How to choose a ripe and sweet pineapple for the table. How to choose a ripe pineapple in the store Pineapple to the touch

An inhabitant of tropical latitudes, pineapple is now an ordinary fruit on our table. Nobody considers it a curiosity anymore. It lies on the shelves of shops in Russia along with bananas, grapes, apples, oranges. The most famous exotic fruit exporting countries are Thailand, Vietnam, Ecuador, and the Philippines. But how to deal with these tropical sissies? How to choose a ripe pineapple? What signs must be taken into account? Let's find out.

How to choose the right pineapple

An unripe, unripe fruit has a sour taste, it is unlikely that anyone will be happy with it. In addition, "green" pineapple can cause indigestion. Therefore, it is necessary to choose a ripe, sweet tropical delicacy that your family and you will be satisfied with. It is better to purchase pineapples in large chain stores, where they are provided with the most.

How to determine the ripeness of a pineapple? There are three important moments which must always be kept in mind. Choose:

• according to external signs;
• by sound and weight;
• by smell

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

Look carefully. There should be no defects, scratches, dents on the peel. If the skin color is brown-yellow or reddish-yellow with a predominance of pleasant yellow hues, this is a sure sign of ripeness. Wrinkled peel with spots - the fruit is overripe. The eyes are well developed. Underdeveloped eyes and greenish scales are evidence of the immaturity of the tropical guest. The firmness of the pineapple is also a sign of immaturity. In ripe - the peel is slightly elastic, the dent quickly disappears when pressed on the "body" of the fruit. The bottom should be firm, not wet, but rather dry. Soft to the touch “bottom” is a sign of an overripe fruit.

The second point is the leaves at the top. They must be strong, not withered, not torn, without traces of mold and white plaque. How to determine the ripeness of a pineapple by a rosette of leaves? This sign of ripeness is secondary, but, nevertheless, the leaves should have a fresh appearance - this is an indicator of the quality of the fruit. Broken, dirty, unaesthetic-looking leaves indicate that the fruit has “traveled” somewhere for a long time, has been repeatedly loaded and unloaded and is most likely not suitable for a meal and it is better to reject it. Yellow leaves clearly indicate overripeness and staleness.

Let's listen to the sounds and estimate the weight

You can choose a pineapple by sound. Often this is how watermelon is chosen. Pineapple also “sounds” differently depending on the degree of maturity. A ripe fruit makes a dull, full sound, a “green” or vice versa overripe fruit sounds dry and unexpressed. These definitions of sounds are of course subjective, and each one over time, from his own experience, determines which sound corresponds to a ripe fruit, which green, and which is overripe and stale.

The shape and weight of the fruit depends on the variety, but it is either cylindrical or oval. Upon visual inspection, you will see the symmetry of the fruit. Symmetry is a sign of a healthy fetus. Weight from 1 to 5 kilograms. It is believed that small fruits are sweeter, but the variety also affects the sweetness. A good ripe pineapple weighs more than it looks. If the fruit is large, light, then it is overripe, as the pulp eventually lost some of its internal moisture co and her specific gravity decreased.

Smell the tropical guest

How to choose the right pineapple by smell? We have a very useful, completely free analyzer of the quality and freshness of any product in our body - this is our sense of smell. By smell, you can understand a lot, get the right idea about the degree of freshness and ripeness of pineapple.

High-quality, ripe, healthy fruit emits a delicate, pleasant, sweetish aroma. If the smell is pleasant, but too sharp and intense, the fruit is clearly overripe. If the smell is not felt at all or very slight, the fruit is “still green”. An unpleasant, “yeasty” smell is evidence of a spoiled, overripe fruit.

Let's look at the price

A tropical guest, by definition, cannot be cheap. Its delivery by any mode of transport - by air, by water or by land over such a considerable distance costs "a pretty penny". Loading, unloading, storage and all sorts of trade margins also form the price of an exotic product.

If you saw pineapples at a alarmingly low (compared to the usual) price at a sale in a supermarket, think carefully about whether it is worth "chasing cheapness." Fruit is more likely to be of inadequate quality, otherwise they would not be sold. But anything happens. Maybe there are too many fruits for sale, and the demand for them is less than the calculated one - insignificant. Remember how to choose the right pineapple and slowly get down to business. Perhaps you will get a normal ripe and fresh fruit.

