How to choose a fresh, ripe and tasty pineapple: a New Year's cheat sheet for those who are going to the store

Today, few buyers know how to choose a pineapple. The imagination pictures a juicy and sweet fruit that smells like the tropics. However, expectations do not always coincide with reality. Since exotic fruits are brought from afar, low-quality specimens often end up on the shelves: unripe or overripe, dried out or rotten from the inside. But such pleasure is not cheap. We invite you to find out what signs you can use to determine the ripeness and quality of pineapple in the store.

How to properly store 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 don't 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, barely noticeable odor. If the aroma is pronounced, this is a sign of beginning rotting or overripeness. Refuse to purchase, such a product can cause fermentation processes in the intestines, increased flatulence, and nausea.
2. We choose according to external features. Carefully examine the pineapple for dark spots, scuffs, dents, and other damage. Color may vary. There are varieties in yellow and green shades. If the pineapple is not uniform in color, this indicates that it is not ready to eat. Scales with brown veins are a sign of rotting.
3. Press down onto the surface. A good fruit will be elastic and dense. The soft one has been stored for a long time, the hard one has not yet ripened to the end.
4. Remember how you choose watermelons? Patting. Do the same. If the sound is dull, feel free to take it. It is ripe and of excellent quality.
5. How to choose the right pineapple based on price. The lower its cost, the more likely it is that the fruit is “not the first freshness.” Do not be led by sellers who claim that they are selling goods at a discount.

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

What does a good quality pineapple look like based on the condition of the crown of leaves located at the top?

To choose a fruit, when buying, carefully examine the top. Signs of ripeness are not difficult to notice:

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

Discard the choice if the socket “falls off” from the pineapple or is missing. An overripe specimen is noticeable by completely dried leaves and a limp rosette. A green pineapple has the same tuft characteristics as a ripe one. The rosette is elastic and juicy. You can buy it because it ripens easily under properly created storage conditions.

Take a pineapple in your hands. And just tap it with the edge of your palm. If the sounds are ringing, then it will be empty inside. If they are deaf, the flesh is juicy. Press the scales additionally. They must be pliable and elastic at the same time.

Estimate the weight. In appearance, a fruit of normal ripeness appears smaller than its actual weight.

How much does a standard size pineapple weigh? Usually no more than two kilograms. The weight may depend on the variety and variety. Thus, in Asian countries large-sized fruits predominate, in Latin America - small ones.

Let's just take a deep breath of the aroma. Don't you feel anything? This means that the fruit did not have time to ripen; it was picked green.

When you feel the sweetish characteristic aromas, you can confidently say that the product is ideal.

Fruits are picked at the same ripeness. However, they do not always arrive on our shelves in the proper form. Provoking factors are: inappropriate storage periods, temperature changes, long-term transportation, impacts during unloading/loading.

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

• too convex scales or their absence in several places;
• cloying smell;
• leaf lethargy;
• insufficient elasticity;
• too loud sounds when tapping the surface.

Many sellers will begin to assure that green exotics are already ready for consumption.

This is wrong. Their taste is different, their juiciness is insufficient. But you can make pineapple ripen at home.

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

Proper storage

• Ripe ones should be stored on the lower shelves of the refrigerator, turning them over periodically.
• No other products should be stored nearby. They are given a separate cell.
• To keep the smell aromatic, place it in paper bags with holes for storage.

In a refrigerator

Storage – from two to three weeks. Storage temperature is at least 12 degrees.

Regarding the cut specimen, it is placed on a plate. Then it is covered with plastic wrap and placed on the bottom shelf. Storage is important for no more than two days.

Of course, you can store the product frozen. We have all seen frozen fruits on supermarket shelves. This can be done as easily as possible at home.

To freeze pineapple you need:

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

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

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

Exotic can be preserved by preparing jams, marmalade, preserves from it. The preparation technology is similar. The product is placed in sterilized glass containers and covered with lids. Store in a cool place.

You can store pineapple in dried form. The prepared pieces are laid out on a baking sheet. Dry at an oven temperature of 80 degrees until the juice has completely evaporated (about a day). Completely retain beneficial properties. Sweet dried fruits. Shelf life – one year.

Let's summarize. The optimal temperature for storing fruit in the refrigerator is at least 12 degrees. Under these conditions, pineapples remain fresh for up to three weeks.

If you do not have the opportunity 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 fully enjoy its unique taste.

Unpeeled pineapple should not be stored in the refrigerator. In the cold, it instantly loses its bright taste and tropical aroma, and the flesh becomes watery. It is better to store the fruit at room temperature, for example in the kitchen on the table. A ripe pineapple will last for 3-4 days, and an unripe one – up to 1 week.

