Isn’t it disappointing when you get home from the store with a big, beautiful looking pineapple, and when you cut it up and take your first taste, it was just blah? There are tons of things in life with no guarantees, but pineapple shouldn’t be one of them. Here are a few easy tips to look for to help you choose the one that will taste as good as it looks. Check these off in order and you’ll have better success!
1. Smell the bottom of the Pineapple.
Your nose has a heck of a lot to do with how things taste. Let it be your guide. A pineapple should smell sweet and well…like a pineapple. If you’re having a hard time picking up a scent, chances are the pineapple is not quite ripe. Move on to the next one.
2. Note the color and give it a squeeze!
The pineapple should be plump and healthy looking. Like other fruits, pineapples have a shelf life and a window of opportunity for perfect ripeness. Typically the more green and firm they are, the less ripe. On the contrary, the more wrinkled and squishier the pineapple gets, the more ripe or even over-ripe they become. If you’re eating the pineapple right away, you want one right in the middle. You want a soft golden color that gives a bit when you squeeze.
3. Leaves should be firm and “healthy looking”.
A common belief is that if the top, middle leaves come out easily, the pineapple is ready. The answer to that is both true and false. Healthy leaves feed the plant the nutrients it needs so grow. If the leaves are withered and pull out too easily it could mean the fruit is over-ripe or has even gone rotten. Leaves that are firm and healthy looking will produce healthy plants, and yes, they do come out easier as the pineapple becomes more juicy. There is some validity in this test, but only after it passes the two prior tests.
And now you know. Go pick your perfect pineapple!
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