Pulp color

It is unlikely that in a store to determine the ripeness of the fruit, you will cut off a piece of pulp to see the color. But at home, you can appreciate the dependence of color on the degree of ripeness of the fruit. The color of the pulp of a ripe fruit is yellow, golden, unripe is very pale yellow, almost white.

Will the "green" pineapple ripen

If you made a mistake and incorrectly assessed the ripeness of a fruit by buying an unripe specimen, will it “reach” at home? You don't have to count on it. If it's green, then so be it. Pineapples are harvested already in the degree of maturity. They do not contain starches, which turn into sugars over time, as happens, for example, with bananas. Bananas are harvested when immature and their rich starch is gradually collected through certain biological and biological processes. chemical reactions turns into sugar, so we get ripe tropical bananas on the table.

No matter how hard you try, no such reactions will occur in pineapples. Storage in warm, cold, dark, bright light, tops or bottoms will not cause any reactions. Storing a "green" fruit in order to get a ripe fruit will only cause it to spoil - it will either ferment or rot. As a result of vain efforts, you will receive only a spoiled product.

What pineapples should not be bought

We list the signs indicating which fruits do not need to be bought:

• with defects, scratches, dents on the peel
• asymmetrical shape
• with yellow or damaged, unsightly leaves
• with an unpleasant "yeasty" or putrid odor
• very small or too big
• big but light
• too hard
• if the dent on the peel does not return to its original position
• wet or soft bottom
• inappropriate price

The most delicious, sweet, ripe fruits can be purchased in December-January. It's pineapple season. Canned fruit in jars for sale all year round. But the most useful, although not quite “off the line”, are still fresh.

Tasty and healthy pineapple is no longer a curiosity on our table, but many are still afraid of its exoticism. In fact, it is not difficult to look after a ripe, high-quality fruit in a store or on the market if you know how. Choosing the right pineapple, easy to peel and cut it, serving it to the table, and saving it for future use will be no problem if you take into account a few simple recommendations.

The main "hint" is the price

No matter how trivial it sounds, but first of all, you should pay attention to how much a pineapple costs. How to choose the right fresh and ripe fruit can tell the price that the seller asks for it.

In order to deliver these fruits fresh to the shelves, they are usually transported 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 the transportation of pineapples by sea, they can cost a little less. However, then it must be taken into account that this method of transportation takes a considerable time. While on the road, the fruits may well overripe. Therefore, if the seller focuses exclusively on the favorable price of pineapples, it is worth examining 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 of a very mediocre product.

The conclusion is obvious: the price will serve as a good clue how to choose the right ripe pineapple, but you should not blindly focus only on it. Still, it doesn’t hurt to study the fetus additionally.

How to tell if a pineapple is ripe by smell

You can determine if a pineapple is suitable for eating by smell, holding the fruit at a distance outstretched hand. An unripe fruit will not smell at all. But the aroma of a good ripe pineapple should be pleasant, tender, slightly sweet.

If the fruit smells too rich, even cloying, it is most likely overripe. It is not subject to long-term storage. It is better to choose a different pineapple if you do not intend to serve it immediately after purchase. In addition, it is possible that the fruit began 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 is not 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 that you like. Ripe pineapple scales tend to be brownish, yellowish, or orange-gray in color. A greenish color may be evidence that the pineapple has not ripened (however, not always). There should also be no whitish dots between the scales of the fruit - this is how the mold manifests itself. In a quality fruit, the scales will be elastic and dense, but at the same time slightly soft to the touch. They will be too hard in a green fruit. If they are fairly soft and easily pressed inward, the pineapple is most likely rotten.

Another way to spot a ripe pineapple is like choosing a ripe watermelon. It is enough just to lightly pat the fruit with the palm of your hand. A ripe fruit with juicy pulp will make a dull sound. An "empty" sound will tell you that the pineapple is dry.

In addition, the fresh fruit has beautiful green leaves. If you lightly pull on one of them, it should easily separate from the rod. A leaf of a green pineapple will hold on tight, and in a rotten one, it will pull the tail of the fruit along with it. You can also gently try to turn the tail around, but not much (if the fruit is ripe, the tail is easy to tear off). If it sits tight, then it's a green pineapple.