Store the slices in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. They can be placed on a plate and wrapped in cling film or placed in a plastic container.

Freezing will help preserve pineapple for a long time (up to 2-3 months). Peel the fruit and cut into small slices. Place them on a flat dish in one layer and place them in the freezer for half an hour. Then pack the frozen pieces into containers. Place the fruit back into the freezer.

What to do with pineapples if they start to spoil

If storage conditions are not observed (temperature, relative humidity, etc.), the ripe fruit begins to deteriorate. Mold spores spread quickly, so if white spots appear, the pineapple should be thrown away. Another thing is darkened areas, which indicate that the fruit has begun to rot. In this case, you can use the following methods:

1. Cut off dark spots with a knife and remove the peel. Grind the fruit, wrap it in film and put it in the refrigerator. Use within 6 days.
2. Remove darkened areas, but do not peel the fruit. Pack in a paper bag with holes for ventilation and put in the refrigerator.
3. Cut off the dark spots, place the pineapple in a paper bag or cloth bag, and leave at room temperature. Store for no more than 2-3 days.

Pineapples with signs of rot are not placed with other fruits, as this speeds up the spoilage process.

To preserve the fruit for a long time, it can be processed: put in the freezer, dried, boiled, canned or prepared homemade compote.

We recommend that you familiarize yourself with the prices for medicines with sage in pharmacies

Those who don’t know what to do with spoiled fruit should use 1 of the following recipes:

1. Candied fruit. Drying allows you to preserve ripened fruits and their beneficial properties for a long time. Candiing is a long process, but not complicated. It is enough to peel the fruit, cut into slices, place in sugar syrup for several days, and place in a dark and dry place. Ready-made candied fruits can be added to other dishes (muffins, cookies, Easter cakes), and used as a dessert for tea or coffee. The longer dry fruits are stored, the less vitamins remain in them. Therefore, it is recommended to use candied fruits within 12 months.
2. Canned pineapple. The fruits are washed, peeled, cut and placed in previously prepared syrup (1 kg of granulated sugar per 700 ml of water). After 12 hours, the syrup is placed on the stove, brought to a boil over low heat and poured into sterile jars. Canned fruits can be stored for a long time. The main thing is to ensure that the place is cool and not exposed to ultraviolet radiation. Preservation is intended for quick consumption (you need to eat the jam within 3-4 days after opening the jar).
3. Frozen pineapples. The fruits are washed, peels and spoiled areas (too soft, damaged, with dark spots) are removed. Cut into cubes or rings, place on a horizontal surface (board, plate) so that they lie next to each other. Then they are placed in the freezer, and after 3-4 hours they are taken out and put into bags. You can store frozen pineapples in the freezer for up to 1 year, but it is better to limit it to 3 months. After defrosting, the fruits must be used immediately (they cannot be re-frozen), so it is better to make small portions at once.
4. Pineapples baked on the grill or in the oven. Unripe fruits can be baked to make them tasty and soft. During the cooking process, the sugar accumulated in the pineapple is caramelized and bromelain (an enzyme that can cause side effects such as pain and bleeding in the mouth) is neutralized. If the fruit is too hard and sour, you can sprinkle it with brown sugar before baking.
5. Boiled pineapples. Another way to neutralize bromelain is to cook unripe fruits. To do this, they are peeled, cut into pieces and placed in a pan along with the released juice. Then they are filled with water (the liquid should completely cover the fruits), brought to a boil and left on low heat for 10 minutes.
6. Compote. To brew the drink, you will need a ripe pineapple. It is cleaned, cut into pieces, placed in water and sugar is added. Place the pan on the stove and keep on low heat for 5 minutes. If desired, compote can be prepared from several types of fruits: pears, apples.

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The road to your home

Most exotic fruits arrive to us unripe. They are transported on sea vessels, but they are not particularly fast, and customs clearance at ports takes more than one day. Fruits are a very delicate product; if delivery is delayed even a little, they will simply go bad. Therefore, there can be only one solution - to pick the fruits green, and the ripening process will occur during the journey. But every exotic lover should know how to store pineapple at home and at the same time give it the opportunity to ripen.

Pineapples are sold slightly greenish, so you should buy them a few days before the upcoming holiday. This will allow the fruit to reach normal maturity, and this is the only way it can be tasty and healthy. In order for the fruit to ripen and not spoil, you should know how to store pineapple at home correctly.

Storage options

Like any other product, you can store pineapple at home:

• at room temperature;
• in a refrigerator;
• in the freezer.

Most often, this tropical delicacy falls into our hands when it is not yet ripe. And it becomes very interesting, can pineapple ripen at home?

