Nowadays, one can rarely surprise anyone with exotic fruits. You don't have to go to Asian and Eastern countries for them. Most of the fruits are available in supermarkets. It is especially popular. The aroma and taste of the fruit is pleasant the first time, it is eaten with pleasure by both children and adults.

Sun fruits have a rich composition of nutrients, suitable for fitness diets, light snacks, a variety of menus. Dishes, with the addition of fruit, become spicy and have aromatic notes. How to choose a pineapple and not make the wrong choice? How to store properly at home? Read the tips in the article and get the most out of the exotic fruit.

Choosing the right pineapple

There are many varieties of tropical plants. Fruits come in different colors, sizes, shapes - there are many varieties. Ripe pineapple has a taste and aroma that cannot be confused with any other.

If you do not know how to determine the ripeness of a pineapple, pay attention to the following characteristics when choosing a fruit.

1. We choose by aroma. Ripe fruits have a sweet, subtle scent. If the aroma is pronounced, it is a sign of incipient decay or overripe. Refuse to buy, such a product can cause fermentation in the intestines, increased flatulence, nausea.
2. We choose according to external signs. Examine the pineapple carefully for dark spots, scuffs, dents, or other damage. The color may vary. There are varieties of yellow and green shades. If the pineapple is not of a uniform color, it means that it is not ready to eat. Scales with brown streaks are a sign of decay.
3. Press down on the surface. A good fruit will be firm, firm. The soft was stored for a long time, hard, not yet ripe to the end.
4. Remember? Patting. Do the same. If the sound is dull, feel free to take it. It is ripe, of excellent quality.
5. How to choose the right pineapple based on the price. The lower its cost, the more likely it is that the fruit is "not of the first freshness." Don't follow the lead of sellers who claim to be selling at a discount.

Let's consider the moments in detail. To enjoy delicious fruit to your heart's content.

Is it possible to determine ripeness by the rosette of leaves on a pineapple

What does a good quality pineapple look like given the state of the crown of leaves at the top?

To choose a fruit when buying, inspect the top carefully. It is not difficult to notice the signs of ripeness:

• the upper leaves are dense, dense, bright green in color, juicy when pressed;
• an attempt to tear off a leaf is difficult, it adheres tightly to the fruit;
• the tip of the leaf is green or slightly dried (normally up to 1 centimeter).

Give up the choice if the outlet "falls off" from the pineapple or is missing. An overripe specimen is visible on completely dried leaves, a sluggish rosette. Green pineapple has the same crest features as ripe pineapple. The rosette is elastic, juicy. You can buy it, as it ripens easily under properly created storage conditions.

Let's listen to sounds and estimate the weight

Pick up a pineapple. And just tap it with the edge of your palm. If the sounds are voiced, then it will turn out to be empty inside. If deaf - the pulp is juicy. Press down on the scales additionally. They must be pliable and resilient at the same time.

Estimate the weight. In appearance, the fruit of normal ripeness seems less than its real weight.

How much does a standard size pineapple weigh? Usually no more than two kilograms. Weight may vary by cultivar and variety. So, in Asian countries, large fruits prevail, in Latin America - small ones.

Smelling a tropical guest

Just breathe in the scent deeply. Don't you feel anything? So the fruit did not have time to ripen, it was picked green.

With the sensation of sweetish characteristic aromas, one can confidently assert that the product is ideal.

A sugary-sweet smell, pronounced, is evidence of signs of fermentation, over-ripeness.

What pineapples are not worth buying

The fruits are harvested of the same ripeness. However, they do not always come to our counters in the proper form. The provoking factors are: inappropriate storage times, temperature changes, long-term transportation, impacts during unloading / loading.

If your goal is to pick a ripe, flavorful pineapple, avoid purchasing a product that has the following characteristics:

• too convex scales or their absence in several places;
• sugary smell;
• lethargy of leaves;
• insufficient elasticity;
• too sonorous sounds when tapping the surface.

Many sellers will begin to assure that green exotic plants are already ready to eat.

This is not true. Their taste is different, the juiciness is insufficient. But you can make the pineapple ripe at home.