How to choose this fruit correctly, ideally, the appearance of its pulp can tell. 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 an unripe fruit, its shade will be pale.

How to store pineapple

Having figured out how to choose the right ripe pineapple, it does not hurt to learn a little about the rules for storing it.

If the purchased fruit still turned out to be unripe, it doesn’t matter. Pineapple may well ripen at home. Just keep it in a dry place room temperature. Two or three days for the fruit to ripen will be enough.

Ripe pineapple should be stored in the refrigerator. There is an opinion that in this case the fruit inevitably loses its useful and taste qualities, However, this is not quite true. Yes, and there is no choice: when stored in other conditions, a ripe fruit will simply deteriorate. Therefore, it would be best to put a pineapple bought for future use in a paper bag and place it in the compartment of the refrigerator designed to store fruit. The bag is needed so that other products on the shelves do not acquire a pineapple flavor. Periodically, the fruit will need to be turned over so that it does not start to spit. You can keep ripe fruit in the refrigerator for no more than a week.

If you want to save a pineapple for more long time, it is recommended to first clean it and cut it into small pieces, and then freeze it. A fruit prepared in this way can be kept in the freezer for up to three months.

How to peel a pineapple

There are some peculiarities in how pineapple should be peeled. "How to choose the right fruit?" - not the only question, sometimes perplexing.

The easiest peeling method involves simply cutting the fruit into round "washers" with a sharp knife, and then peeling each of them. It is also desirable to remove the middle from each circle - it is inedible.

However, many do not like this option due to the fact that quite a lot of tasty and tasty food is lost with it. healthy juice. To avoid this, it is advised to carefully cut off the spiny 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 the presence of special devices, but also experience.

Thai way to peel pineapple

The most effective way to peel pineapple is considered to be Thai. To begin with, you should cut off the lower part from the fruit so that it is convenient to put it 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 in some places - it does not matter. 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 such a line at a slight angle to the "eye". After that, you can carefully remove the "wedge" with the remnants of the spikes. The same should be done with the rest of the growths.

A small pineapple prepared in this way can be served on the table 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

For a spectacular serving to the table, the unpeeled fruit is advised to be divided lengthwise into four parts. From each, carefully cut out the entire pulp in one piece, leaving an area with leaves on top.

The quarters must be carefully removed and the hard fibrous core removed from them. After that, the processed pieces of pulp must be put back into the "boats" of the skin, carefully placed on a dish and put on the table. Served in this way, pineapple looks very impressive, and the pieces of pulp are completely ready to eat.

If you know, when you are going to buy a pineapple, how to choose, properly peel and cut this fruit, then at any feast it will certainly not be left without attention.

Pineapples on the shelves of modern stores is not a rare phenomenon. However, few people have an idea of ​​how and where pineapples grow. This fruit is not only tasty and healthy, but also unique, because it grows right on the ground. And the fact that pineapple is a herb is a revelation for some people.

Many believe that pineapples ripen on palm trees. But this is a delusion. Pineapple - perennial herbaceous plant. It has long sharp leaves. Fruits are formed in the central part on a leg. An elegant cone is a collection of small fruits (infructescence) formed by each of its own flower.

Pineapple fruits have beneficial properties:

• rich in vitamins A, C, B;
• able to thin the blood;
• promote the growth and strengthening of bones;
• inhibit the pathogenic flora of the intestine.

Pineapples are pollinated during the flowering period by hummingbirds or butterflies. Fruits growing from such ovaries have small seeds under the skin, which significantly reduces the taste of the product. Therefore, plantation owners tend to keep pollinators out of their property.

A warm climate and sun are important conditions without which the fruit will not ripen. In order to retain moisture under the rays of the scorching sun, the leaves of the fruit are covered with a thick, hard skin, and their area is reduced due to narrowing.

How to choose a ripe pineapple: 5 ways

The hard scales covering the pineapple are able to retain its juice.

Lateral shoots grow from the axils of the leaves, which can be planted. If these parts are removed, the plant begins to bear fruit again. Usually, after the second crop is harvested, pineapples are uprooted and new ones are planted in their place.

Southeast Asians and Filipinos use the leaves of this exotic plant for the production of fabrics and ship ropes.