In the photo there is a still green pineapple; as a rule, unripe fruits are found on the shelves.

Yes, you can - pineapple ripening will occur naturally if the fruit is stored correctly. I suggest you look into all the details.

Solution 1. Natural conditions

Solution 2: Refrigerator

Pineapple can be placed in the refrigerator. But you need to take into account 2 important factors that influence how long pineapple is stored in edible form:

• Air temperature
  . Ideal conditions are 7... 8 °C (less than 7 °C - the fruit will freeze, more than 8 °C - it will rot).
• Air humidity
  . Optimal humidity is 90%.

Most refrigerators have special shelves for fruits and vegetables. It is on such shelves that the temperature and humidity necessary for storing exotic fruits are maintained.

The fruit and vegetable drawer is the best place in the refrigerator for pineapple.

How to properly store fruit in the refrigerator?

Solution 3: Frozen

Before you begin the freezing process, you need to figure out how to peel a pineapple at home with your own hands. Let's consider the simplest and most accessible cleaning method, presented in the diagram below.

Fruit cleaning scheme.

• Trim the leaves.
• Place the product upright on a cutting board and cut off the skin with a sharp knife.
• Chop the resulting “barrel” into pieces as you wish (circles, half circles, cubes).

There are special devices on sale for quickly cleaning fruits. I don’t recommend purchasing them specifically, as their price is rather high. I think, like me, pineapple is an infrequent guest on your table.

It is correct to eat exotic fruits fresh. But despite this, they can be stored frozen for a long time without actual loss of taste.

How to freeze pineapple?

Image	Description
Step 1. Cut the product into small cubes.
Step 2 Cover a baking sheet with parchment and spread the pieces on it in a thick layer. Place the resulting structure in the freezer for 3 hours.
Step 3 Take out the baking sheet and transfer the already slightly frozen pieces into plastic bags. And place it back in the freezer.
Step 4 Frozen fruit can be stored for up to 3 months. Pineapple cubes can be used both for preparing complete dishes and for decorating them. This tropical fruit cannot be frozen/defrosted multiple times. It will lose its taste and most of its vitamins.

Will green pineapple ripen?

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

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

1. Place the purchased product for storage in a warm place or at room temperature. Low temperature slows down the ripening process.
2. When storing, place the fruit so that the rosette of leaves is on top. In this position, the starch contained at the base will be evenly distributed over the entire surface. This will add sweetness to the pineapple without any 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 for consumption, both raw and for preparing stewed and baked dishes.

To ensure that the pineapple ripens completely, do everything correctly. Remember, green fruits are not suitable for consumption.

How to ripen a pineapple

Despite the statement that pineapple ripens only on the plant, it is already clear that any overseas fruit for a long journey is picked unripe.
Therefore, the fruits ripen along the way. But if you bought an unripe fruit, then you need to continue bringing it into an edible state. However, there are pineapple varieties with green skin. If the green fruit has a smell and other signs of ripeness, there is no need to ripen it. Then it should not have brown spots indicating overripeness. Unripe fruits are suitable only for culinary delights after heat treatment. There are several tips on how to ripen pineapple. One of the accelerators is ethylene gas. It is distinguished by apples and pears stored nearby. If placed next to a pineapple, the flesh will turn yellow after 2-3 days. In this case, every day you should check the condition of the fruit by tearing off the leaves from the crown. As soon as ripeness occurs, the pineapple should be eaten immediately. After such ripening, the product is not stored.

You can simply store the cone berry in a ventilated area with high humidity, wrapped in paper in the shape of a cabbage fork. At the same time, you need to turn it on the other side every day to avoid bedsores. The pineapple will ripen within a week.

If a ripe pineapple is needed earlier, it should be surrounded on all sides with apples and pears directly in newspapers. The fruit will ripen in such a neighborhood in 2 days.

Remove the tuft from an unripe pineapple, which can be used for growing, and place the pineapple itself upside down, then it will turn yellow earlier and will be sweet.

Ripe fruits

If you want to choose the most ripe pineapple, you need to be guided by its color and the state of the green leaves on the top. There should not be many of them, and the top ones will have a yellowish tint - this is a guarantee that the fruit is ripe and will be tasty. The pulp of a ripe pineapple itself is sunny yellow and has a pleasant aroma.

But you need to be careful with the color of the peel - dark or green color of the scales does not mean that the fruit is not ripe. It may well turn out to be ripe, the color depends more on the variety. Ripe fruits often have a yellowish, straw-colored, or reddish-brown skin. We've sorted out the choice of ripe pineapple, now let's move on to how to store pineapple at home correctly and how to choose a quality product when purchasing.

