How to choose the right ripe pineapple, basic rules when buying

Pineapple is a wonderful decoration for the holiday table, as well as simply a very tasty and healthy fruit that is loved by many. The website Koshechka.ru will tell you how to choose a ripe pineapple.

Basic rules for choosing a pineapple by appearance

Despite the fact that pineapple is an exotic fruit, for a long time it has remained one of the main treats on the holiday table. Beautifully sliced or even unpeeled, this fruit can serve as a table decoration or as an ingredient in a salad or hot dish.

Pineapple has a pleasant taste, topical aroma and a whole range of useful vitamins and microelements, while being one of the best fat burners. However, all the benefits of this fruit can turn into harm if you choose an unripe pineapple.

When choosing a ripe pineapple in a store, look first at the tops. In a good, ripe fruit, it has a rich green color, and the tips of the leaves should be slightly dry. The tail of the pineapple should twist slightly when pressed, but if this does not happen, it means the fruit is unripe.
Naturally, neither the tops themselves nor the peel should show any signs of plaque or mold.
Checking the scales of the peel will help you choose a good ripe pineapple in the store. Ideally, they should be quite elastic and dense, however, if the scales bend easily when pressed, this means that the fruit has been lying in the store’s warehouse for a long time and choosing it is dangerous to health.
In addition, it is worth checking the appearance of the scales - if they look dry and prickly at the ends, and they themselves have a pleasant orange-grayish color, then most likely the fruit is quite fresh, and all transportation and storage conditions have been met. If the tails of the scales bend, this means that there was high humidity in the room in which the fruit was stored. Buying such a pineapple is risky - you can always run into a rotting one.
And a little more about scales. Their greenish tint indicates the immaturity of the fruit. The taste of such pineapple is noticeably inferior, and in addition, consuming it is dangerous to health.

A ripe, tasty and healthy fruit can be chosen not only by some specific external feature. The portal site will further tell you how to choose the right ripe pineapple not only visually, but also by smell.

How to choose a ripe pineapple - by the color of its scales!

Choosing pineapple like a pro

If the pineapple makes a good impression on you with its visual image, you can start checking it in truly professional ways. These methods are used by restaurateurs all over the world and, as practice shows, they allow you to choose the best and ripest fruit.

The ripest and highest quality fruits have a light and sweetish, unobtrusive aroma. But if the smell intensifies and becomes too concentrated, this means that the fruit has become overripe and is about to begin to ferment. In combination with mold beginning to appear on the peel, this may indicate rotting of the fruit.
If the pineapple emits a very weak aroma or does not emit it at all, then most likely it simply did not have time to ripen. It is recommended to put this fruit aside, because, as noted earlier, it is not recommended to eat it.
As a rule, to choose the right ripe pineapple in a store, just pat it with your palm and listen to the sound it makes. A dull tap means the fruit is ripe and ready to eat.
In addition, pay attention not only to the elasticity of the pineapple peel scales, but also to the softness of the fruit itself. A ripe pineapple is quite elastic, but not soft.
If you happen to test a pineapple by tasting it, pay special attention to the color and consistency of the pulp. Ideally, it should have a golden color and juiciness, as well as elasticity and uniform color. Also considered normal colors are golden brown and orange-gray.

In addition, there is one more rule on how to choose a ripe pineapple in a store.

A good indicator of quality is the price of a pineapple. From warm countries, fruits are delivered to our stores in two ways: by air by cargo plane or by sea. And since ripe and good pineapples are extremely difficult to transport, they are most often delivered to us by sea, in conditions of high humidity. As a result, the fruits ripen on the way, which significantly reduces their taste.

Unfortunately, not every store is ready to provide its customers with information about the conditions for transporting fruit, so this point is not always an indicator of how to choose a ripe pineapple.

A carefully selected exotic fruit can become not only a tasty addition to main dishes and a storehouse of nutrients, but also a source of pleasure. And in order to bring your body as much benefit and joy as possible, you need to know the basic rules of how to choose the right ripe pineapple.

Ivanova Alexandra - especially for Koshechka.ru - a site for those in love... with themselves!

The tasty and healthy pineapple is no longer a curiosity on our table, but many are still frightened by its exoticism. In fact, looking for ripe, high-quality fruit in a store or market is not at all difficult if you know how. Choosing the right pineapple, easily peeling and cutting it for serving, and storing it for future use will be possible without any problems if you take into account a few simple recommendations.