Where can you find pineapples, a list of countries

Pineapple is considered to be a tropical fruit. Historical homeland - South America, or rather - Paraguay. From the 12th to the 15th century, this plant spread throughout South America. Moreover, its fruits were not only used for food, but also made wine based on them.

After the second trip of Columbus, pineapples came to Europe. Over time, unique fruits were transported to other warm regions, where they are still successfully grown. These include the islands of Hawaii and the Philippines, Australia, Mexico, Brazil, Indonesia and African countries. Thailand is the world leader in the export of pineapples. They are engaged in the cultivation of this fruit in the USA, Southern and Central Europe, but exclusively in greenhouses.

In Russia there is no suitable conditions for pineapple cultivation. Even in Krasnodar Territory Such fruits can only be grown in greenhouses.

Growing pineapple indoors

It is quite possible to grow a small exotic fruit at home, right in the room. But for this it will be useful to have an idea about the methods of propagation of pineapples. There are three of them:

At home, it is more appropriate to use the third method. The growing process is quite long, so you need to be patient.

1. First of all, the top of the fetus should be prepared for planting. The cut of the lower leaves must be carried out in such a way that approximately 3 cm is left of the cutting.
2. The workpiece is determined in a dry room, with good ventilation. There it is left for 3-4 days in order to dry out.
3. After drying, the top should be lowered into a transparent container with water by 4-5 cm. It is important to take care of protecting the pineapple from drafts and overdrying until rooting.
4. Every second day the water in the jar must be changed.
5. In order for the cultivation of pineapple to be successful, it is necessary to maintain the same temperature in the room all the time.
6. You can plant a plant in the ground after the first roots appear. The diameter of the planting pot and the top of the pineapple should be approximately the same size.
7. The container for planting must be equipped with special holes. A 2-3 cm layer of expanded clay is placed at the very bottom. After planting, the pineapple should be watered abundantly and placed in a well-lit place.
8. To obtain the desired result, the planted plant must be watered frequently and abundantly. But if mold or a rotten smell appears in the pot, the soil should be completely changed.
9. In order to bring the growing conditions as close as possible to natural ones, it is necessary to create something like a greenhouse by covering the plant with a transparent jar.

When growing pineapples, it is important to follow temperature regime. During the summer the most optimum temperature 28-30 degrees, in winter - 22-24 degrees. The pot is not placed on the windowsill, but on a table by the window or a special flower stand. IN winter period care must be taken to highlight the pineapple with a fluorescent lamp. Every time after 10-14 days, it is recommended to feed the plant with a complex of liquid mineral fertilizers.

If you strictly follow all the rules for caring for this amazing plant, then in 3-4 years it will provide an opportunity to enjoy its unusual taste.

pineapple season

In tropical countries, the pineapple season lasts all year. We have this fruit can be purchased in stores. How fresh the fruit is can be determined by the smell, which should be pronounced and sweet. Ripe fruit has an elastic shell, and the top is bright green. An overripe fruit exudes a sour smell, has a withered top and a brown color. The fruit is soft to the touch. Too hard and green scales testify to the immaturity of the fruit.

Pineapple plantation at first glance is an unattractive picture. The most ordinary field with some small exotic landings. However, growing this fruit costs a lot of work. For us, pineapple is not only a tasty product, but also a storehouse useful substances and trace elements that can have a positive effect on the body.

Video about where pineapples grow

Exotic fruits have long ceased to be a curiosity in Russian stores. On the shelves you can find not only mangoes, coconuts, kiwi, but also such unusual fruits as pomelo, papaya, passion fruit, pitahaya, lychee, feijoa and many others. But despite the fact that many overseas fruits and vegetables are no longer a rarity in our stores, we have not learned how to choose them correctly.

One of the most famous exotic fruits in Russia is pineapple, which will be discussed in this article. Of course, many people prefer to buy canned pineapples that are already sliced ​​or sliced. But fresh fruit always contains more nutrients than canned. Let's try to figure it out how to choose the right pineapple to buy a really ripe and high-quality fruit.

To begin with, it is worth noting an important fact. Most of the overseas fruits that come to our shops are not yet ripe. They sing along the way from the plantation to our table. In the store, there may be both a fruit of normal ripeness, and an unripe or overripe one. Therefore, the purchase of exotic fruits should be taken especially carefully.