How to choose a delicious pineapple

Over time spent on the road, the overseas berry gains ripeness, despite some loss of taste. When choosing a pineapple, you need to know the signs that allow you to enjoy the taste without throwing away a spoiled fruit at home:

• look;
• touch;
• smell.

The name pineapple comes from the Indian definition of the fruit - apa-apa, the smell of odors. Therefore, first you need to use your sense of smell and feel the incomparable smell of odors. If spicy-sweet notes predominate, the fruit is overripe and fermentation has already begun. If the smell is barely perceptible or completely absent, the pineapple is green. Treatment of an unripe product with a flavoring cannot be ruled out.

Take a careful look at the surface of the specimen, its color and the condition of the crest. The fruit should be golden brown, with a slight green towards the top. The crest itself consists of leaves. If there are few of them and they are lifeless even in the very middle, the fruit has been waiting for a buyer for a very long time. If the leaves come off easily from the bottom, it is overripe. The junction of the hair and the body should be damp; this is the property of the leaves to collect and transfer moisture to the fruit. But there are some tricks here too. Pre-sale preparation may consist of immersing the berries in water for a day. Then it becomes heavier, the leaves are fresher, and the taste is bad and such pineapple cannot be stored. The cone should be free of brown spots, mold and its smell. This all indicates that the product has spoiled inside. The weight of the fruit should be heavy. Light and loudly responding to the clap of the palm of the hand, pineapple, green.

All that remains is to feel the fruit, since it is already in your hands. By lightly pressing on the crust, you can feel elastic resistance. And if you drown the lump a little, it will immediately pop out.

Choosing the right pineapple is not easy for those who rarely buy them. We consume apples, pears, watermelons, melons, and oranges much more often. Therefore, we can choose them without the advice of professionals. When choosing a pineapple for the holiday table, it is better to take the advice of an experienced person, but not a seller interested in maximum sales of the purchased product.

In China, a New Year's table without pineapple is unthinkable. This fruit is a symbol of prosperity and good luck in the future.

How to store pineapple at home

If an overripe fruit can at least theoretically be eaten, then a spoiled one cannot.

Never buy fruit in the store if you notice the following signs:

1. The peel is dull and has a grayish tint.
2. The top falls off.
3. The smell is pungent, reeks of alcohol or acid.
4. There are fragments of mold on the stalk, and whitish specks, cracks or smudges in the stripes between the scales.
5. Some areas of the peel are damaged when pressed.

Many vegetables and fruits emit ethylene gas during storage, which accelerates ripening. To allow pineapple to ripen, you can follow these steps:

1. Place the fruit in a paper bag and leave it at room temperature for 3–5 days.
2. Turn the fruit upside down and leave it in that position (for example, sandwich it between a wall and a stool). Then sugars and organic acids, which are located mainly in the lower part of the pineapple, will be smoothly distributed throughout the entire pulp. This will lead to an improvement in the taste of the fruit.

Unfortunately, pineapples do not emit as much ethylene as, for example, bananas or mangoes. Therefore, if you bought a completely green fruit, you are unlikely to wait for it to fully ripen.

In a refrigerator

Secrets and subtleties for storing pineapples so that they ripen and do not spoil

To prevent the pineapple from spoiling during ripening, proceed as follows:

1. The fetus is inspected daily. This helps to detect signs of spoilage in time and understand whether it is ripe or not.
2. For storage, choose dark places inaccessible to direct sunlight. It is better not to store fruit in the cupboard, because it does not receive enough fresh air.
3. During the day, the fruits are turned over several times. This prevents mold and dark spots from appearing.
4. Several pineapples are placed so that there is at least 10 cm between them. If 1 fruit begins to spoil, it is removed immediately (infection of other specimens occurs quickly).
5. The fruits are placed on a soft surface so that dents do not appear on them during the ripening process. The presence of damage can cause the fruit to quickly deteriorate.

Finding out how to ripen pineapples is easy. The main thing is to find out how long ripe fruits can be stored under different conditions. At room temperature, the fruits retain their properties for 3-4 days. Therefore, it is recommended to put them in the refrigerator. Cut fruits can be used for 5-6 days, and whole ones (in the peel) - 2 or 3 weeks. Frozen, canned and dry fruits last the longest.

Fruits in the store

Exotics are imported en masse, mainly before the holidays. There are a lot of pineapples appearing, but they are all slightly greenish. Therefore, if you decide to buy one of them, you should learn a little about how to choose a good fruit and how to store pineapple at home so that it ripens for the holiday.