The main “tip” is the price

As trivial as it sounds, first of all you should pay attention to how much a pineapple costs. How to choose the right fresh and ripe fruit can be determined by the price the seller asks for it.

In order to deliver these fruits fresh to the shelves, their transportation is usually carried out 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 transportation of pineapples by sea, they may cost a little less. However, then you need to take into account that this method of transportation takes considerable time. While on the road, the fruits may well become overripe. Therefore, if the seller focuses exclusively on the favorable price of pineapples, you should examine 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 for a very mediocre product.

The conclusion is obvious: the price will serve as a good hint on how to choose a good ripe pineapple, but you should not blindly focus only on it. It wouldn’t hurt to study the fruit further.

Photo of ripe fruit

Understanding how to determine the ripeness of a pineapple is difficult: you have to remember many different rules and recommendations. A photo of a ripe fruit will help you make the right choice. Just get it in the store and compare the pineapple in the photo with the fruits lying on the counter.

How to determine the ripeness of a pineapple by smell

You can determine whether a pineapple is suitable for eating by smell, holding the fruit at arm's length. Unripe fruit will not smell at all. But the aroma of a good ripe pineapple should be pleasant, delicate, slightly sweet.

If the fruit smells too rich, even cloying, it is most likely overripe. It cannot be stored for a long time. It is better to choose another pineapple if you do not intend to serve it immediately after purchase. In addition, it is possible that the fruit has begun to ferment - in this case, it is not suitable for food at all.

The degree of ripeness of a pineapple will be determined by its stalk.

An indicator characterizing the degree of ripeness of a fruit is its stalk. The leaves of the green ponytail may be slightly wilted, but in no case should they be dry. Moreover, if you lightly pull on any of them, it should separate without difficulty. However, people who know how to choose a pineapple do not recommend pulling the greens of the fruit. It is enough to scroll the green crown of the fruit a little. And if this can be done without much effort, then the selected pineapple is ripe. However, the seller will clearly not appreciate such legibility, so this method is not advisable, especially if you want to avoid a scandal.

How to choose the right pineapple

The criteria for choosing this exotic fruit are not at all 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 you like. The scales of a ripe pineapple usually have a brownish, yellowish or orange-gray tint. A greenish color may indicate that the pineapple is not ripe (however, not always). There should also be no whitish spots between the scales of the fruit - this is how mold manifests itself. A high-quality fruit will have scales that are elastic and dense, but at the same time slightly soft to the touch. They will be too hard for green fruit. If they are fairly soft and easily pressed inward, the pineapple is most likely rotten.

Another way to identify a ripe pineapple is similar to choosing a ripe watermelon. Simply lightly pat the fruit with your palm. A ripe fruit with juicy pulp will make a dull sound. An “empty” sound will indicate that the pineapple is dry.

In addition, the fresh fruit has beautiful green leaves. If you lightly pull one of them, it should easily separate from the rod. The leaf of a green pineapple will hold on tightly, but on a rotten one it will pull the tail of the fruit along with it. You can also carefully try to turn the tail in a circle, but not too much (if the fruit is ripe, the tail can be easily torn off). If it fits tightly, it means it is a green pineapple.

Ideally, the type of its pulp can tell you how to choose the right fruit. 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 unripe fruit, its shade will be pale.

Relief textures and elasticity of forms

To the touch, the rind of a ripe fruit is usually quite soft, but at the same time elastic. Often, unscrupulous producers pick green fruits that ripen on the road or on store shelves. Knowing how to choose a pineapple using tactile sensations, you can choose a fruit that was most likely picked ripe. Unripe fruits have a thick and tough skin.

Many people believe that this tropical fruit can ripen if left for some time in a warm and dark place. Nothing like this! The picked fruits will no longer become sweet and juicy. The only thing that can change is that the pineapple peel will darken, and brown spots may appear on its surface, indicating the presence of irreversible putrefactive processes inside the southern fruit. Of course, long-term storage of a heat-loving fruit will lead to its spoilage. Such a process cannot have a positive effect on the taste characteristics.