Will the green pineapple ripen

How to ripen pineapple at home is often of interest to consumers. It will certainly ripen. At the same time, it will be quite sweet, aromatic, juicy.

It is not difficult to achieve this result at home. We share some simple tricks.

1. Store the purchased product in a warm place or at room temperature. Low temperature leads to inhibition of the ripening process.
2. Place the fruit during storage so that the rosette of the leaves is on top. In this position, the starch contained at the base is evenly distributed over the entire surface. This will add sweetness to the pineapple without unpleasant sourness.

If you followed the storage conditions and did everything correctly, then after two or three days you will notice yellowness on the scales. The product is ready to use, both raw and for preparing stews, baked dishes.

To fully ripen the pineapple, do everything correctly. Remember, green fruits are not edible.

How to store pineapple at home

Healthy, tasty tropical fruits can be stored at home for a long time. While maintaining all the useful properties.

Correct storage

• Ripe ones should be stored on the lower shelves of the refrigerator, periodically turning them over.
• Do not store other food nearby. They are assigned a separate cell.
• To keep the smell fragrant, it is stored in paper bags with holes.

At room temperature, fruits are stored for no more than 3-4 days.

In fridge

Storage is from two to three weeks. Storage temperature is not less than +12 degrees.

In relation to the cut specimen, it is placed on the dish. Then it is covered with plastic wrap and placed on the bottom shelf. Storage is important for no more than two days.

Can I freeze

Of course, you can store the product frozen. We've all seen frozen fruits on supermarket shelves. Doing this is as easy as shelling pears at home.

To freeze pineapple you need:

1. Buy fully ripe pineapple.
2. Rinse thoroughly under running water.
3. Cut off the scales.
4. Cut the fruit in half, remove the core.
5. Chop into medium sized pieces. The shape of the slicing is arbitrary.
6. Place on a platter or board. It is important that the pieces do not lie on top of each other.
7. Place in a freezer.

After 3-4 hours, the pineapple is completely frozen. It remains to carefully separate it from the surface, and transfer it to plastic bags. Write the date and store in the freezer.

A few more methods for storing pineapple

Pineapple puree is frozen in the same way, filling with ice cube trays. The shelf life of such a product is 12 months. This fruit will be an addition to the preparation of creams, sweet sauces, ice cream, cocktails, confectionery.

The exotic can be preserved by making jams, marmalades, preserves from it. The cooking technology is the same. The product is placed in sterilized glass containers, rolled up with lids. Store in a cool place.

You can keep the pineapple dry. The prepared pieces are laid out on a baking sheet. Dry at an oven temperature of +80 degrees until the juice is completely evaporated (about a day). They fully retain their beneficial properties. Dried fruits are sweet. The shelf life is one year.

How much pineapple is stored at home

Summing up the results. The optimum temperature for storing fruits in the refrigerator is at least +12 degrees. Under these conditions, pineapples stay fresh for up to three weeks.

If you are unable to store the fruit in the refrigerator, create optimal humidity conditions (no more than 85%). And remember, the fruit must be consumed within three days.

Now you know how to properly store pineapple at home. This will allow you to enjoy its unique taste to the fullest.

Tropical fruits on our table are no longer exotic. In addition to the usual fruits and berries, at any time of the year, we are happy to eat pineapples brought from hot countries. To buy quality fruit, you need to know how to choose the right ripe pineapple in a store or market.

Pineapple is neither a berry, nor a fruit, nor a vegetable. This is the fruit of a herbaceous plant, consisting of several dozen small inflorescences on a spike-shaped stalk, accreted during ripening. What should you pay attention to first? Let's look at the signs of a good product.

The main world importers are Vietnam, China, Costa Rica, Panama. Paraguay, Thailand, Philippines, Ecuador. In Russian stores, nine out of ten pineapples are brought from Ecuador.

Responsible fruit suppliers: Dole, Bonanza, Prima Donna, Palmar, Tander, Akhmet Fruit, Fruit Brothers - label each fruit with the expiration date, place and time of harvest. In the tropics, pineapples are grown year-round. However, plants cut in summer are more sugary than winter crops. Be sure to pay attention to this. According to experts, the presence of a label is the best guarantee of product quality: reputable manufacturers value their image and supply only high-quality goods.