So, you came to the store to buy a pineapple. What features you need to pay attention to when choosing this unusual fruit?

• IN pineapple leaves there should be no dry leaves, it should be green, dense and thick. Try to pull one of the leaves, if it pulled out without problems, then the fruit is ripe.
• pay attention to pineapple peel. It should have a uniform color without spots.

  How to choose the right pineapple and determine the ripe one - the basic rules and the fruit ripening season

  If there are spots, the fruit is overripe. In addition, the rind must be sufficiently hard with scales of uniform size. Only such a fruit will be really ripe. Too soft a crust is a sign that the fruit has begun to deteriorate. A green rind means the pineapple is not ripe.

• When choosing a pineapple, just like when choosing a watermelon, you need to tap on the fetus. A dull sound will mean that the fruit is ripe, but if an empty sound is heard, the fruit is already overripe.
• The smell of pineapple should be pleasant and easy. A strong aroma coming from the fruit, especially if you haven't cut it yet, may mean that the pineapple has already fermented.
• At home, cut the fruit and look at the color of its flesh. The flesh of a ripe pineapple has a rich yellow color, if the flesh is pale, the fruit is not ripe.
• If you see pineapples in a store in different ways price, then most likely they were delivered different ways. Expensive fruits - by plane, and cheaper ones - by sea. In this case, it would be best to choose a more expensive fruit, it will most likely really be tasty and ripe.

After you cut a pineapple at home, you need to store it at room temperature, because this overseas fruit does not like the cold. In the refrigerator, it can quickly lose its flavor.

Ripe and tasty pineapple will decorate any festive table, and will also be great in combination with other products in salads and hot dishes. We wish you a successful purchase!

HOW TO CHOOSE PINEAPPLE correctly, tips for choosing pineapples and other useful articles.

Today, a wide variety of fruits from tropical countries are sold in almost any store. One of the most famous and beloved exotic fruits in our country is pineapple. But often the fruit that seemed so beautiful and appetizing on the counter of the store turns out to be sour and unpleasant in taste, or worse, rotten. The fruit goes to the bin, the mood is spoiled ... In order not to be disappointed in the purchase at home, you need to know how to choose the right pineapple, after eating which our body will receive a portion of vitamins and nutrients, and we ourselves will enjoy the delicious taste of a ripe, juicy and fragrant tropical fruit . In fact, it is not so difficult to look after the mass of outwardly similar pineapples in the store - ripe and tasty, if you follow a few simple recommendations. So, how to choose a ripe pineapple? Read in this note.

Criteria for choosing a ripe pineapple

Examining the crust

Pineapple should have a regular oval shape, and its peel should be slightly soft, but strong and elastic. Press on the side of the pineapple with your finger - it should spring slightly, but if the dent does not rise - the fruit has begun to deteriorate or is already rotten.

A quality fruit has scales of the same size, a hard crust, its color is uniform, without spots. The presence of dark spots eloquently indicates that the fruit is very overripe.

Also set aside fruit that has wrinkled skin, smudges, or cracks on the surface.

Depending on the variety, the color of the pineapple peel can be brown, golden brown, orange-gray or yellow-green. Many people think that a fruit with a green color is unripe, but this is not entirely true. Pineapple, which has a greenish rind, can also be juicy and tasty. And if you come across such a pineapple, check it for ripeness in other ways given here.

pineapple scale

The scales of high-quality pineapple are elastic, and if you press them, they do not push through. Small tails that are at the end of the scales should break off easily. Bending, sluggish ponytails indicate improper storage of the product.

Bottom of a pineapple

When choosing, do not forget to turn the pineapple over and look at its bottom: it should be completely dry, without green shoots.

Tops will tell about the ripeness of pineapple

Inspect the tops: it is good if it is thick and green. Dry and yellow tops - in perishable fruit.

There is a test that must be done before buying. Turn the tops back and forth. If it scrolls easily, then we have a ripe and sweet fruit. The tops of benign pineapple can be rotated 90-180 °.

Make sure the pineapple is ripe by pulling a leaf from the top. If it pulls out easily, the pineapple is ripe. If, together with one leaf, all the tops suddenly come off, the fruit has already begun to rot.