First of all, pay attention to the appearance. The fruits should not be damaged, have dark spots or hints of mold or anything similar. The surface of the pineapple should not be soft. The leaves are limp, and the peel is dull and faded. This is a sign that storage conditions have been violated and the product is spoiled. Refuse to make such a purchase, even if the price is very attractive.

Results

We found out how to store pineapple correctly and how it ripens the fastest. The video in this article will reveal some more secrets with visual instructions. If you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments!

Experts say that ripe fresh pineapple can only be tasted in the place where it grows. To reach the buyer in the middle zone and northern regions, the fruit requires a long sea journey. Fruits are initially harvested unripe so that they do not spoil on the road. Only pineapples delivered by air can be enjoyed fresh and ripe.

We bought a pineapple

How to store pineapple at home? If you bought it completely ripe - no more than 3-4 days, at room temperature. However, it should not be placed in cold or high humidity areas. Often, out of habit, we put fruits in the refrigerator - this is a mistake, as the fruit will quickly lose its quality and spoil. It is better to leave it right on the kitchen table or windowsill; it will serve as an excellent decoration and will feel great.

How to store pineapple at home if it is green? There are several proven methods, and we will dwell on each of them in more detail.

Option one

Store in the same way as ripe fruit - at room temperature, low humidity and plenty of air. To make it sweet, turn it upside down. With this storage, the pineapple will not ripen quickly, the period is about a week, so plan your purchase in advance or speed up the ripening process.

Option two

How to store pineapple at home until the New Year, if there is little time left and the fruit is still completely green? There is a way to speed up the process naturally. Ethylene influences the rate of ripening of pineapples. Place other fruits around the exotic guest - ordinary pears and apples, oranges and bananas - the process will go much faster.

Option three

Here's another way to store pineapple at home. There are only 2-3 days left until the New Year, but the pineapple seems to have just been picked? Not a problem - the same fruits will come to the rescue, but the pineapple should be wrapped in several layers of paper. Check the ripening every day: lightly pull the leaf in the center of the top - if it comes out easily, it means the fruit is ripe, it’s time to remove the paper, otherwise it will be overripe.

If there is very little time left before the start of the holiday, try to choose the most ripe fruit when purchasing.

Rules for storing pineapples for speedy ripening

Many people wonder where to store pineapple at home so that it ripens. You can keep fruit on the balcony, in the room and in the refrigerator. The main thing is to ensure that they are not exposed to direct rays of the sun. This can lead to drying of the peel and pulp, the development of undesirable processes inside the fruit - rotting and fermentation.

In room conditions

There are 6 ways to help speed up the ripening of pineapple at room temperature:

1. Wrap the pineapple in cling film (1 layer is enough) and place in a warm and sunny place. After 24 hours the fruit will be ready to eat.
2. Wrap the fruit in several layers of paper (not glossy) and place it next to the fruit. Regularly unroll the paper and replace damp sheets with dry ones so as not to create excess moisture. Make sure that there is no rot on the peel. The approximate ripening period is 3 days.
3. Place the fruit on the balcony, spray with warm water from a spray bottle and leave for 5 days. You can use this method only in the warm season - summer or late spring.
4. Wrap the fruit in newspaper and place it near the radiator. This can be done during the heating season.
5. Place the pineapple in a cloth bag or wrap it in a terry towel. Place in a dark place with a flow of fresh air.
6. Trim the foliage, leaving only 2 cm. Turn the fruit over and place it in the place where the rosette used to be. If there is still starch at the base, the sugar will be evenly distributed throughout the fruit and the pineapple will become sweeter. This will happen in about 1 week.

When using any of the above methods, the fruit must be regularly removed and checked for ripeness. Otherwise, it may become overripe and unfit for consumption.

In a refrigerator

In the cold, pineapple retains its properties longer - up to 2-3 weeks. Before putting it in the refrigerator, you should figure out where to keep the fruit.

Fruits are able to absorb odors and transfer their aroma to other products. Therefore, it is recommended to store them in the lower compartments intended for fruits and vegetables. A paper bag with holes is suitable for packaging, but not plastic. If you wrap a pineapple in cling film, it will overripe and rot.

In order for the fruit to ripen faster, you need to follow these recommendations:

• ensure that the humidity level does not rise above 90%;
• turn the fruit regularly to prevent it from spoiling;
• maintain the temperature within +7...+8°C (if it drops below, the fruit will freeze; if it rises above, it will become overripe).

Storing with other fruits

To make the fruit juicy and soft, it can be added to other fruits - pears, apples, bananas, apricots. During their storage, ethylene is formed, which accelerates the ripening process. You need to do the following:

1. Place pineapple and other fruits in a paper or plastic bag with air holes.
2. Tie and leave in a dark place.
3. Untie the bag daily and check the pineapple for ripeness.