Shape and size

Pineapple varieties are distinguished by their shape: conical, cylindrical, oval, spherical.

A slight deviation from the correct geometric shape is not considered a defect. It does not affect quality.

The size can reach over 35 cm in height and determines its caliber. In the store, the most common calibers are 5-10, sometimes 12. In fact, this is a parameter that shows how many pieces of goods in one layer are placed in a standard box for transportation.

For a festive table, it is better to choose pineapples of 5-6 calibers. They are the sweetest.

To decorate the festive table with figures, you should choose a caliber 7-12 with dense pulp. It is less tasty, but better suited for carving.

The weight

A good ripe pineapple weighs between 0.8 kg and 3.6 kg, depending on the variety, growing conditions and transportation. In the Guinness Book of Records in 2011, as the largest, a specimen weighing 8.27 kg, grown in hot Australia, was entered.

Ripe pineapple is 86% water and 12% sugar, it must be weighty. From two fruits of the same size, choose the heavier one, it has a more juicy flesh. Light, most likely, began to dry out and lose moisture from long storage. Better not to take it.

Color and quality

When choosing, pay attention to the rind and tops. The skin should be firm, not hard, like a stone, but firm, like a rubber ball. If, with light squeezing, the pineapple springs up, it means that it has ripened on the plantation. Such fruits are more expensive than ordinary fruits, as they are delivered to the buyer by plane. Unripe pineapples reach ripeness perfectly during delivery and storage.

Peel

The peel of a high-quality ripe pineapple should be uniform, without mechanical damage, cracks, scars and bruises. Color from green to orange.

In ripe pineapple, the eyes are separated by brownish or dark green grooves, have dried tips that break off easily. The stem is also dry, short, no longer than 2.5 cm. The dryness and fragility of the elements proves that the plant was properly stored and transported, there is no rot and mold in it.

Soft, bursting dark brown or brown spots are a sign of decay. Whitish furrows on the skin and between the eyes are mold. Goods with such defects cannot be taken.

Crown

A sultan or crown is a rosette of leaves, which a healthy ripe plant should have:

• thick;
• high, 10-12 cm;
• juicy dark green color, slightly dry tips are allowed.

A bright green sultan indicates immaturity. You can buy such a fruit, but at home you need to let it ripen for 7-10 days at a temperature of 10-20 o C.

The crown shows the ripeness of the pineapple. There are several ways to do this:

1. Try to pull the top sheet out of the middle of the sultan: if it pulls out easily, it means ripe. However, experts warn that the leaves of rotten plants are also perfectly separated.
2. Try to twist the sultan slightly by grasping the base. In mature plants, it is easily separated. Be careful. If it sits tightly, it means that it is not yet ripe.

You should not stop choosing a wrinkled pineapple with dry brown leaves flying off from the slightest touch - these are signs of decay.

Smell

The Russian word “pineapple” comes from the Indian “ana-ana”, meaning “the smell of smells”. The Indians named the plant due to the characteristic sweetish honey aroma emanating from ripe fruits. When choosing tropical fruits in the store, be sure to smell them. Take a pineapple and, at arm's length, try to smell it. How do you feel?

• absent or smells of grass - the pineapple is not ripe;
• barely perceptible pleasant sweetish aroma - ripe;
• sweet, cloying, obsessive, heavy - overripe, fermentation may have begun;
• strong persistent aroma, felt at a very long distance - most likely the sellers have treated the product with a flavoring agent.

Stop your choice on the pineapple, the smell of which you like the most.

Sound

There is one more quality that allows you to choose a good fruit. Ripe pineapple, like watermelon, has a distinctive sound. Pat it lightly with your palm:

• voiced - unripe;
• deaf - mature;
• “Empty” or echoing - it is overripe, the pulp has started to dry.

So, in order to get a ripe pineapple, choose a weighty, dull-sounding fruit in the store with an intact elastic skin, thick scrolling sultan, dry scales, and a sweet unobtrusive aroma.