You can just shake the pineapple. The tops of a ripe fruit will stagger.

How to choose a pineapple by smell?

Feel free to sniff the pineapple, especially if you have a good sense of smell. Unripe fruit has no smell or almost no smell. Ripe pineapple spreads a light, sweetish aroma. Too sharp, saturated smell indicates that the fermentation process has begun in the pineapple - you definitely should not buy such a fruit.

Pineapple price: the more expensive, the tastier?

Can a quality pineapple be relatively cheap? This question cannot be answered unambiguously. Pineapples are brought to us from distant countries with a tropical climate. They are delivered in two ways: by air and by sea. If pineapples were transported by sea, they would cost less. But in this case, the fruits are picked while still green, and they ripen on the way. This method of transportation is cheaper, but pineapples may become overripe or lose flavor along the way. In addition, fruits transported by ships are treated more heavily with chemicals so that they do not deteriorate during a long journey. Transportation by plane is much more expensive, and accordingly pineapples are more expensive. But such fruits are better, more fragrant and tastier, because they are plucked ripe and in as soon as possible deliver to us. Therefore, if you see two identical pineapples on the counter, but one costs much more, then such a fruit, of course, is of better quality and tastier.

And further…

If you buy pineapple not in a supermarket, but in a private store or market, you can ask the seller to make an incision. Ripe fruit, when cut, has a golden yellow color, while unripe pineapple is whitish.

You can pat a pineapple with the palm of your hand like a watermelon. A dull sound indicates that the fruit is ripe and juicy. An empty sound is a sign that the fruit is dry.

Among other things, pay attention to the heaviness of the fruit: a ripe pineapple should be weighty.

When buying a pineapple in a store or in the market, do not hesitate to smell, touch, and carefully examine the fruit you like. Only in this way will you be able to choose a pineapple that will not really disappoint you.

You need to know that you can suffer from unripe pineapple - it can act as a laxative. And besides, it has a pungent taste. Therefore, your task is to do everything to buy a ripe fruit, in which the caustic properties disappear.

Delicious, extremely juicy taste and pleasant bright aroma you will find only in a ripe fruit.

Depending on the size of the "butt" (the place of attachment to the plant), it is possible to determine how the fruit ripened, on the plant itself or on the way to the buyer. If the fruit ripened naturally, its “ass” is small and wrinkled, and if during transportation and storage, then it is wider.

Try to pull on one leaf of tops - in a ripe fruit, it will easily pull out. If the pineapple has reached the stage of maturity, then its top (tops) should scroll.

How to choose a pineapple

Check out this fact.

Pineapples, like the other subtropical fruit banana, have a ripening peak, accompanied by the appearance of dark spots. Therefore, do not choose them with specks - there is a high risk of overripeness and spoilage.

If the pineapple is cut, then ripeness can be determined by the color of the pulp - the richer the light yellow color, the riper. The pallor of the pulp indicates immaturity.

So, a quality pineapple is a ripe pineapple, at least in the so-called. consumer stage of maturity. It is clear that fruits ripened in natural conditions are not delivered to the shelves of our stores. Being ripped off in the so-called. removable stage of maturity, they acquire ripeness on the way to the buyer.

You can also use the ability of the fruit to ripen on its own at home: if your pineapple still needs ripening, then at a temperature not lower than 8-9 degrees Celsius.

and relative air humidity of 80-85% for a period of up to 25 days, unripe fruits can ripen well.

What should a ripe pineapple look like?

Determined by color:

1. Peel - a beautiful straw yellow, golden yellow color with a red or orange tint. In unripe fruits, the color of the peel is green.
2. The upper bunch of leaves (it is called "sultan") - salad, yellow-green color. The color of the topmost leaf in the bunch is yellow.
3. The tips of the segments (scales) on the peel are dark brown, black.

How to choose a pineapple

Pineapple is one of the favorite tropical fruits of many people. Its great taste and benefits for the body are undeniable - as well as the high price. For this reason, the choice should be as responsible as possible: not everyone can afford to replace an unsuccessful fruit bought for festive table. But how do you know that the pineapple is already ripe and you can take it?

