Which pineapple is better to choose green or not. How to choose a ripe pineapple

If you love a tropical treat like pineapple, but have difficulty choosing this fruit in a store or market, then this guide should come in handy.

When buying a pineapple, you should pay attention to 4 main components: smell, tops (top with greens), peel and pulp.

1. Smell

Ripe should exude a subtle delicate smell. If the pineapple produces a sharp, instantly noticeable smell, then the fruit is overripe and has already begun to rot. If there is no smell, then the fruit is either still green, or it is a pineapple that has ripened at the time of delivery, i.e. already after it was harvested, which means that this fruit is second-rate.

2. Tops (top)

If the upper leaves of the pineapple are thick and juicy, while easily separated from the fruit, then the fruit is ripe. By the same principle, if a single leaf does not come off the base in any way, then the fruit is unripe. A yellowed and dry top of a pineapple means that it has already begun to spoil.

And most importantly, you need to take this very green top of the pineapple with your hands and twist it around its axis. Yes Yes! At a ripe pineapple, the top (greens) is spinning! If the top does not spin, then the pineapple is not ripe.

3. Peel

A ripe pineapple is slightly soft to the touch, but its rind remains firm. Unripe pineapples are much firmer to the touch. By the way, a green peel is not always an indicator that the fruit has not ripened. But the crust, covered with dark spots, means that the pineapple has already begun to deteriorate.

4. Pulp

Tap the pineapple with your palm. If the sound is deaf, then the fruit is moderately ripe, if the pineapple makes an “empty” sound, then it is overripe and “shrunken”. The insides of a ripe pineapple are a bright yellow-golden color. A paler color is observed in unripe fruits.

By the way, you need to store uncut pineapple only at room temperature, in the refrigerator it will immediately lose its flavor and become more watery.

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 points to always keep 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 a ripe one, 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 should be strong, not withered, not torn, without traces of mold and white bloom. 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, since the pulp has lost some of its internal moisture with time and its specific gravity has 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 estimated - 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 - 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 unripe and the starch contained in them in large quantities is gradually converted into sugar in the process of certain biological and chemical reactions, 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 spoilage - 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 fruits in jars are sold all year round. But the most useful, although not quite “off the line”, are still fresh.

Irina Kamshilina

Cooking for someone is much more pleasant than for yourself))

Content

This tasty, healthy fruit on our table is no longer a novelty. You can buy it in a store or supermarket. Now many do not know how to choose a fetus. Because of this, many people are ditching fresh food in favor of canned food. Completely unequal exchange. There are ways to select the most flavorful, ripe treat.

pineapple season

Keeping a plantation for growing such a fruit is not an easy task. Under normal conditions, the fruits germinate from grains within 15-20 months. For mass cultivation, another method is chosen - the palm trees themselves are planted. So the germination period is reduced. The peculiarity of the plant is the ability to bear fruit for several seasons. The best temperature for growing is 24-30 °C. There is simply no right season. In other words, pineapple season lasts all year round. You can choose fruit in both winter and summer.

How to choose a pineapple in the store

Most fruits endure a long transportation before they hit the shelves. They have to mature on the way. What does a good fruit look like and how to make the right choice? A good copy can be chosen by following simple tips. It is important to pay attention to the price. Goods that cost more were transported by plane. This is done specifically to select and pick ripe fruits. Cheap products were transported by water, which means they were plucked ahead of time.

Another way to choose a pineapple in the store. Symmetrical and dense tops of about 10-12 cm - this is what a ripe pineapple looks like. The leaves of a quality product should be dense and even. If the edges of some leaves have dried up - it's not scary. If there are many such sheets and they are yellow, refuse to purchase, the product is unripe. If the seller advises a delicacy, the leaves of which are easily pulled out, do not believe it. This phenomenon suggests that he remained on the counter for too long.

The maturity of the fruit can be determined by the color of the skin. This method is good in the store because it does not require damage to the integrity of the product. A uniform golden and brown hue indicates maturity. The green peel indicates the immaturity of the pulp. The scales on the crust should decrease proportionally. You can determine the ripeness of the fruit with the help of sound with light taps on the surface. A dull sound indicates that the fruit is juicy and ready to eat. An empty sound indicates that the pulp inside is not juicy and could be overripe.

How to choose a ripe pineapple

The cautious buyer must know the right way to choose a pineapple. To do this, you can carefully examine and feel the crust. Pressing on a soft but firm surface will convince you that the fruit has had time to ripen. Dark spots on the scales indicate that the fruit has begun to deteriorate. A hard fruit can be taken if the other signs match. This is what the right choice looks like. Choose a treat with rich yellow flesh. If the inside is light, the fruit is not ripe and will be sour.

Everyone wants to know how to choose a ripe pineapple. The ideal smell of the product has characteristic sweetish notes at a distance of 10-15 cm. If the whole fruit smells strongly, then rotting has begun. The fruit is overripe and it is not worth making a purchase. If it is possible to make a neat cut of the top or make a small incision, use it. The obvious smell of grass should exclude the fruit from your field of interest.