Storage methods

Tropical fruits do not like the cold, they lose their aroma when cooled below +7 o C. However, ripe pineapple can be stored in the refrigerator at a temperature of +10 o C for about a week, and unripe pineapple can be stored for up to two weeks. You just need to place it in a fresh area with high humidity and wrap it in a paper bag so that it does not dry out and does not absorb foreign odors.

In addition, ripe fruit can be peeled, cut into pieces and placed in the freezer, where the taste will last for 2-3 months at low temperatures.

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It can be difficult for modern children to believe that their parents and grandparents met with the taste of tropical fruits in adulthood, and a hundred years ago, unknown to most of the country's population, pineapples were considered a sign of luxury and excess.

Today, all kinds of fruits from tropical countries and the most remote corners of the world can be found in almost any store. How to choose a pineapple so as not to be disappointed in the taste of the pulp hidden under the dense skin? Are there any tricks and tricks that allow you to select from the mass of outwardly similar fruits one that does not turn out to be immature or, on the contrary, overripe?

What does a pineapple look like, worth a purchase?

Beautiful, large fruits, crowned by a sultan of green tough foliage, are grown in the tropical part of the globe. Pineapples come to Russia both from Central and South America and from the countries of Southeast Asia.

In fact, pineapple, which looks like a single fruit, is an infructation consisting of many berries arranged in a spiral, which have grown together at the stage of the ovary. The fact that in the past they were "independent" is reminiscent only of the characteristic surface of the peel, on which traces of bracts and borders of individual fruits are noticeable.

Inside, the fact that the sweet and sour pulp appeared in the place of the inflorescence is reminiscent of a tough core, that is, a stem that has sprouted through all the fruit. And at the top of the pineapple, such a stem forms a green rosette.

Everyone who has tried pineapple, which has recently grown on a plantation and has not spent long days and weeks on the road, know the exact answer to the question: "Which pineapples are better?" Fruit on the table should be as fresh and ripe as possible. But what if the nearest plantation is many thousands of kilometers away, and pineapples are sold in a store around the corner, second only to Fedor Konyukhov in travel experience?

Is it possible and how to ripen pineapple?

Since the consumer cannot change the speed of delivery of fruits from the place of growth to the store, he will have to arm himself with some knowledge when choosing a pineapple. They will help determine the degree of ripeness of the pulp hidden under the skin and the quality of the fruit.

Unlike bananas, which are collected on plantations almost green, and then, upon arrival at their destination, are treated with a special gas that causes emergency ripening of fruits, they try to cut the pineapples when they are ripe. The fact is that in bananas and other fruits that can ripen after harvest, the formation of sugar occurs due to accumulated starchy substances. They are not in pineapples, and it is pointless to wait for the green sour fruit to become sweeter after a while. Therefore, the frequently asked question: "How to ripen a pineapple bought in a store?", You have to give a negative answer.

If the pineapple does not differ in sweetness, neither turning the fruit upside down, as is sometimes advised, nor keeping it warm or cold will help to change its taste.

You can store pineapple in the refrigerator for 3-6 days, and the temperature in this case should not be lower than 6-8 ° C, otherwise the pulp will become watery. It is absolutely impossible to leave the fruit in the warmth, since fermentation processes begin quickly under the peel, and the activity of harmful microorganisms in such conditions is sharply activated.

The pineapple left to ripen will not become juicier and sweeter, but only ferment or begin to rot.

How to choose the best quality pineapple?

In order not to look for ways to sweeten the unripe fruit, you need to do your best in the store and find a ripe sweet pineapple. Before choosing a pineapple, it is useful to look around the showcase and highlight the fruits:

• with the greenest leafy crown;
• with an even, not pimply "body";
• with a predominance of golden yellow tones in color.

Coming closer to ripe fruits, you can feel the characteristic aroma without signs of acidity or a hint of fermentation. The ripe fruits are firm, firm, but not soft to the touch. The skin of the pineapple looks almost even, not lumpy.

Although almost all fruits are roughly maturity when harvested on plantations, both green and overripe fruits hit the shelves.