How to store pineapple

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

If the purchased fruit turns out to be unripe, it doesn’t matter. Pineapple can easily ripen at home. You just have to keep it in a dry place at room temperature. Two to three days will be enough for the fruit to ripen.

Ripe pineapple should be stored in the refrigerator. There is an opinion that in this case the fruit inevitably loses its beneficial and tasteful qualities, but this is not entirely true. And there is no choice left: if stored in other conditions, the ripe fruit will simply spoil. Therefore, it is best to put a pineapple bought for future use in a paper bag and place it in the compartment of the refrigerator intended for storing fruit. The bag is needed to prevent other products on the shelves from acquiring a pineapple aroma. Periodically, the fruit will need to be turned over so that it does not start to rot. You can keep ripe fruit in the refrigerator for no more than a week.

If you want to store the pineapple for a longer time, it is recommended to first peel it and cut it into small pieces, and then freeze it. Fruit prepared in this way can be kept in the freezer for up to three months.

How long can a pineapple fruit be stored and not spoil?

The pulp contains a lot of natural sugar, so if it is stored incorrectly or for a long time, an irreversible fermentation process quickly begins. It is accelerated by damage, cracks and other violations of integrity; upon contact with air, the fruit begins to rot even faster.

If the peel has no flaws and is quite dense to the touch, then the fruit will last from 4 to 7 days, but provided that the room is not humid and the temperature does not rise above 7-8 degrees. The hotter it is at home, the less chance of safety. At temperatures of 20 degrees and above, harmful bacteria progress, causing decay.

If the fruit is picked unripe, it will last up to 10-12 days, but only in a dark, cool place and with a humidity of no more than 60%: in the refrigerator, basement, or on an insulated balcony. If you plan to enjoy an exotic delicacy in the near future, then you can leave it at room temperature for a couple of days. In this case, the pulp will just “reach” and become sweet. However, it is dangerous to leave even unripe pineapples in the room for more than a couple of days.

Attention! If stored improperly, brown or brown spots appear on the skin. The pulp gradually loses its taste, and a fungal disease develops due to humidity.

How to peel a pineapple

There are also some peculiarities in how a pineapple should be peeled. “How to choose this fruit correctly?” - is not the only question that sometimes perplexes.

The easiest way to peel is to simply cut the fruit into round “pucks” using a sharp knife, and then peel each of them. It is also advisable to remove the middle from each circle - it is inedible.

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

Thai way to peel a pineapple

The most effective way to peel a pineapple is considered to be Thai. First, you should cut off the lower part of the fruit so that it can be conveniently placed 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 here and there, it’s not a problem. 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 this line at a slight angle to the “eye”. After this, you can carefully remove the “wedge” with the remaining thorns. The same should be done with the remaining growths.

A small pineapple prepared in this way can be served 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

To effectively serve the unpeeled fruit, it is recommended to divide it lengthwise into four parts. All the pulp should be carefully cut out of each in one piece, leaving an area with leaves on top.

The quarters must be carefully removed and the hard fibrous core removed. After this, the processed pieces of pulp need to be placed back into the “boats” made of skin, carefully placed on a dish and placed on the table. Pineapple served in this way looks very impressive, and the pieces of pulp are completely ready to eat.

If you know, when going to buy a pineapple, how to choose, properly peel and cut this fruit, then at any feast it will certainly not go unnoticed.

Nowadays it is rare to surprise anyone with exotic fruits. You don’t have to go to Asian and Eastern countries to get them. Most fruits are available on supermarket shelves. It is especially popular. The aroma and taste of the fruit are liked the first time; both children and adults eat it with pleasure.

Sunny fruits have a rich composition of nutrients and are suitable for fitness diets, light snacks, and varied menus. Dishes with the addition of fruit become piquant and have aromatic notes. How to choose a pineapple and not make a mistake in choosing? How to store correctly at home? Read the tips in the article and get the most out of the exotic fruit.

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.

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.
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.
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.
Do you remember how you choose? Patting. Do the same. If the sound is dull, feel free to take it. It is ripe and of excellent quality.
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.

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

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.

Let's listen to the sounds and estimate the weight

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 smell the tropical guest

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.

A sickly sweet smell, pronounced, is evidence of signs of fermentation and overripeness.

Which pineapples should you not buy?

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.