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 the 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. 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!

Despite the fact that pineapple is sold in our country all year round and at quite affordable prices, people still firmly believe that such exotic is a sign of luxury and prosperity. But after all, it’s not enough to grab the first fruit that comes across in the store, you also need to know which one to grab.

tail

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

So the unfortunate buyers of the sultan are twisting in all directions, checking the maturity of the fruit. Only now it may turn out that with special zeal, the entire bundle will be in the hands. Then you need fast legs or a long tongue. To run away from the seller, or try to get away.

Secret. An easily pulled leaf is not a sign of ripeness at all. This may be the beginning of the process of pineapple decay, which begins precisely in the upper part of the fruit.

How to choose a ripe pineapple according to the leaves:

1. Juicy green tops signal the immaturity of the fruit. Such a pineapple will be dryish, hard and bitter.
2. The tops are dark green, the tips of the leaves are slightly dry? So, just such a pineapple should be dragged to the table without delay.
3. The leaves are dry, brown green hue indicate the complete overripe of the fruit. Inside you will find a smelly, watery mass, with a nasty taste and, possibly, signs of decay.

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

Advice. Carefully inspect the place where the tops are attached to the fruit. Sometimes the pineapple, by all indications, is ripe, and there suddenly turns out to be mold. Refuse to buy. Choose a different fruit.

According to the color of the pulp

“Ripe pineapple - a characteristic yellow color ...” and blah blah. Well, tell me, in which store will they allow you to cut the fruit in order to evaluate the color of the pulp? Or in the market, too, sellers shred every piece of fruit? What if you don't buy it? On the crust, get pineapple for sure. Or a couple of sweet ones. Or maybe not even a couple. And who will give you a guarantee that the pineapple you bought is as ripe as the cut fruit? Yes, no one.

Therefore, we leave this method of determining ripeness to individuals who love extreme sports. And we will look at the color ... of scales. Yes, yes, it is their shade and condition that are quite worthy of being an indicator.

1. The scales are juicy, light in color. The grooves between them are yellow or light green. Such a pineapple is still unripe, you will feel sorry for the money spent on it.
2. The scales are golden brown, juicy themselves, but the tips have already dried up a little. The grooves between them are a tone darker or greenish. Don't miss this beauty! Urgently throw such a pineapple into your basket, you will not regret it.
3. The scales are dark or burgundy in color, hard, almost dried up. The grooves between them are brown with whitish specks. Again, a waste of money and time. Such a pineapple is already preparing to safely depart to another world. Don't disturb him and leave him alone.

At the same time, we can also mention the elasticity of the crust. This is an indirect indicator. Of course, he does not give a 100% guarantee that you will get a ripe fruit. But after all, other signs are also indirect, only cutting will give an absolute result. Therefore, simply press the scale with a little effort. It should be pliable, but elastic, like a spring. Firm indicates immaturity, respectively soft - about overripeness.

By smell

Feel free to sniff the pineapple. Even without breaking the integrity of the peel or pulp, a ripe fruit exudes a characteristic aroma. It should be pleasant and unobtrusive. The strong, chemical-tasting smell that hits your nose should discourage you from buying. The almost complete absence of aroma should also cause healthy concern.

By price

Although pineapple has not been a rarity on our shelves for a long time, a good ripe fruit cannot be cheap. The fact is that he got to you by plane, and tickets are now expensive. But such a fruit was plucked at the peak of his career and sent to you on a business trip at full ripeness and in the prime of life.

Inexpensive fruit sailed to our country by sea. No doubt, tickets are much cheaper, but you need more time for a swim than for a flight. Therefore, such a pineapple was picked absolutely immature in order to reach the condition on the way. But in what conditions such a swim took place - only eyewitnesses know, which ordinary buyers are not.

So do not be greedy, spend more money on a pineapple. But you definitely won’t lose and don’t throw money away. As the saying goes: a miser pays twice.

Sound and weight

No, of course, the pineapple will not sing Rigoletto's aria to you to prove its ripeness. But you can really clap. Only not in the palm of your hand, but on the side of the fruit. Depending on the sound, it is possible to determine the degree of maturity with a probability of 70%:

1. An empty sound indicates that the pineapple has been on the shelf for a very long time. He withered. There is no heaviness on the hand.
2. Deaf, like a watermelon, the sound signals the full ripeness of the fruit. When weighed on the hand, the pineapple seems heavier than it looks.
3. A ringing sound indicates that the fruit is completely unripe. On the hand, it weighs about its appearance.

As you can see, everything is quite simple. Smell, tap, press. And further. Don't be afraid to look at the pineapple from all angles. Especially in stores. There is a sin there - to turn the fruit to the buyer with the most beautiful side. Therefore, be careful.

Advice. Try to choose a pineapple according to our recommendations. If you make a mistake, you will immediately get a visual experience. You won't make any more mistakes.

How to choose a ripe pineapple is not a question for you now. And it is unlikely that cunning sellers will be able to deceive you in order to sell an unripe fruit.

Video: how to choose, peel and cut a pineapple