fruits of a uniform color without dark spots, scuffs, dents and other damage.

If in doubt, feel the pineapple. The ripe fruit has an elastic, slightly soft peel. If you tap it with the edge of your hand, you can hear a dull sound. The presence of a hard peel and a sonorous sound is a sign that the fruit is not ripe.

By smell

After evaluating the smell and appearance of the pineapple, you need to pick it up and smell it. Ripe fruits smell pleasant and unobtrusive. The absence of aroma indicates that the fruit is not ripe.

Some pineapples have a specific chemical smell. This indicates that they were brought to maturity artificially. The presence of a strong sugary odor is a sign of overripeness or rotting. You can’t eat such a fruit, because it can cause disturbances in the digestive tract and associated symptoms: flatulence, nausea, diarrhea.

For those who still do not understand how to test a pineapple, it is worth memorizing the signs of a bad fruit that should not be bought. These include:

• wrong shape;
• large size combined with low weight;
• the presence of mechanical damage on the peel (scratches, dents, etc.);
• dry, yellow or light green leaves;
• wet and soft base;
• the smell of rot, mold or yeast;
• too hard peel, not amenable to pressure;
• chemical or cloying smell, complete absence of aroma;
• light or too dark skin.

These signs indicate that pineapple is not suitable for eating.

Photo of ripe fruit

Understanding how to determine the maturity of a pineapple is difficult: you have to remember many different rules and recommendations. A photograph of a ripe fruit will help you make the right choice. Just get it at the store and compare the pineapple in the photo with the fruits on the counter.

How to determine the maturity of the fruit at home during storage

Many people buy green fruits in the hope that they will ripen at home. This cannot be done, because unripe fruits will remain so. If bananas contain a large amount of starch, which contributes to the formation of sugar and the rapid ripening of fruits, then it is not enough in pineapples. You should not count on the fact that the pineapple will ripen under certain storage conditions - in warmth or in the sun. This will lead to spoilage of the product - fermentation or decay.

If the fruit is almost ripe, it will be ready to eat in a few days. Storage in a warm place or at room temperature will help speed up the ripening process. The fruit should stand on the base, leaves up. In this case, the starch will be evenly distributed throughout the fruit, making it sweet and juicy.

To keep pineapple fresh longer, you need to know how to store it. After purchase, the fruit must be placed where direct sunlight does not reach it (storage at high temperatures can lead to rapid deterioration of the product). If the fruit will be eaten in the next 2-3 days, it can be stored outside the refrigerator, warm or at room temperature. In other cases, pineapple is best placed in the cold.

Exotic fruits are kept on a separate (preferably lower) shelf, away from other products. The temperature must not drop below +12°C. To preserve the flavor, fruits are placed in paper bags with holes to allow air to flow.

If desired, pineapple can be frozen, but in this case it will become less juicy and fragrant. Freezing instructions are as follows:

1. Buy ripe fruit that does not need ripening.
2. Wash the peel thoroughly under tap water.
3. Remove scales with a knife.
4. Divide the pineapple into 2 parts, remove the core.
5. Cut into rings or pieces.
6. Lay on a flat horizontal surface (the pieces should lie side by side, but not on top of each other).
7. Place in the freezer for 3-4 hours.
8. Take out the pineapple, separate it from the surface and transfer it to bags.

Many do not know how to check pineapple for ripeness at home. This is easy to do: just do everything the same as in the store. You need to examine and feel the peel, smell the fruit and knock on it. If there are signs of ripeness, the fruit can be cut and tasted.

The ripe fruit has bright yellow flesh, moderately juicy and sweet.

If the fruit is too sugary or rotten, it should not be consumed. A spoiled product must be thrown away to avoid poisoning and problems with the gastrointestinal tract.

Shelf life at home

At room temperature, the fruits retain their properties for a short time - within 3 or 4 days. To increase this period, pineapple must be put in the refrigerator. In this case, the storage time will increase to 2 days (for cut fruits) or up to 2-3 weeks (for whole pineapples).

Frozen exotic fruits (in the form of pieces, rings or puree) are stored in the refrigerator for up to 12 months without loss of properties. Such fruits can be thawed, eaten separately or added to various dishes.