If fruits spoil, they must be removed. If you do not do this on time, the pineapple will rot before it ripens.

For the future

If it happens that the pineapple remains unclaimed and the shelf life is coming to an end, don’t worry. Pineapple is a versatile product; it is suitable for preparing many dishes. Your task is to prevent it from deteriorating and properly prepare it for further storage.

Candied fruit

Can be used in making desserts or simply as a “yummy” addition to tea. This is one of the best storage methods; in this state, all useful properties are fully preserved. For candied fruits, the fruits are cut into pieces or slices, placed in thick sugar syrup for a couple of days, and then removed and dried in a cool, dark place.

Freezing

Preparing candied fruits will take time, so if there is very little pineapple left, you can freeze it. Cut into cubes, place in one layer on a dish and place in the freezer. Then put the cubes in a bag and put them away. They can be used in the preparation of desserts, drinks and for decorating a wide variety of dishes.

How long can a ripe pineapple be stored?

Pineapple is an expensive fruit that requires proper storage. Often pineapples are not sold in the best condition because they have not been stored for a long time. If you bought unripe fruit, it is possible to improve its condition if stored at temperatures above 10 degrees. In this case, the fruit ripens quickly. It is best to store pineapple in a dark place without packaging. Otherwise, the fruit may become moldy. In addition, it is advisable to sometimes turn the pineapple over so that the juice does not flow into one place and rotting does not occur.

It is recommended to store ripe pineapple, wrapped in a paper bag, in a special compartment of the refrigerator. The best temperature for storing this fruit is considered to be from 7 to 10 degrees; this temperature allows you to preserve the taste of pineapple. The maximum storage period is no more than 13 days.

By storing pineapple at temperatures below 7 degrees, you can increase its shelf life, but the taste of the fruit is lost.

It is not recommended to store pineapple in a kitchen cabinet, as ventilation is necessary to preserve the fruit. If pineapples lie horizontally, they need to be turned over 3-4 times during the day. If several pineapples are lying together, then you need to place them approximately 10 centimeters from each other.

If dark areas between the scales begin to appear on the pineapple, it means the fruit is beginning to deteriorate. It is recommended to cut off the darkened flesh and eat the pineapple.

How to determine the ripeness of a pineapple: step-by-step instructions

Ripe pineapple has a pleasant sweet taste with a slight sourness. It contains a huge amount of vitamins and enzymes. This fruit not only brings pleasure, but also helps you lose weight. But an unripe fruit is too sour, ties the tongue and “bites” the corners of the mouth, causing indigestion. There is also little good in overripe fruit: it is absolutely tasteless and practically devoid of vitamins.

Fortunately, you can determine the ripeness of a pineapple by its appearance, weight and aroma. The instructions below will help you avoid making mistakes when purchasing.

A ripe pineapple has a dark green plume, and the tips of the shoots are slightly dried out. If the color is too bright, it means the fruit is not yet ripe. The tail of stale fruits is yellow-brown, dry, and almost crumbles in the hands.

Try to gently twist the plume (just don’t tear it off). If it works, it means the pineapple is ripe. Unripe fruits have a tightly held tail because they are picked while still green.

But the “pomp” of the Sultan does not mean anything. In some varieties it is wide, while in others it is small and prickly.

A delicious pineapple has a golden, yellow-brown or yellow-green peel. The stripes between the scales are brownish. There are no large dark spots on the peel. The tails on the scales are dry and break off easily. The stalk is also dry, without signs of rot or mold.

An unripe fruit usually has a brighter green rind. The tails on the scales do not break off, but bend. An overripe fruit gives off a brown tint to the skin.

Hard like coconut? This means the pineapple is still green inside. In a ripe fruit, the scales respond to pressure and seem elastic to the touch. But if dents remain on the peel after pressing, it means that the fruit has already begun to rot.

A good pineapple will be heavy. As well as unripe. But if the fruit is suspiciously light, then its pulp is too dry. Perhaps the correct storage and transportation conditions were not met, or the fruit lay in the store for too long.

The same principle applies here as when choosing a watermelon. A “dull” sound indicates the ripeness of the fruit, and an “empty” sound indicates drying of the pulp. Unripe pineapples sound loud when tapped.

Fresh pineapple has a light tropical trail with caramel notes. But if the smell “hits” your nose, perhaps the fruit is already overripe. An unripe fruit has almost no smell.