Unripe pineapples can be identified:

• on more convex fragments on the surface of the peel;
• by herbal rather than fruity aroma;
• for a firm, not elastic fruit.

Pineapple growers claim that fruits that are completely green in color can be sweet, but choosing a pineapple with at least a slight presence of a yellow tint in the color, the buyer is less likely to be disappointed. These greens can ripen on the counter and acquire a different taste after storage.

Overripe pineapples give out a soft bottom, a sour or yeasty odor, a color change from yellow to bronze. Once the pineapple has accumulated as much sugar as possible, the fruit becomes vulnerable to rot. Since pineapples are treated with fungicides and other substances that prevent spoilage before leaving the plantations, moldy spots or serious softening on the bark may not be found. But inside an overripe, damaged or frostbitten fruit during transportation, destructive processes are already underway.

Any darkening on the bark, sap drips, soft spots or cracks are warning signs that should serve as a reason to abandon the purchase.

Pineapple ripening begins from its bottom. It is in this part that the fruit is always sweeter, hence the color of the ripening fruit begins to change. In most varieties, a sign of ripeness can be considered bright golden-yellow shades on the peel, at least present on its fragments around the base of the fruit. The higher the yellow color spreads, the more even the sweetness of the pineapple will be.

Is it possible to determine ripeness by the rosette of leaves on a pineapple?

Speaking about how to choose a pineapple, many people mention the possibility of pulling a leaf out of the sultan at the top of the fruit. If the leaf is easy to feed and peels off even with little effort, the pineapple is considered ripe. Unfortunately, this opinion is wrong. And pulling out the leaves at the counter will only lead to trouble, and not to the purchase of the desired delicacy.

Pineapple leaves treated with preservatives dry out naturally during the journey and storage, but do not change color.

Therefore, it is easy to spoil the product, but this will not give any useful information about the pineapple. But the change in the color of the foliage from green to brown or the complete drying of the tuft eloquently testifies to an impermissibly long time for the fruit to be on the counter or a violation of the rules for its storage.

Which pineapples are better with a lush sultan or a modest rosette of leaves? As a rule, it is recommended to buy pineapples with a rosette at least 10 cm high, but no more than two lengths of the fruit itself. After all, by paying for a large magnificent sultan, the buyer gets more expensive pulp.

Sometimes pineapple leafy rosettes are used to decorate the table at special events or dinner parties. In this case, you can preserve the freshness of the foliage for several days if the outlet is carefully unscrewed from the fruit, cleaned of traces of pulp and wrapped in a bag and put in the refrigerator.

Before buying, it is worth examining not only the fruit itself and its tuft, but the place where the stem is cut. If it is uneven, overly elongated, or moldy, choose a more dignified pineapple.

Canned pineapples are a favorite of many. But little beats the fragrant and juicy pulp of a fresh fruit. Here's how to choose the right pineapple to enjoy the first slice to the last.

So, our task is to choose a fruit that is already ripe enough. That is, its pulp is sweet and fragrant. Buying the perfect pineapple is like a lottery. Its juice and fiber are loaded with sugars. Having reached the peak of ripeness, they soon begin to ferment, fungi multiply in them.

Pineapple is not an apple, under its dense skin you cannot see how the pulp feels. Therefore, when choosing, we can only rely on indirect factors.

How to choose the right pineapple

To determine the ripeness of the pineapple, you and I need to examine the fruit, breathe in its smell, slightly tug on the sultan - this is the name of the rosette of leaves, and spank the fruit a little on the sides.

1. We look

A good fresh pineapple looks delicious. The leaves in his sultan are thick and juicy. If there are yellowed and dried leaves around the edges, this is not scary. But if the whole outlet looks "tired" and withered, the fruit obviously took too long to get to the counter. You are unlikely to like its taste.

Quality pineapple has a whole skin, no cracks or damp spots. Its color varies between greenish brown, golden brown and yellow. Greenish shades of the peel do not mean that the fruit is unripe yet. It might just be a feature of the strain. But the predominance of golden yellow shades clearly indicates the readiness of the fruit to get to your table. Moreover, the more yellow, the sweeter the pineapple.

