How to Tell If Pineapple Is Ripe
Surprise, pineapples don't ripen after they're picked. Meaning it's important to buy one that's already ripe. Here's how.
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By Alice K. Thompson for Food Network Kitchen
Alice is a contributing writer and editor at Food Network.
Picking a perfect pineapple doesn’t have to be guesswork. Despite their prickly, impenetrable exteriors, you do have a number of clues as to what’s going on inside. Follow this easy guide and you’ll take home the kind of deliciously sweet, juicy pineapple that makes you want to eat nothing else.
How to Tell If Pineapple Is Ripe
A ripe pineapple will have at least some yellowing on its skin, a sweet aroma, a slightly yielding texture and leaves that pull out with a good tug. Pineapples don’t ripen after harvest (meaning it won't get any riper in your home), so taking a few moments to choose knowledgably at the market will pay off when you get home. Here’s exactly what to look for:
- Good color Although color varies from variety to variety, a uniform green skin is a sign is a sign that a pineapple is unripe. Look for a fruit that has at least some patches of yellow, greenish yellow or light brown, especially at the base.
- Good aroma A ripe pineapple should smell fruity and sweet when you sniff the base. A fruit with no aroma is almost certainly unripe, and one that smells sour or fermented is probably over-ripe.
- Yielding texture Pineapples soften slightly as they ripen, so give a pineapple a gentle squeeze. If it yields slightly there’s a good chance it’s ripe, but if it’s very soft in patches it’s probably over-ripe.
- Loose leaves Finally, try tugging at one of the spiky green leaves crowning the pineapple. If the pineapple is ripe you should be able to pluck one out without too much effort. (The supermarket staff might not be thrilled about customers doing this, so you could consider this last test a fallback.)
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How to Store Pineapple
A whole ripe pineapple can be stored on the counter for up to 3 days. If you still haven’t used it after that you can wrap it well in plastic and keep it for another few days in the fridge. Place chunks of cut pineapple in an airtight container and refrigerate them for 3 to 4 days or freeze them for up to a year.
Recipes for Fresh Pineapple
Matt Armendariz
It’s hard to imagine anything better to do with fresh pineapple than to make a couple pina coladas. This easy, festive version uses both light and dark rum, but using just one variety would be excellent as well.
Levi Brown
Sweet, tangy pineapple salsa is excellent with chips, in tacos or over just about anything grilled. Add black beans or diced avocado for even more color and flavor.
KATE MATHIS
Do you crave ham-and-pineapple pizza? Then you’ll love this festive version of fried rice served in a hallowed-out pineapple half.
Pineapple adds an irresistibly sweet note to these colorful fajitas. Avocado cream adds richness and a nice bit of heat from jalapeno peppers.
Stephen Johnson, 2014, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved
Sometimes the simplest desserts are the best! Pineapple becomes amazingly sweet and caramelized when roasted, a perfect accompaniment to rich, tangy Greek yogurt.
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