How to choose a delicious pineapple

Over time spent on the road, the overseas berry gains ripeness, despite some loss of taste. When choosing a pineapple, you need to know the signs that allow you to enjoy the taste without throwing away a spoiled fruit at home:

The name pineapple comes from the Indian definition of the fruit - apa-apa, the smell of odors. Therefore, first you need to use your sense of smell and feel the incomparable smell of odors. If spicy-sweet notes predominate, the fruit is overripe and fermentation has already begun. If the smell is barely perceptible or completely absent, the pineapple is green. Treatment of an unripe product with a flavoring cannot be ruled out.

Take a careful look at the surface of the specimen, its color and the condition of the crest. The fruit should be golden brown, with a slight green towards the top. The crest itself consists of leaves. If there are few of them and they are lifeless even in the very middle, the fruit has been waiting for a buyer for a very long time. If the leaves come off easily from the bottom, it is overripe. The junction of the hair and the body should be damp; this is the property of the leaves to collect and transfer moisture to the fruit. But there are some tricks here too. Pre-sale preparation may consist of immersing the berries in water for a day. Then it becomes heavier, the leaves are fresher, and the taste is bad and such pineapple cannot be stored.

The cone should be free of brown spots, mold and its smell. This all indicates that the product has spoiled inside. The weight of the fruit should be heavy. Light and loudly responding to the clap of the palm of the hand, pineapple, green.

All that remains is to feel the fruit, since it is already in your hands. By lightly pressing on the crust, you can feel elastic resistance. And if you drown the lump a little, it will immediately pop out.

Choosing the right pineapple is not easy for those who rarely buy them. We consume apples, pears, melons, and oranges much more often. Therefore, we can choose them without the advice of professionals. When choosing a pineapple for the holiday table, it is better to take the advice of an experienced person, but not a seller interested in maximum sales of the purchased product.

In China, a New Year's table without pineapple is unthinkable. This fruit is a symbol of prosperity and good luck in the future.

How does price affect the quality of pineapple?

In the first case, the fruits are picked from the plantation while still green. They ripen already in the hold of the ship. True, not completely. During transportation, the loss of some vitamins is inevitable; the fruit may dry out or rot.

Ripe fruits arrive at the store by plane in 1–2 days. They have an excellent taste, the flesh is fresh and juicy. However, with this method of transportation the price is higher. Only the buyer decides which pineapple to choose: expensive and fresh or budget, but with flaws in taste.

How to ripen a pineapple

Despite the statement that pineapple ripens only on the plant, it is already clear that any overseas fruit for a long journey is picked unripe. Therefore, the fruits ripen along the way. But if you bought an unripe fruit, then you need to continue bringing it into an edible state. However, there are pineapple varieties with green skin. If the green fruit has a smell and other signs of ripeness, there is no need to ripen it. Then it should not have brown spots indicating overripeness. Unripe fruits are suitable only for culinary delights after heat treatment.

There are several tips on how to ripen pineapple. One of the accelerators is ethylene gas. It is distinguished by pears stored nearby. If placed next to a pineapple, the flesh will turn yellow after 2-3 days. In this case, every day you should check the condition of the fruit by tearing off the leaves from the crown. As soon as ripeness occurs, the pineapple should be eaten immediately. After such ripening, the product is not stored.

You can simply store the cone berry in a ventilated area with high humidity, wrapped in paper in the shape of a cabbage fork. At the same time, you need to turn it on the other side every day to avoid bedsores. The pineapple will ripen within a week.

If a ripe pineapple is needed earlier, it should be surrounded on all sides with apples and pears directly in newspapers. The fruit will ripen in such a neighborhood in 2 days.

Remove the tuft from an unripe pineapple, which can be used for growing, and place the pineapple itself upside down, then it will turn yellow earlier and will be sweet.

Which pineapples are the most delicious?

Today you can find dozens of varieties of pineapples on sale, which differ in price and taste. In most cases, only the country of origin is indicated on the label, but sometimes the specific variety is indicated. If you want to learn how to choose delicious pineapples correctly, follow the descriptions below.

Brazilian

Classics of the genre. Botanical name: Ananas comosus. It is Brazilian pineapples that are familiar to many since childhood, as they have long been supplied to the markets of Russia and other CIS countries.

They are large in size, tall and fluffy plume with smooth feathers, and a hard core. They have a classic sweet taste with a slight sourness. Unripe fruits cause an unpleasant tingling sensation on the tongue.

Ananas comosus is now widely grown not only in Brazil, but also in the Hawaiian Islands.

Thai

Thailand produces some of the most delicious pineapples in the world. They are very sweet, with a strong caramel-tropical trail. The taste is a bit like canned ones. So juicy that they literally melt in your mouth.

Thai pineapples are much smaller in size than Brazilian ones, but they are also heavy. The peel and top are prickly.