Determining the ripeness of a pineapple when purchasing

Select the fruit you like, then proceed to inspect it:

First of all, evaluate the appearance. There should be no damage, scratches or stains. The color of the scales may be green, but this is not a sign that the fruit is not ripe. Colors from greenish to yellow are allowed. It is important that the color is uniform and the scales are even.
Inspect the tops. It should be green with dried edges. Ripe pineapple leaves are easily pulled out. There is another way to check - twist the tops, but carefully. In a sweet and ripe fruit, it easily rotates around its axis.
Press down on the fruit. It should be soft to the touch, but should not leave any dents. The crust is elastic.
Pat the fruit as you would when choosing a watermelon. There should be a dull sound - this is a sign of ripeness.
Determine the weight. The pineapple should be heavy, in which case it will be juicy. If the fruit is light, then it has lost moisture and, therefore, began to dry out. You should refuse the purchase.

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.

Place the purchased product for storage in a warm place or at room temperature. Low temperature slows down the ripening process.
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 store pineapple 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.

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

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.

Is it possible to freeze

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:

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

A few more methods for storing pineapple

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.

How long can pineapple be stored at home?

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.

Today, pineapple is no longer as surprising as it was a few years ago. Almost everyone has tried this fruit at least once in their life. But I want to buy a good and ripe fruit to enjoy the delicate aroma and pleasant taste.

Choosing the right ripe pineapple on the market or in a store today is not difficult if you know how to do it. Helpful tips are provided below.

There are many varieties of pineapple. And not all of them can be eaten raw. Some are grown only for industrial canning. Other varieties are used only to obtain fiber from the leaves, used in the textile industry.

When starting to choose a pineapple, you should ask the seller about its place of growth and variety.

Rules for choosing ripe pineapple.

Knowing how to choose a ripe pineapple, you can buy a delicious fruit. But the fruit must also be properly preserved so that it does not quickly lose its taste. The main points are as follows:

You need to be able to not only store it correctly, but also. The easiest way is to cut the fruit into circles. But then you have to go to the trouble of peeling the skin from each oval and removing the inedible middle part.

Another method involves peeling the entire fruit by cutting off the skin and then cutting out the core. Then all that remains is to cut the juicy pulp onto a plate.

It is possible that in search of an answer to the question of how to choose a pineapple, you will have to sacrifice time for the first time. But then the experience gained will be useful, and the purchased fruits will delight you with their ripeness and taste.

Of all the exotic fruits, pineapple has become perhaps the most beloved and familiar. At the same time, not everyone can determine at first glance which of the fruits on the counter is worth preferring. Looking at a pineapple, you can’t immediately tell how tasty and ripe it is, but the taste and beneficial properties of the product depend on ripeness. However, choosing a pineapple is quite simple if you know a few secrets related to the shape, color, smell and weight of the fruit.

By the tail

The first thing most sources teach is to pull the so-called sultan. That is, leaves. Or even spin the entire hat. They say that if the leaf is in your hands, then the pineapple is definitely ripe for the table.

So the unlucky buyers turn the sultana in all directions, checking the ripeness of the fruit. Only now it may happen that with special zeal the entire bunch will end up in your hands. Then you'll need fast feet or a long tongue. To escape from the seller, or to try to get away.

Secret. An easily pulled out leaf is not a sign of ripeness. This may be the beginning of the pineapple rotting process, which begins precisely at the top of the fruit.

How to choose a ripe pineapple based on its leaves:

Juicy green tops signal the immaturity of the fruit. This pineapple will be dry, tough and bitter.
Are the tops dark green and the tips of the leaves slightly dry? This means that this is the kind of pineapple that needs to be dragged to the table without delay.
The leaves are dry, brownish green in color, indicating that the fruit is completely overripe. Inside you will find a stinking, watery mass, with a nasty taste and, possibly, signs of rotting.

That's all. And you don't have to pull or twist anything. If you really can’t wait to try the torsion method, then do it carefully. Gently rock the plume from side to side. It should give slightly, but not fall off completely. This is a sign of overripeness. And it certainly shouldn’t sit like a glove. Such fruit should ripen for a long time.

