Do you have other tips for choosing the best pineapple? Paying close attention to the color, smell, and texture of the pineapple can all help you determine whether the fruit is fully ripe. To enable Verizon Media and our partners to process your personal data select 'I agree', or select 'Manage settings' for more information and to manage your choices. There are no social login steps defined in Sitecore for this flow. It should smell aromatic, with a scent that’s sweet and tropical. © 2020 CHOWHOUND, A RED VENTURES COMPANY. Some people may do best avoiding fruit, but others can eat them without problems. Ripe pineapples tend to have a sweet smell at the base of the fruit. All featured products are curated independently by our editors. Pick a perfect pineapple. A pineapple will not ripen any further – get any sweeter – after picking. There is NOTHING like a ripe pineapple, right out of the field. 3. The larger the pineapple, the greater proportion of edible fruit. Step 1: Smell the bottom. How To Store Store pineapple in refrigerator for 2 to 4 days. Look for a pineapple with flat eyes. The best pineapple offers an experience like nothing else, but how do you pick the perfect ripe pineapple at the store? This spiky, sunny fruit offers a vibrant taste of the tropics—and pineapples are good for so much more than garnishing piña coladas and mai tais or eating on their own. Pineapple should smell like, well, pineapple.Give the bottom of the fruit a quick sniff to see if it has its distinct sweet smell. Put your nose near the stem side of the pineapple and inhale. 1. Trust DOLE for the best Hawaiian pineapples. Enter your email address to subscribe to Taste and receive new posts by email. 2. Enjoy your pineapple fresh or cooked, as a side-dish, dessert or snack. Pure sweet pineapple with a little lime zest can’t be beat! Ideally, the exterior should have a greenish-yellow hue, which can indicate that it’s fully ripe. When I’m in the states, one thing in the “to do” list is visit your amazing store! That doesn’t mean necessarily that it is better tasting or any riper than smaller fruit. That doesn’t mean necessarily that it is better tasting or any riper than smaller fruit. Picking the perfect, ripe pineapple at the grocery store can be a bit of a challenge. All rights reserved. Find out more about how we use your information in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. @2019 Williams-Sonoma, Inc. All rights reserved. Choose the pineapple with the largest eyes. Honey and cinnamon can both boost your health, but some people think they have even more powerful benefits when combined. AOL is part of Verizon Media. Now that you have learned some of the basic ways to pick a good pineapple, head over to the grocery store and put it to practice. Pineapples are picked when ripe and do not ripen after harvest. A ripe pineapple should be gold-colored — not green — at least halfway up from the bottom, but not all the way up to the top. It will keep better and longer. Unlike other fruits, there’s much more to check beyond its color and appearance. The thought process is if an inner leaf pulls out easily, then the pineapple is ripe. A vinegary or alcoholic stench means it’s probably past its prime. Instead, choose fresh-looking pineapples with green leaves and a firm shell. When you buy something through our retail links, we may receive a commission. Here are the 20 best foods to eat if you have kidney disease. You may unsubscribe at any time. There’s nothing like biting into a sweet, juicy piece of pineapple and imagining yourself on a tropical beach. • First, pick it up and make sure it is heavy for its size. Look for a bit of yellow, which should be present at the eyes at the base of the fruit, but a green tint elsewhere is not a bad thing. This is my go to method as well. Pineapples that are heavy for their size are often juicier, sweeter, and more ripe. That’s right. In fact, to ensure that you’re getting the best bang for your buck, you should pay close attention to the texture, smell, and weight of the fruit as well. Pineapples that are fresh and fully ripe should have bright and healthy green leaves, as well as a greenish-yellow exterior. Cover the pineapple and let it rest in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. The sugar comes from the conversion of starch reserves in the stump at the time of ripening. A thicker, larger pineapple will yield more fruit to eat. Learn how to pick a perfectly ripened, juicy pineapple each and every time. Pecan Pie or Pumpkin Pie: Which One Wins Thanksgiving? If you’re not ready to eat your pineapple right away, store it in the fridge to keep it fresh, then cut it up as suits your needs. One of the best ways to tell if a pineapple is ripe and ready to enjoy is by smelling it. Because of this, gelatin made with fresh pineapple won’t set. Enjoy your pineapple fresh or cooked, as a side-dish, dessert or snack. By smelling, touching, and looking, I’ve been able to choose the perfect pineapple every time I’ve purchased one. Ease in pulling the leaves out of the crown is not a sign of ripeness or good quality. It should feel fairly firm—not rock-hard, but not really soft either; too much give indicates it’s breaking down from the inside out. Instead, it will just begin to degrade, with the starches converting to sugar. Checking the weight of your pineapple can be an effective strategy to help measure ripeness. The colour of a pineapple is generally a good indication of whether they are ripe. If you can’t detect a scent, pass it up (or risk being disappointed by unripe pineapple). Once you’ve picked THE one for you, you can immediately peel and slice them right away (stay tuned for another cutting pineapple hack here on … Ripe pineapples should have a firm shell that is slightly soft when squeezed. No matter what you’re doing with your pineapple, getting it at its peak is crucial. Grilled pineapple is also fantastic. How to Select A Fresh Pineapple. Cut pineapple lasts a couple of days if placed in a tightly covered container and stored in the refrigerator. To begin with, select a pineapple that is plump and fresh looking. If you’re in the mood to enjoy some pineapple and want to purchase it whole and slice it yourself, there are a few things to keep in mind when choosing a pineapple. This article reviews the…. Fresh pineapple is an amazing treat. So, next time you are at the store and want to pick a good-tasting pineapple, you can pick one with confidence. The sooner they are eaten, the better. Fresh pineapple contains bromelain, a protelytic enzyme that breaks down protein in a manner similar to what happens in digestion. Pineapple should smell like, well, pineapple.Give the bottom of the fruit a quick sniff to see if it has its distinct sweet smell. Following these simple tips will ensure that the next pineapple you buy and cut open will be juicy and delicious. It just makes sense to pick a pineapple with more edible fruit. Learn more about its benefits, nutrition facts and uses. If it comes off and up easily it’s ready to cut! Look for a pineapple that feels heavy for its size, which often means that it’s more ripe. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it really works! If there’s no scent, this is an indication that they pineapple’s not ripe. Some people believe that pulling an inner leaf will demonstrate if a pineapple is ripe. Ripe pineapples typically have a sweet smell at the bottom, right near the base of the fruit. Peeling and slicing the fruit can be a bit of a chore, so make it worth your while by picking only the freshest and sweetest of the bunch. To begin with, select a pineapple that is plump and fresh looking. This spiky, sunny fruit offers a vibrant taste of the tropics—and pineapples are good for so much more than garnishing piña coladas and mai tais or eating on their own.. This is because pineapples slowly change from green to yellow as they ripen, and they stop ripening after being picked. When shopping at your local supermarket, be sure to look for pineapples that have vibrant and healthy green leaves, which are considered a sign of freshness. Sign up for our newsletter to receive the latest tips, tricks, recipes and more, sent twice a week.