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Learn How to Ripen a Pineapple so you can enjoy this tropical fruit quickly. This sweet and juicy fruit is one of our favorite fruits and it is so good for you.
How to Ripen a Pineapple:
One of our favorite fruits is this pine-cone shaped fruit called Pineapple. The nutrients and vitamins it provides your body is why we eat a lot of it. It is also helps with anti inflammatory.
Perfect Pineapples are sweet and full of flavor. You know when someone has cut into one, because this aroma fills the air. But you have to determine if it is ripen enough to cut into.
These tips will help determine how to pick the best pineapple at the grocery store and how to ripen it. Eating a pineapple to early has a sour taste which can cause irritation to your mouth and throat.
How to Select the Best Pineapple:
These methods will help you buy pineapples at the right stage of ripening and are ready to eat.
- Start with the Base – The first thing to look at is the base of the fruit. If it has an orange color or yellowish base then it is a good pineapple. If it has a green base, then pick another one.
- Firmness – Check the pineapple firmness. If the pineapple is a little firm but flexible it is a good pineapple. If it is tough, then pick another one.
- Color of Skin – Look for a pineapple that has a bright yellow color. Stay away from green pineapples. If there is any discoloration such as dark color stains then it is not a good selection.
- Size Matters – We like the bigger pineapples. It give you more pineapple to eat.
- Smell – The last thing to do is smell the pineapple. If it smells foul or anything that is doesn’t smell sweet, select another one.
How to Ripen Pineapple Quickly?
The below methods will help ripen your pineapple quickly the right way. We love eating pineapple on a fruit try and my kids even like it on their pizza.
But if you cut into the pineapple to early, then it stops the ripening process. The stem holds all the sweetness. Once you cut the stem, then producing sugar stops.
1. Store with other Fruits:
The method that we use most often is to store the pineapple with other fruits. Fruits such as Apples and bananas produce a hormone called ethylene. Ethylene helps ripen fruit, so placing apples and bananas near an unripe pineapple helps the ripening process.
Pineapple is ripe in about a day once you place it with these other fruits.
2. Place in a Brown Paper Bag:
When you are using apples and bananas to help with ripening your pineapple, place a pineapple in a paper bag. Fold down the paper bag with the fruit inside. Leave it at room temperature for a day. The next day, your pineapple will be fully ripened.
3. Place in a Clear Bag:
Placing your pineapple in a bag and leave it at room temperature. Your pineapple will be perfectly ripe within a day.
4. Store Pineapple Upside Down:
Get a jar or a vase that is large enough to hold the pineapple leaves. Turn the pineapple and place the leave side down into the jar. This allows for any sugar that has settled in the base to distribute though out the pineapple.
Allowing the pineapple to ripen faster.
5. Bury Pineapple in Rice:
Place your pineapple in a bed of rice and bury it. This method helps to ripen the pineapple faster.
Supplies Needed:
To begin cutting your pineapple after it has ripened and ready to eat. Make sure you have the following supplies to cut and store your sliced pineapple.
- Sharp Knife
- Cutting
- Air Tight Containers
What to do with Sliced Pineapples?
Pineapples are great to put on a fruit tray or to top your pizza with. Here are some of the other ways you can eat this delicious fruit.
- Grill – We love to make Foil Packet Hawaiian BBQ Chicken Recipe. The flavors of the sweet pineapple with the BBQ sauce makes this chicken so flavorful.
- Bake – Baking pineapples really brings out the sweetness in the fruit. Topping with brown sugar or even using them to make Pineapple Upside Down Cupcakes makes the pineapples even sweeter.
- Use them in a Smoothie – We love making smoothies and we always toss in some slice pineapples. This Pineapple Spinach Green Smoothie Recipe is a family favorite.
- Make a Fruit Salad – We love having fruit especially during the summer months while we are hanging out be the pool. This Easy Tropical Fruit Salad Recipe is a crowd please and looks so beautiful mixed with all the other colors of fruit.
How to Store Pineapples:
- Uncut Whole Pineapples – Whole Pineapples placed in the refrigerator will last about 6 months. Do not place in the freezer.
- Cut Pineapples – After cutting up pineapple, place in the refrigerator. Do not leave out in room temperature to long. Place in an air tight container and should be eaten within a few days.
- Freezing cut Pineapples – You can freeze cut pineapples. Make sure to store in a freezer safe container. Pineapples do well in the freezer up to 6 months. We freeze first on a cookie sheet and then place in a container frozen.
Print the instructions here:
How to Ripen a Pineapple
Equipment
- 1 Brown Paper Bag
Ingredients
- 1 Pineapple
Instructions
- Store with other Fruits: Fruits such as Apples and bananas produce a hormone called ethylene. Ethylene helps ripen fruit, so placing apples and bananas near an unripe pineapple helps the ripening process.
- Place in a Brown Paper Bag: a pineapple in a paper bag. Fold down the paper bag with the fruit inside. Leave it at room temperature for a day.
- Place in a Clear Bag: Placing your pineapple in a bag and leave it at room temperature. Your pineapple will be perfectly ripe within a day.
- Store Pineapple Upside Down: Get a jar or a vase that is large enough to hold the pineapple leaves. Turn the pineapple and place the leave side down into the jar.
- Bury Pineapple in Rice: Place your pineapple in a bed of rice and bury it. This method helps to ripen the pineapple faster.