Despite the fact that pineapple is sold in our country all year round and at quite affordable prices, people still firmly believe that such exotic is a sign of luxury and prosperity. But after all, it’s not enough to grab the first fruit that comes across in the store, you also need to know which one to grab.

tail

The first thing most sources teach is to pull the so-called sultan. That is leaves. Or even twist the entire hat. Say, if the leaf is in the hands, then the pineapple is definitely ripe for the table.

So the unfortunate buyers of the sultan are twisting in all directions, checking the maturity of the fruit. Only now it may turn out that with special zeal, the entire bundle will be in the hands. Then you need fast legs or a long tongue. To run away from the seller, or try to get away.

Secret. An easily pulled leaf is not a sign of ripeness at all. This may be the beginning of the process of pineapple decay, which begins precisely in the upper part of the fruit.

How to choose a ripe pineapple according to the leaves:

1. Juicy green tops signal the immaturity of the fruit. Such a pineapple will be dryish, hard and bitter.
2. The tops are dark green, the tips of the leaves are slightly dry? So, just such a pineapple should be dragged to the table without delay.
3. The leaves are dry, brown green hue indicate the complete overripe of the fruit. Inside you will find a smelly, watery mass, with a nasty taste and, possibly, signs of decay.

That's all. And you don't have to pull or twist anything. If you really can't wait to try the twisting method, then do it carefully. Gently rock the sultan from side to side. It should give in slightly, but not fall off completely. This is a sign of maturity. And certainly should not sit like a glove. This fruit will take a long time to ripen.

Advice. Carefully inspect the place where the tops are attached to the fruit. Sometimes the pineapple, by all indications, is ripe, and there suddenly turns out to be mold. Refuse to buy. Choose a different fruit.

According to the color of the pulp

“Ripe pineapple - a characteristic yellow color ...” and blah blah. Well, tell me, in which store will they allow you to cut the fruit in order to evaluate the color of the pulp? Or in the market, too, sellers shred every piece of fruit? What if you don't buy it? On the crust, get pineapple for sure. Or a couple of sweet 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? Yes, no one.

Therefore, we leave this method of determining ripeness to individuals who love extreme sports. And we will look at the color ... of scales. Yes, yes, it is their shade and condition that are quite worthy of being an indicator.

1. The scales are juicy, light in color. The grooves between them are yellow or light green. Such a pineapple is still unripe, you will feel sorry for the money spent on it.
2. The scales are golden brown, juicy themselves, but the tips have already dried up a little. The grooves between them are a tone darker or greenish. Don't miss this beauty! Urgently throw such a pineapple into your basket, you will not regret it.
3. The scales are dark or burgundy in color, hard, almost dried up. The grooves between them are brown with whitish specks. Again, a waste of money and time. Such a pineapple is already preparing to safely depart to another world. Don't disturb him and leave him alone.

At the same time, we can also mention the elasticity of the crust. This is an indirect indicator. Of course, he does not give a 100% guarantee that you will get a ripe fruit. But after all, other signs are also indirect, only cutting will give an absolute result. Therefore, simply press the scale with a little effort. It should be pliable, but elastic, like a spring. Firm indicates immaturity, respectively soft - about overripeness.

By smell

Feel free to sniff the pineapple. Even without breaking the integrity of the peel or pulp, a ripe fruit exudes a characteristic aroma. It should be pleasant and unobtrusive. The strong, chemical-tasting smell that hits your nose should discourage you from buying. The almost complete absence of aroma should also cause healthy concern.

By price

Although pineapple has not been a rarity on our shelves for a long time, 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 plucked at the peak of his career and sent to you on a business trip at full ripeness and in the prime of life.

Inexpensive fruit sailed to our country by sea. No doubt, tickets are much cheaper, but you need more time for a swim than for a flight. Therefore, such a pineapple was picked absolutely immature in order to reach the condition on the way. But in what conditions such a swim took place - only eyewitnesses know, which ordinary buyers are not.

So do not be greedy, spend more money on a pineapple. But you definitely won’t lose and don’t throw money away. As the saying goes: a miser pays twice.