Advice. Carefully inspect the place where the tops are attached to the fruit. Sometimes a pineapple appears to be ripe, but suddenly there is mold. Refuse to purchase. Choose another fruit.

how to choose the right avocado

How to choose a quality fruit

Pineapple is a fragrant and attractive product. And it’s also very tasty, provided that the choice is made correctly, and unspoiled fruit falls into your hands. Pineapple is brought from afar, and that means it cannot be cheap. And we don’t like to spend decent money for a “pig in a poke.” So, we will learn to recognize the right pineapple.

Price

As a rule, those fruits that ripen on the plantation are tastier than those that ripen during transportation. But the ripe fruit must be delivered quickly so that it does not have time to spoil. Thus, the ripest and highest quality pineapples are delivered by air, and therefore cost much more.

A pineapple, cut unripe, floats on the sea and ripens in the hold of a ship. Such a fruit will cost much less, but may remain unripe on the counter.

If you have the opportunity to ask the seller about the method of delivery of the product, be sure to do so.

Ripe pineapple has juicy golden flesh

Pulp and rind color

A ripe, high-quality pineapple has golden, juicy flesh and an elastic, dense, evenly colored rind. It may have a greenish tint even in a ripe pineapple. But there should be no stains on the surface; they indicate that the product has begun to deteriorate. The ideal pineapple is golden brown, orange-gray, brown or yellow-green. Pay attention to the heaviness of the fruit: a normal pineapple should be weighty.

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

The fact that the fruit is overripe and has begun to deteriorate is clearly indicated by: wrinkled skin, cracks and smudges on the surface, a reddish tint to the peel, fading brown leaves, whitish specks between the cells.

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

Smell

A sweetish pleasant smell indicates that the fruit is ripe. However, if the smell is very bright and concentrated, there is a high probability that the fruit is overripe and begins to ferment. Take a closer look: there may be mold already appearing on the crust or leaves. A sour smell also indicates that the pineapple is no longer edible. If the smell of the fruit is almost not pronounced, the fruit is probably not yet ripe and it is better to put it aside.

Scales

Pay attention to the scales: they should be elastic and dense and not press inward when pressed.

At the end of the scales there are light tails. Under the correct storage conditions, these tails remain dry and break off easily. Bend, limp tails indicate excess humidity during storage or transportation, which easily leads to spoilage, rot, and mold.

The tails on the pineapple cells should be dry and brittle.

Other signs

You can determine ripeness by sound. Tap the body of the pineapple with your palm. A ripe fruit makes a dull sound, and an overripe one makes a “empty” sound, which indicates its dryness.

The ripeness of a pineapple is determined by touch. When pressed, the skin of a ripe pineapple is slightly pressed, but does not wrinkle. An unripe fruit does not react in any way to squeezing; it is too hard and is not yet suitable for food.

How to choose a pineapple

The tail of a pineapple can tell about its quality. The foliage of a good pineapple is thick, green, and without dry leaves. Try pulling the leaf at the base: on a ripe pineapple it will easily move forward, or even pull out completely. If the crown of the pineapple crumbles into leaves without much effort, then the fruit is clearly overripe. Holding the tail with your hand, try to twist it slightly. Do not overdo it so as not to tear it off completely. But if you feel the tail twisting slightly, then the selected pineapple is in perfect shape. A tightly seated, motionless crown indicates immaturity.

How to choose a delicious fruit from Costa Rica

Pineapples grow in countries with mild tropical climates, so they are most often brought from Costa Rica, Brazil, the Philippines, Thailand and China. You will rarely find goods on sale that originate from the Dominican Republic; it is too expensive to transport them from there.

The leader in fruit sales is Costa Rica. Some people are sure that the fruits grown there are the most delicious and sweet, so they carefully look for them in shops and markets.

If you want to purchase such a fruit, then take note of my advice:

look at the price. A fruit originally from Costa Rica cannot cost less than 50 rubles per kg or 100 rubles per piece. The cheapest goods are imported from China, while products from other countries will have a significantly higher cost;
read the label. Fruits from Costa Rica often bear a marking that confirms the origin. She is hooked to the tops;
ask the seller where the fruit came from and how long they have been on the counter. A knowledgeable and honest merchant will be happy to tell you about his product and its origin.

For me personally, the taste of pineapple grown in Costa Rica is not too different from fruits imported from China and Thailand. This means that you need to choose them based on the same criteria as everyone else. So when buying, pay attention to the weight, shape, plume, peel and smell.