These fruits are also often supplied to the Russian market. Similar to Brazilian ones. They have an average weight of 1.5–3 kg.

The taste is sweet and sour, the flesh is dense. They are susceptible to spoilage due to various diseases and pests, so the risk of buying a tasteless fruit is quite high. Cayenne varieties are brought from South Africa, Kenya, Cuba, Puerto Rico, India, and Hawaii.

Spanish

One of the largest pineapples. The peel is smooth to the touch, and the plume is high. In cross section the fruits look almost square.

The pulp is light in color, sour and firm, with a lot of fiber. But Spanish pineapples tolerate transportation well, so you will rarely see spoiled specimens on the shelves.

Small pineapples weighing up to 1.5 kg with very sweet dark yellow pulp and rich aroma. They are mainly grown in South Africa and Australia.

One of the most interesting varieties is the Mauritius pineapple. It has a conical shape, deep-set eyes and a bushy tail. It doesn't spoil for a long time. The pulp is juicy, sweet, golden yellow in color. Mauritius contains many carotenoids, which are beneficial for vision and skin.

These fruits are medium or large in size (1–2.5 kg), with very juicy, almost white pulp. Valued for their sweet taste and low fiber content. The varieties of the Abacaxi group are mainly grown in South American countries.

Thus, the following instructions will help you find the most delicious fruit in the store. You can easily determine ripeness by the appearance of the peel and top, weight and smell. Don't go for cheap. If the fruit is suspiciously cheap, it may have been picked green and a long time ago. Buy fresh pineapple, because it will charge your body with healthy vitamins and delight you with its excellent taste.

How long can unripe pineapple be stored?

It happens that by accident or due to inexperience, housewives acquire an unripe pineapple. For such cases, there is one way that will allow the pineapple to ripen faster. You just need to put other fruits next to the fruit, such as tangerines, pears or apples. The fruits will begin to release ethylene, which will significantly speed up the ripening of the pineapple.

Unripe pineapples are best stored at room temperature until fully ripe. If the fruit has become fragrant and soft, it should be eaten or put in the refrigerator for further storage.

Unripe pineapples can be stored in the refrigerator for 2 weeks. If the pineapples are green, they can be kept in the refrigerator for 3 weeks. It is recommended to check the fruit daily for rot by unwrapping each pineapple and inspecting it. It is better to replace wet paper with dry paper.

Peeled pineapple can be stored for no more than 3 days. To do this, you just need to cut it into pieces, cover it with cling film and put it in the refrigerator.

Freezing pineapple

If it turns out that you had to leave the pineapple for a long time, then you can resort to extreme measures and freeze it. Before starting the freezing process, you need to prepare the fruit, namely peel it. This can be done easily as follows:

• The first thing to do is trim the leaves of the product.
• After placing the pineapple in a vertical position, cut off the peel. To do this, it is best to use a sharp knife.
• The remaining fruit pulp can be chopped at your discretion - in the form of halves, circles or cubes.

The prepared exotic fruit must be cut into small slices, after peeling the peel. Then it should be wrapped in a plastic bag and only then stored in the freezer.

By freezing the product this way, you will save it for 4 months. Of course, after defrosting, the pineapple will not be as tasty, but in general the taste properties are preserved. Most often, defrosted fruit is used for salads.

How to choose the right pineapple?

• The pineapple should not have any visible damage, cracks, rot or dents.
• The fruit should have a fruity, pleasant aroma. However, if the smell is too strong, this fruit is not worth buying.
• If you plan to store the fruit for a long time, it is better to choose a light green pineapple.
• A ripe fruit has an elastic peel - when pressed, it quickly restores its shape. If, when pressed with a finger, the peel is pressed through and a dent remains, it means the fruit is overripe.
• The leaves on the top of the pineapple should be fresh and green, and the side grass part should be slightly withered. Also, the top part of the fruit should easily separate from the fruit if you twist it. However, you can only test the pineapple at home, because the seller is unlikely to be happy with such manipulations with the product.
• You can check the product by simply patting it, that is, the same way as a watermelon. If the sound is dull when tapped, then most likely the fruit is juicy and ripe. You can buy it without any worries.

It is known that pineapples are imported to Russia from warm countries, and transportation does not always go as it should. Therefore, it is quite difficult to find ripe and tasty exotic fruit on the shelves. And even more so, you shouldn’t buy the first fruit you come across.

Many people buy pineapple and want to keep it fresh until the New Year. To prevent the fruit from spoiling, just put it in a plastic bag or wrap it in paper, after making holes in the bag so that the pineapple can “breathe”. Be sure to use a separate bag, because pineapple tends to absorb foreign odors.