Pineapple: how to choose a ripe one? The main signs of a ripe fruit

Pineapples travel a long way from warm countries before reaching the domestic market. Mostly fruits come from South America, Paraguay, Philippines, Thailand. They can travel in two ways:

• more expensive fruits "board" the plane - due to the short delivery time, such pineapples are plucked quite ripe;
• cheaper fruits “came” by sea, which means that they had time to ripen on the way - they were plucked completely green.

It is rare that a seller is able to provide information about the method of delivery, so the main focus is on the cost of the goods. In addition, you need to pay attention to the following signs of a ripe pineapple:

The easiest way to quickly check the ripeness of a pineapple is to turn the "top crown": in the case of a ripe fruit, it will easily come off.

True, not every store will evaluate such a test, so you will have to limit yourself to less obvious ways to make sure that the fruit is ripe enough.

Additionally, you should study the label (if any), taking into account the following information:

• grade - most often found "Creola" and Gold. Outwardly, the pineapples of these varieties are identical, you can only learn about the difference from the label. Gold belongs to the dessert category, such fruits are very sweet. The variety "Creola" due to sour fruits is intended for the manufacture of juices;
• manufacturer - reliable companies indicate information about the time of harvest and the expiration date of the pineapple. The best on the market are Chiquita, Dole and United Fruit.

When making a choice, you need to pay attention to the size of the fetus. In most cases, small fruits are sweeter than large ones, and those with thorns on tops are tastier than smooth-leaved ones.

How to choose a pineapple? Characteristics of an unsuccessful fruit

You can also go against the grain by rejecting fruits that meet "bad" criteria. The “symptoms” that something is wrong with pineapple are its features:

1. Excessive hardness of the fruit indicates immaturity, excessive softness indicates overripeness.
2. Yellow leaves are found in "old" pineapples.
3. Dark brown spots on the peel between the scales are an obvious sign of a very overripe fruit, perhaps even starting to rot.
4. A clearly green color on the upper part of the fruit means its insufficient ripeness.
5. The “empty” sound produced when tapping on a pineapple indicates that the fruit is dry and it will not be possible to “achieve” juicy pulp from it.
6. An obtrusive intense smell indicates the overripeness of the fruit, which in its "development" has almost reached the stage of decay. An additional "symptom" is the presence of mold on the crust.
7. A light grassy aroma is characteristic of underripe pineapples.
8. The dent formed when pressing on the peel warns against acquiring an overripe fruit. In principle, such a pineapple can be eaten, but this must be done as soon as possible, until the fruit begins to rot.

Whatever efforts the buyer makes, he always has a chance to lose in this "lottery". It is possible to understand exactly whether a ripe fruit was bought only at home after cutting a pineapple. The ripe fruit has a juicy rich yellow flesh with a golden tint. An unsuccessful purchase and an unripe fruit gives out a pale color of the “insides”.

Green pineapple can be placed top down in a vase and kept for several days: in this position, the ripening process is accelerated.

True, in this case, the fetus will contain caustic substances that corrode the mucous membrane.

9 Tricks to Pick the Ripeest, Tastiest Pineapple in the Store

A truly sweet pineapple is only when it is picked already ripe, and this happens extremely rarely.

A good pineapple can decorate any table. This fruit should not be underestimated: as a rule, those who do not like it simply tasted under- or overripe fruits. Time to correct the annoying oversight by learning how to choose the right fruit. It's time to add a new flavor to your life!

When buying a fruit, special attention should be paid to the color and condition of the pineapple peel. In a ripe fruit, the shell is soft when pressed, but elastic (there should be no dents on the surface of the pineapple). At the same time, the color of the peel is not an indicator of ripeness. A ripe fruit can have either a green with yellow patches or a brown shell. Uncharacteristic dark spots should be avoided. Their appearance is a sure sign that the fruit has already overripe.

You can check the maturity of a pineapple by looking at its bottom. The fetus has a base, which, when examined, should be completely dry, without green shoots.

A thorough inspection is worth subjecting to the tops. It is better to give preference to fruit with thick green tops (in this case, the tips of the leaves may already be dry). In a ripe pineapple, a leaf can be easily pulled out of the fruit - for this it is enough to make minimal effort. In this case, the rest of the shoots should remain in place. To verify the quality of the fruit, you should easily scroll its top to the side, back and forth. If the leaves move, then the pineapple is already ripe.