If the peel has lost its glossiness, has become dull, with a grayish tinge, if you see dark spots, cracks or drips of juice on it, it is better not to eat this pineapple.

2. Catching the scent

Pineapples of the "correct" ripeness smell delicate and tender. This aroma is not sweet, but rather fresh, fruity. And it certainly doesn't go far. If you smell the fruit, barely approaching the counter, if this smell is sharp and strong, the fruit is overripe and is already one step away from fermentation. Discard them.

If the pineapple does not emit a smell at all, it is either still far from ripe, or it was picked green and ripened along the way. Neither one nor the other makes it tastier.

3. Exploring the leaves

First, about the size: it turns out that it matters. The length of the leaves of a good pineapple is no more than 20 cm, and in the rosette they are arranged symmetrically. Too abundant or one-sided foliage indicates that the fruit did not develop correctly, which means that its quality is lower.

Dense and juicy leaves in a rosette are an eloquent indicator of freshness. But since pineapples from plantations travel for a long time, it is difficult to find a beautiful sultan in our stores.

Permissible deviations from the ideal are a few dried leaves along the edges of the rosette, dried tips on some leaves, a slight dull color.

The main feature of pineapple leaves is that at the peak of ripeness, the sultan begins to turn slightly in the nest. This is another secret of how to choose a ripe pineapple: grab the leaves at the base and twist the fruit slightly. Do not overdo it: the rosette becomes mobile, but does not rotate around its axis. If the leaves are tight, the pineapple is not fully ripe.

If, when you try to crank the sultan, you still have a leaf or two in your hand, the pineapple has obviously dried up long ago.

4. Slap on the sides

This procedure is akin to choosing a watermelon. Ripe and full of juice, the fruit emits a dull deep sound. If pineapple sounds "empty", then it is either green, or the pulp inside it has dried up long ago.

Taking the fruit in your hands, press down on the peel with your finger. In a ripe pineapple, it is firm. If the finger does not spring, the fetus has not reached its condition. If it fails, it already starts to rot.

Pay attention to the "cones" - in ripe pineapples they are flatter and even slightly retracted, in unripe ones they are more convex.

If you missed the choice: what to do with unripe or overripe pineapple

You cut the purchased pineapple and see: its pulp is not golden yellow, but pale. Instead of a juicy pineapple spirit, there is some kind of herbaceous smell. It's okay: you just chose an unripe fruit after all.

You can find a lot of speculations on the internet on how to condition a green pineapple. But, firstly, they all concern only whole, undamaged fruits. And secondly, the "home" methods that work great with avocados, kiwi or apples, are powerless over the tough and fibrous pineapple skin.

If you nevertheless come across an unripe fruit, it is better to put it not for dessert, but in meat dishes. Green pineapple after heat treatment becomes softer, loses unpleasant notes of taste and creates a completely new mood for meatloafs, chops and steaks.

However, it is also possible for dessert. Unripe pulp will make good candied fruits. Remove the peel from the pineapple, dice the pulp and dry in a slightly open oven. And sprinkle the finished candied fruits with powdered sugar.

Overripe can be stumbled upon, even by carefully following all the tips on how to choose a pineapple. The secret is that pineapples are treated with fungicides for preservation while still on plantations. But if the fruit was initially at the peak of ripeness or there were microdamages in it, fermentation processes may begin during a long journey, although from the outside it will look quite satisfactory. It is better not to use overripe fruits with a pungent odor and a damp, crumpled bottom for food.

And, of course, even the most elastic, fragrant and ripe pineapple must be thoroughly washed with a brush before use.

Probably, more than one holiday in any home can not do without an exotic pineapple fruit, it is loved by adults and children, it is combined with many dishes and is very popular both in our country and in others.

But how to choose the right ripe pineapple so as not to buy your favorite fruit spoiled in the store, we will tell you in this article.

Not everyone will determine at first glance which of the fruits on the counter should be preferred.

Looking at a pineapple, you can't tell right away how tasty and ripe it is, but the taste and useful 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 an aromatic and attractive product. And it is also very tasty, provided that the choice is made correctly, and the untainted fruit fell into your hands. Pineapple is brought from afar, and, therefore, it cannot be cheap.