Sound and weight

No, of course, the pineapple will not sing Rigoletto's aria to you to prove its ripeness. But you can really clap. Only not in the palm of your hand, but on the side of the fruit. Depending on the sound, it is possible to determine the degree of maturity with a probability of 70%:

1. An empty sound indicates that the pineapple has been on the shelf for a very long time. He withered. There is no heaviness on the hand.
2. Deaf, like a watermelon, the sound signals the full ripeness of the fruit. When weighed on the hand, the pineapple seems heavier than it looks.
3. A ringing sound indicates that the fruit is completely unripe. On the hand, it weighs about its appearance.

As you can see, everything is quite simple. Smell, tap, press. And further. Don't be afraid to look at the pineapple from all angles. Especially in stores. There is a sin there - to turn the fruit to the buyer with the most beautiful side. Therefore, be careful.

Advice. Try to choose 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 not a question for you now. And it is unlikely that cunning sellers will be able to deceive you in order to sell an unripe fruit.

Video: how to choose, peel and cut a pineapple

Pineapple is an exotic fruit, tasty and fragrant, of all tropical fruits, it is perhaps the most popular. Due to the fact that this fruit comes to our shelves from afar, it is not cheap. And not everyone will decide to buy it for decent money, relying on "maybe". Therefore, stopping at the shelf with this exotic fruit, buyers think: how to choose a ripe pineapple? After all, you cannot look inside it, which means that it is necessary to correctly recognize it by other qualities. One by one appearance fruit, it is impossible to determine how juicy and ripe it is, and it depends on this beneficial features and, of course, taste. But if you know some secrets, then choosing a really ripe fruit is quite easy. Let's look at a few signs that will be useful when buying a pineapple.

Perform a visual inspection

Pay attention to the peel of the fruit, that is, the scales. They should be a muted brown with a yellowish and slightly greenish tint. Each scale has light beige tendrils, somewhat similar to the membranes inside walnuts. These processes must necessarily be dry and elastic structure. If the tails are dirty in color and you can see that they are sluggish, then the fruit was stored incorrectly and is probably spoiled inside.

Feel the fruit carefully

Take it in your hands and press on the skin. It should spring under your fingers, you should feel the elasticity of the fetus. If the skin is pressed too hard, you are holding an overripe pineapple in your hands. If, on the contrary, the fruit is too hard, then it has not yet ripened, and you should not buy it. Many mistakenly believe that a pineapple can ripen if it rests a little longer. This is not so, it will remain as it was plucked.

Pay attention to the crown

The “tail” of a pineapple can also serve as a hint when choosing. The leaves should be dark green, but not bright and juicy, but a little dry. Try to separate one sheet (but do not pull, but gently turn, as with). If you succeeded without difficulty, and the leaf easily came off the fruit, then you have a ripe fruit in front of you. But if this manipulation failed for you, then it is better to leave such a pineapple on the counter.

Feel free to sniff the pineapple

The aroma of this fruit will tell you a lot, so feel free to connect your sense of smell. A ripe fruit has an unobtrusive, slightly sweet and very pleasant aroma, while a strong and sugary smell indicates that the pineapple is clearly overripe and the fermentation process is already taking place in it. If you couldn’t catch any flavor at all, then you hurried to pick the pineapple, it’s still quite green, and it won’t ripen on its own.

Tap the fruit with your palm

Remember how we usually? We clap our hands on his crust. This method also works with pineapples. Tap the skin of the fetus with your knuckles and apply to your ear. Do you hear a dull sound? Then boldly put the fruit in the basket and go to the checkout. And if the sound is “empty”, like in a barrel? Make no mistake, this pineapple is overripe and definitely not worth buying. But if you hear a “dumb” sound like that on a stone, this one is generally green.

This nuance also plays an important role, since ripe pineapples were probably delivered by air, hence the high price. But if you see a suspiciously low cost for these fruits, then most likely they got here by sea, and during the long journey they managed to get pretty overripe. Therefore, do not be tempted by the low price, it is better to overpay and buy a ripe pineapple than save money and throw it in the trash.

Use our tips and they will definitely help you choose a ripe pineapple.