The light and pleasant aroma exuded by the still unpeeled pineapple is another sign of its maturity. At the same time, the “green” pineapple has almost no aroma, and a pungent smell, on the contrary, is a messenger that the fruit has been stale. You can finally verify the quality of the fetus by patting it with your palm. A dull sound is typical for ripe fruit, and an “empty” one indicates that the pineapple is most likely already dry.

Risks when buying pineapple

By purchasing exotic fruit, it is important to immediately check whether it is ripe. For pineapples, the ripening process is not typical. In the warmth of a store or apartment, the fruit will indeed become softer, but it will not be tastier and, even more so, it will not be healthier. That is why it is important to choose a pineapple not only with a soft and supple, but also with an elastic peel, on which there will be no traces of pressing with a finger.

When buying treats, it is better to give preference to fruits. small size. Even if they were picked unripe, they were able to absorb more nutrients and become sweeter than large pineapples.

Low price pineapple suggests that it was most likely brought by sea. This method of transportation takes a lot of time, which means that the fruit is definitely plucked green. Ripe pineapples stay fresh when shipped by air. The cost of such transportation will certainly be displayed in the cost.

If you want to choose a sweet ripe pineapple, you need to carefully study it. appearance. A pleasant aroma, clean skin, thick tops and the absence of spots and dents indicate the appropriate quality of an exotic fruit.

We all know what a pineapple looks like. The fruit is covered with a thick skin, behind which lies a yellow fragrant pulp, and on top there are green hard leaves. When choosing a pineapple, try to get a good look at it. Pay special attention to the following factors:

• pleasant subtle aroma from the skin. If the fetus is healthy, its smell is barely perceptible. The sharp smell of sweetness indicates that the fruit has most likely already begun to deteriorate;
• beautiful green foliage. Leaves should be free of blotches and signs of rotting. Try to tear off one leaf from all the tops; in a ripe pineapple, it separates without much effort. Few people know, but the tops of the fruit rotate around their own axis. Just pick up a pineapple, hold it with one hand, and rotate the tops with the other hand. If it turns well, then this indicates a clear ripeness of the fruit. Feel free to buy it;

Rotate the tops very carefully, without applying force. Otherwise, it may separate from the fetus.

• elastic crust. Many mistakenly assume that a ripe pineapple should have a hard skin, but this is not entirely true. The skin is dark in color, even, when compressed it shrinks a little, but springs. If the fruit cannot be squeezed, it is probably not ripe yet. When the fingers fall into the pulp, the pineapple has already begun to rot;
• pulp. Tap on the fruit and appreciate the sound. If the sound is empty, then the pulp is bad. A dull sound, on the contrary, is a sign of ripeness.

When you have evaluated the fetus in all respects, weigh it. Do not take smallish pineapples, remember that the normal weight of the fruit is from 1 to 2 kg. Be sure to pay attention to the price of fruits. A low price or promotion should alert you, it is better not to buy such pineapples. If the fruits are of good quality, no one will sell them for free. Do not forget to wash the fruit under running water before eating. Cut the fruit and enjoy its sweet and juicy taste.

How to store pineapple after purchase

If you have a few pieces of fragrant pulp left, put it in the refrigerator. The temperature in it should not be below zero degrees. The most optimal temperature range for storage is recognized as an interval from 5 to 15 degrees Celsius.

At a lower temperature, the pulp instantly loses its taste and becomes soft. At elevated temperatures, rotting of the pulp develops faster. Fruit pieces can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. If you leave a pineapple on the table, it will barely last two days. If more time has passed, and you forgot to remove the fruit, throw it into a bucket, because eating such a fruit is unsafe for health, there is a high probability of getting food poisoning.

Store already cut pineapple slices only under a film or wrap them in paper. Moisture must not be allowed to get on the pulp, otherwise rotting quickly develops.

You can transfer the pineapple chunks to a plastic container with a tight-fitting lid. Lay out the bottom of the container paper napkins in several layers.

Approach the choice of fruit carefully, never grab the first fruit that comes across. Even if you chose an unripe fruit, it's okay: leave it to lie in the refrigerator for 2-3 days, and it will ripen. It is undesirable to eat unripe pineapples, they are not so sweet in taste, and there is much less benefit in them than in ripe ones.