And we do not like to spend decent money for a "pig in a poke". So, we will learn to recognize the correct pineapple.

External signs of fetal selection

We start choosing a pineapple with a visual inspection. It is believed that a ripe pineapple should be an even yellow-brown color.

But you can choose a good ripe pineapple, either yellow or greenish. So if there are small areas of green on the fruit, you should not immediately put it aside, check it for ripeness on other points, perhaps this is what you need.

Sound check

You may be surprised, but in order to choose a ripe pineapple, you need to remember how to choose watermelons, clapping your palm on the fruit.

Pat the pineapple lightly and listen to the sound it makes. If the sound is dull, the pineapple is ripe, take it, you will not regret it.

Determination of ripeness by the tail

Another good sign of the ripeness of the pineapple is its "tail". A pineapple tail can tell you about its quality. The foliage of a good pineapple is dense, green, without dry leaves.

Try to pull the leaf at the base: in a ripe pineapple, it will easily move forward, or even break out altogether.

If the pineapple crown crumbles into the leaves without much effort, then the fruit is clearly overripe. Grasping 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 that the tail is scrolling slightly, then the selected pineapple is in perfect shape. A tightly seated, motionless crown speaks of immaturity.
Scales

Pay attention to the scales: they should be elastic and dense, when pressed, do not squeeze inward. The tails on the pineapple cells should be dry and brittle. Under proper storage conditions, these ponytails remain dry and break off easily. Bending, sluggish tails indicate excess moisture during storage or transportation, which easily leads to spoilage, decay, and mold.

Inspection of the fruit rind

The rind of a ripe pineapple should be soft but firm. Unripe fruits have a hard, dense skin. Press lightly on the side of the fruit.

Has the skin spring back under your fingers? Great, this pineapple was most likely picked ripe. If, however, pressing on the fruit, you experienced the same sensations as when squeezing the door handle in the palm of your hand, then you are unlikely to like such a pineapple.

By the way, it is believed that unripe pineapple can ripen if left to lie down. Nothing of the kind, plucked pineapples do not ripen, the peel may still turn yellow (darken), but this will not have a positive effect on the taste. And why do you need unsweetened pineapple?

Take a closer look, is there any dark, brown spots on it? If there are any, then this is a sure sign that the pineapple is overripe.

Pulp and pineapple rind color

• Ripe high-quality pineapple has golden juicy flesh, it has a firm, dense, evenly colored crust. It can have a greenish tint even in ripe pineapple.

• But there should not be any spots 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 weight of the fruit: a normal pineapple should be weighty.

Tropical fruits are often controversial. What is the overseas miracle attributed to: vegetables or fruits? So, pineapple is a herb, in the flower of which a juicy, sweet fruit develops. And in terms of species characteristics, it is closer to cereals rather than fruits.

The fact that the fruit is overripe and began to deteriorate is clearly evidenced by: wrinkled skin, cracks and smudges on the surface, a reddish tint of the crust, fading brown leaves, whitish specks between the cells.

The spoiled fruit cannot always be identified at first glance, because rotting can begin from the inside and for some time does not appear externally.

Smell detection

We do not hesitate to smell pineapple, especially if the sense of smell is well developed. Ripe, fresh fruits have a sweetish, pleasant and delicate aroma.

• If the pineapple smells too sweet and the aroma is rather heavy than delicate, then how to choose the right ripe pineapple most likely this fruit is overripe and fermentation processes are already in full swing in it.

• If the smell of the fruit is almost not pronounced, the fruit is probably not yet ripe at all and it is better to postpone it.

Price

And another important sign of a good pineapple is its price. In order for the fruits to hit the shelves fresh, their delivery is organized using air transport, and this type of transportation is not cheap.

If the supplier used the services of sea carriers, then the pineapple may be cheaper. But since the fruit traveled by sea for a long time, the risk of acquiring an overripe pineapple increases.

So, if you are offered to buy very cheap fruits, double-check them, or even three times before you buy. But to take for an axiom "expensive means good" is also not worth it.

Sellers may well ask for high prices for an average quality product. If there is an opportunity to ask the seller about the method of delivery of the product, be sure to do it.

Helpful advice. As practice shows, small pineapples are sweeter than large ones, and fruits with thorny leaves are sweeter than those with “smooth” ones.

Other signs of determining ripeness

• When choosing, you pay attention to the integrity of the fetus, its purity, the absence of cracks, sunburn, signs of disease.

• A high-quality pineapple, hard and firm to the touch, has a regular symmetrical shape, thick green tops and a pleasant aroma (not harsh - otherwise the fruit will begin to ferment), smelling even through the peel.

• Avoid mold and rot - look for them primarily between the scales and at the base of the fruit.

• Also, make sure that the pineapple is dry when buying, otherwise, as a result of improper storage, the possibility of early decay.

How to store pineapple properly

If the purchase of pineapple is already over, then all that remains is to solve the problems with its storage.

This subtropical fruit is considered to be one of those foods that can be stored at normal home conditions. It is okay to store pineapple when it needs ripening at room temperature.

Ripe pineapples should be stored for no more than 12 days at around 9 degrees Celsius. Just keep in mind that at temperatures below 8 degrees Celsius, the fruit will lose its beneficial substances, the taste will change (it will become more watery) and color (it will darken).

It is better not to leave the cut pineapple for storage, but if necessary, then keep it better in the refrigerator in its own juice.

It should be borne in mind that unscrupulous sellers can increase the weight of the fruit, keeping them in water, up to 10-15%. It is almost impossible to detect this, the shelf life in such cases is significantly reduced. When they add antibiotics to this, both the shelf life and health risks increase.

To extend the lifespan of a pineapple, you can use the capabilities of the freezer. In a frozen state, it can stay for up to three months. However, it is necessary to pre-peel and cut the fruit into small pieces.

Overripe and spoilage from improper storage

Overripe fruits should be avoided: their quality, unlike immature ones, cannot be corrected.

Their peel loses its brightness, becomes dull and faded, acquires a grayish tint - these are the signs by which you can identify them.

Fruits that have been stored at temperatures below 8 degrees Celsius are beginning to look the same. The structure of the pulp in such fruits is disturbed - the pulp becomes watery, it darkens.

Pineapple is not only a delicious exotic fruit, but also a real storehouse of useful substances for weight correction, improving immunity, increasing mental and physical activity, and regulating metabolic processes.

How to ripen pineapple

Place the pineapple upside down. Provide him with support so that he does not touch the table.

The sugar in the inverted pineapple will move from the bottom up and help the fruit ripen, and if you leave it standing on the base, it will start to rot.

Laying the fruit on its side will not speed up ripening.

Examine the pineapple again after a few days. If the green color has changed to yellow or golden and a tasty tropical aroma has appeared, then pineapple can be eaten.

How to peel pineapple correctly

Peeling a pineapple takes a sharp knife and a little peace of mind.

• First you need to cut off the top with leaves and about 1 cm of pulp - the cut should be as even as possible.

• Set aside and cut off the opposite end, which can be discarded immediately.

• Then you need to put the pineapple upright and cut the peel from top to bottom in vertical strips.

You will have a whole peeled pineapple.

Then, using a potato peeler, you can cut out the pineapple "eyes", similar to potato ones. Cut the pineapple vertically in half and then into quarters. The pineapple core is too hard, so you need to cut it out, and then cut the remaining pieces into pieces of the required size.

To make the fruit sweeter, turn it upside down overnight. The fact is that the pineapple in the lower part of the fruit has a special supply of sugars. If this is not done, a good half of this sweetness is simply lost during cleaning.

Pineapple contains a plant enzyme - bromelain (bromelain), which breaks down proteins. Therefore, it is good to use it together with meat and fish. It should be borne in mind that conservation has a negative effect on the bromelin content.

It is interesting to know that, in general, from the point of view of botanical science, pineapple is the fruit of accreted berries, but for many it remains habitual - it is a fruit.

Now you know exactly how to choose the right ripe pineapple, good luck!

Used sources:

https://legkovmeste.ru

https://womanadvice.ru